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Ashanti Confirms Rekindled Romance with Nelly, Carries Clutch with His Face at 2023 VMAs

“We're in a great space,” said the singer.

Yes, that’s a picture of Ashanti and beau Nelly on her purse.

Last night (September 12), Ashanti arrived on the pink carpet at the 2023 MTV VMAs in glitz and glamour, and she marked her rekindled romance with the "Hot in Herre" artist in a very special way. She accessorized her gold sequined dress with a clutch featuring a throwback image of the couple.

The singer took to Instagram to explain the significance of the cute photo. "So…in this pic, we exchanged numbers at the VMA's in 2003…20 years ago lol…" she wrote on her IG Story while showing off the bag.

Before she entered the show, the "Rain on Me" singer opened up to PEOPLE on their blooming on-again relationship. "We're in a great space, everything is positive, we're having a lot of fun," she explained to the publication.

When the outlet asked her if fans could expect a collaboration with the couple, Ashanti simply said, “maybe.”

Nelly has also confirmed that he and Ashanti were back together. During an interview with Love and Hip Hop stars Rasheeda and Kirk Frost, the St. Louis-bred rapper said he and the R&B singer had rekindled their relationship after a 10-year separation. The interview was shared by The Shade Room on Instagram.

When Rasheeda asked about the relationship status of both artists, Nelly blushed and then let his emotions flow. "Yea, yea, we cool again," he shared.

"I think it surprised both of us, though. It wasn't anything that I don't think was planned."

He continued, “I think we both were pretty much doing what we do, but sometimes, being separate, you understand one another more.”

“You be like, ‘Yo, let me see exactly what they see.’ You know, because we all can be defensive sometimes in our own relationships. We know we wrong but we going to stand on it. But we all a victim to that.”

For the “Country Grammar” hitmaker, being with Ashanti is pressure-free.

“Before I felt like both of us were doing what we were doing before career-wise, and when you got so many people in the middle of it, it can be tough,” he explained.

In April, the duo first sparked reconciliation rumors when they were spotted holding hands and sitting ringside at a boxing match in Las Vegas during a battle between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia. Back in June, Nelly and Ashanti attended the 3rd Annual Birthday Ball for Quality Control CEO Pierre Thomas in Atlanta. At this party, they were both decked out in black and silver.

Their journey dates back to 2003 when they met during a press conference at the Grammy Awards, but they broke up in 2013.

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