Ashanti released her self-titled debut album in 2002, and it immediately shot to number one spot on the Billboard chart. She had three singles on Billboard’s Top 10 list as well, something that only the Beatles had managed to pull off at that time. Her face landed on the cover of countless magazines, she made appearances on Saturday Night Live, Regis and Kelly, and she was even the recipient of Soul Train’s Lady of Soul Award.
The music industry’s newest R&B princess was a hot commodity. Not only did everyone want her sultry vocals to be featured on their songs, but there were rumors that countless men in the entertainment industry had their eyes on her.
Ashanti would eventually get wrapped up in several relationships with fellow celebrities. And each relationship was full of a bunch of drama.
Here’s the truth about her messy dating history.
Creepin’ with Irv Gotti?
After getting signed to Irv Gotti’s record label, great music wasn’t the only thing she and Irv were creating. Rumors began to circulate that the two were an item, despite Irv being legally married to his wife, Deb Lorenzo.
Years after their rumored fling, and after he and Ashanti had a falling out, he appeared on the Wendy Williams Show to confirm their affair. But he made it clear that Ashanti wasn’t a homewrecker. Irv said it was an affair with another woman that ended his marriage, and he began hooking up with Ashanti after he and Deb were separated. Irv didn’t understand why his fling with Ashanti was such a big deal. He asked Wendy’s studio audience: “I can’t mess with another girl until I sign the divorce papers?”
During an October 2019 appearance on Growing Up Hip Hop, Deb confirmed they were separated when Irv and Ashanti began dating. But still, that didn’t make things any better. She said she ever got used to all of the extra women he had in his life.
Ashanti, on the other hand, told The Breakfast Club that she and Irv were never lovers, but she did confirm that they had a falling out once she left his record label and haven’t spoken since.
Falling for Nelly
OK! magazine reports Ashanti first met St. Louis rapper Nelly at a January 2003 press conference for the Grammy Awards. They reportedly hit it off, but they desperately tried to keep their relationship a secret. Their relationship was very rocky years. There were rumors of cheating and numerous breakups.
Ashanti, Keyshia Cole, and Chink Santana
In 2005, despite still being with Nelly, Ashanti reportedly started a relationship with her long-time producer, Chink Santana. He also appeared in the music video for her song “Don’t Let Them.”
Their fling turned messy with Chink began dating Keyshia Cole at the same time, and the two women reportedly began feuding over the producer. It’s speculated that Nelly questioned Ashanti over the allegations that she was cheating on him with Chink, but she denied the rumor.
She was open to having LOTS of children
In 2008, Ashanti appeared to be completely devoted to her relationship with Nelly. She told People magazine that she had been planning her dream wedding in her head ever since she was a little girl. She also said she wanted to have ten children one day. Ashanti added: “I love my career, but to one day be a mom is more important to me than platinum albums or awards.”
Nelly wasn’t so interested in taking things to the next level though. He told RapUpTv in December 2010 that Ashanti was his just his really good friend. He also stated he didn’t want to rush into getting married because he only wanted to tie the knot once. But at the end of the day, he said he was married to his music, although he enjoyed Ashanti’s company.
Did a duet ruin her relationship?
Keyshia Cole married NBA player Daniel Gibson in 2011, and she was ready to bury the hatchet with her former nemesis, Ashanti. They squashed their beef on the duet “Woman To Woman” — where the singers hash it out over a man they’re both dating. Of course, many people assumed the song was written for their former lover Chink.
Without actually acknowledging his relationship with Ashanti, Chink told I Standard Producers website in 2012 that he loved Ashanti to death. He said, “I don’t know what else to say about her without getting all emotional. I’ll give her my ankle if she needed it.”
All of the media attention regarding the alleged love triangle reportedly pushed Nelly over the edge. He and Ashanti made a rare public appearance together in October at the 2012 Angel Ball, but after Ashanti and Keyshia’s duet was released, sources claim Nelly was fed up.
Did Ashanti have an ‘inability to be faithful’?
According to Bossip, after an almost ten-year relationship, Nelly decided to finally walk away due to the singer’s “inability to be faithful and her dishonesty about past infidelity.”
A source told the website it was rumored that Ashanti had hooked up with Jay Z and Nas during the time she was dating Nelly. The insider added that after hearing the lyrics to the song “Woman to Woman,” Nelly began to question Chink and Ashanti’s relationship, and he had reason to believe that Ashanti was lying about things being platonic between them. And just like that, Nelly and Ashanti’s relationship was over.
Ashanti remained quiet about the breakup up until a December 2013 interview with Hot 97. She somewhat acknowledged that she and Nelly had been on-again, off-again for years, and she told the radio station that they were officially over for good. She said she needed to focus on her career. Nelly had already moved on with actress Tae Heckard and Ashanti reportedly had a new man in her life.
Moving on with athlete #1
She was spotted out and about with football player DeSean Jackson, and they even exchanged some flirty messages on Twitter. But was she really over Nelly?
Ashanti released her album Braveheart, and she revealed on an interview with Hot 97 that the track “Scars” was written about her relationship with Nelly. She said, ”We’ve definitely scarred each other in a sense to say.”
Another song, entitled “Never Should Have,” talks about a man making a mistake that can’t be forgiven. Although Ashanti wouldn’t confirm if the song was also about Nelly, she told Hot 97 that they were actually in a good place and were Skyping each other, but she admitted that she wrote the song when she was really mad. She even said she played the song for Nelly in the studio and he loved it.
It was clear they were trying to remain friends and keep things professional after their breakup. Ashanti even interviewed Nelly for Fuse’s YouTube channel. Although the interview got a bit awkward when Ashanti asked Nelly what kind of girls he was attracted to, it was nice to see they were both in a better place.
Enjoying the single life
Ashanti told Ebony in October 2014 that following her breakup, she was having a lot of fun. She said she didn’t realize how many men had a crush on her until after she was back on the market. She said, “My phone stays lit. That’s all I have to say about that.”
She was still entertaining DeSean Jackson, though. In December 2014, they were spotted having dinner at STK restaurant. A source told the Washington Post that DeSean and Ashanti dined with about 20 of their friends.
It’s unclear exactly when she and DeSean decided to go their separate ways. But just five months after their dinner date, Instagram model Kayla Phillips announced she was very-much pregnant with DeSean’s baby.
Ashanti falls hard for athlete #2
Ashanti appeared on The Meredith Vieira Show in April 2015 and confirmed she had gone on an amazing first date with a guy. She didn’t reveal his identity, but one month later, it was revealed that her mystery man was former San Francisco 49ers defensive end Darnell Dockett. Ashanti even referred to him as “baby” in this tweet.
Drama with Darnell Dockett’s baby mama
Less than a month after her new relationship was confirmed, Darnell’s baby mama drama threatened to ruin their new romance. Amelia Knox, the mother of his two children, took to her Instagram to put him and Ashanti on blast.
Amelia posted a picture of a maintenance bill for the Range Rover Darnell gifted her for Mother’s Day a few years back. She was upset he wouldn’t pay for the car’s expensive maintenance. She also blasted him for leaving the country on Father’s Day instead of spending time with his kids.
Amelia accused Darnell of taking his newest girlfriend on vacation on Father’s Day weekend. And it was definitely shade towards Ashanti because she just so happened to be soaking up the sun in Costa Rica during the weekend in question. But Ashanti was too busy living her best life and enjoying her new relationship to issue a response.
Even though she was very secretive about her previous relationships, she started to open up more about her romance with Darnell. During a Dec. 2015 appearance on The Real she was asked if she had a man in her life. Ashanti said she didn’t want to give away too many details, but she added: “I will say he’s a nice 6-foot-four, 290 pounds.” And her description fit Darnell’s stats to a T.
She was spotted with The Beard
But when 2016 rolled around, it looked like Ashanti and Darnell were done. An online user spotted her in Las Vegas with Houston Rockets player James Harden a.k.a. The Beard (Oddly enough, James also dated another one of our favorite superstars, rapper Trina.)
Two years later, Ashanti was spotted sitting with James’ family at one of his games. An insider told Terez Owens website: “They are 100-percent in a relationship. James is a player, but he is getting older,”
Another source revealed James was happy to be with someone as lowkey as Ashanti. She wasn’t interested in blasting their relationship all over social media, which was a huge difference from his previous relationship with Khloe Kardashian.
A breakup and a rumored reconciliation
Unfortunately, it appeared James just wasn’t ready to settle down. In the summer of 2019, he reportedly broke things off with the singer. HollywoodLife asked if she was seeing someone special or if she was just having fun. Ashanti said it was a combination of both.
No one really understood her answer, up until December 2019 when Sports Gossip website reported James invited Ashanti to a surprise party to celebrate his mom’s 60th birthday. Whether they’ve actually rekindled their relationship or not, we hope Ashanti is happy and receiving the love she deserves. But until then, she’s in good company.
Messy relationship hall of fame
Angela Simmons has been bouncing in and out of Bow Wow’s life for years. Read more here.
R&B singer The-Dream has finally settled down, but his past dating history is all sorts of messy. Read more here.
Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga’s relationship will go down as one of the weirdest romances ever. Read more here.
Evelyn Lozada…well, just read here and find out for yourself.
Malika Haqq and OT Genasis broke up but are expecting a baby. They seem to be getting along well for now. Read more here.
Jamie Foxx is a playboy for life. Read more here.
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