"Ashanti is pregnant who is he doing X with?" - Internet calls out Nelly over recent arrest as attorney issues response

Nelly & Ashanti Celebrate The 10th Anniversary Of E11EVEN Miami - Source: Getty
Nelly & Ashanti Celebrate The 10th Anniversary Of E11EVEN Miami. (Image via Getty/ Alexander Tamargo)

On August 7, rapper and actor Nelly was taken into police custody in St Charles, Missouri, for failure to produce valid car insurance and drug possession. As per reports, he was exiting the premises of Hollywood Casino in Maryland Heights around 4:45 am local time when the Missouri Gaming Commission detained him for ID verification.

Later, the 49-year-old was arrested for a six-year-old insurance infarction under a previously issued warrant. Missouri State Highway Officers also found at least four ecstasy pills in his car leading to an illegal drug possession charge. Following this, he was taken to the Maryland Heights Police Department, booked, but was later released.

However, amid this now-viral news, the Grammy winner's attorney Scott Rosenblum has denied the drug-related charges and stated to Billboard that his client was “targeted” by an “overzealous” officer.

In the wake of these, the internet is having diverse reactions to the Country Grammar rapper's arrest. For instance, user @bADA*SRICAN_ took to X and pointed out in their post how Nelly should have been careful not to get in legal trouble considering his wife Ashanti is pregnant.

“Nelly getting caught with ecstasy & no car insurance is wild… bc if Ashanti is pregnant who is he doing X with??? And you’re about to have a newborn with no car insurance?? Is he 40 or 21???? Everybody is just crashing out these days,” the person wrote.
A netizen criticizes the 'Nellyville' rapper for his arrest. (Image via X/ bADA*SRICAN_)
A netizen criticizes the 'Nellyville' rapper for his arrest. (Image via X/ bADA*SRICAN_)

Several others joined in the conversation on the platform and had similar reactions, slamming the Dilemma rapper for not acting his age and being “reckless.”

“Nelly out here doing 22-year-old single guy stuff as a 50-year-old married man. Tf you need X for? Ashanti spun the block just to get knocked up and embarrassed. Hate to see it,” a netizen wrote.
“Did I see that Nelly got arrested with E pills n no car Insurance? Isn’t Ashanti pregnant?! Is he 16?! See why u shouldn’t idolize ppl n dey ting?! Foolishness,” one netizen wrote.
“I thought Nelly was down with the reckless lifestyle seeing him been with a good woman and a baby on the way by same woman. Man’s 50 and still doing drugs. My prayers are with Ashanti and her baby,” another netizen wrote.

Others continued to call out the Vokal founder for “embarrassing” Ashanti and wondered who he was doing “ecstasy” with.

“Now we were all happy for Nelly and Ashanti now he out there embarrassing the hell outta her and their baby,” one individual wrote.
“Now who Nelly poppin ecstasy pills with cause Ashanti pregnant?” an individual wrote.
“Thought Nelly was trending cause Ashanti had the baby. Turns out she didn't have the baby just like he didn't have insurance, but DID have 4 ecstasy pills sooooo there's that,” another individual wrote.

Some expressed their doubts on whether Ashanti knew her husband had no car insurance and was allegedly doing ecstasy.

“You think Ashanti knew Nelly was on drugs and didn’t have insurance,” a person asked.
“Why are yall acting like Ashanti didn't know Nelly was on them pills. Y’all gotta knock it off. She knows what that man does,” another person wrote.

Singer, songwriter, and actress Ashanti began dating the Heartland rapper in 2003 and the two were together till 2013. A decade later, they reunited and in December 2023, they tied the knot. In April 2024, they announced their pregnancy.


Exploring the statement from Nelly’s legal team in the wake of his arrest

On Wednesday morning, Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., was arrested for insurance violation and drug possession outside a casino he frequents (where he performs and reportedly gambles) in Missouri. While he was later bailed, the mugshot from his arrest has now gone viral.

So far, the prosecution hasn’t charged him with anything. However, the suspicion of illegal drug possession continues to hold. Meanwhile, the Just a Dream rapper’s legal team had made several claims during their statement to Billboard.

“Mr. Haynes was not charged with drug possession. He was arrested for ‘No Proof of Insurance’ from 2018 on a warrant issued December 2023 that he received no notice. Mr. Haynes was targeted by an overzealous, out-of-line officer,” lawyer Scott Rosenblum stated.

He alleged that his client won “several jackpots” on the night in question, but instead of transferring his “winnings,” authorities “felt compelled to needlessly run a check for warrants.” Rosenblum further claimed the Derrty Entertainment owner was informed that “a background check was mandated” as he won a “certain amount” but he knew it was “untrue” as he had won several jackpots in the past, including a week before, when no such check happened.

“Once Mr. Haynes was informed of the warrant for a No Proof of Insurance infraction, this officer felt compelled to handcuff Mr. Haynes behind his back and parade him through the casino in front of other patrons,” the attorney added.

The legal counsel has also claimed that Haynes’ “personal property” (car) was searched “without probable cause” which then resulted in an alleged “ecstasy discovery.” He doubled down by alleging that their client had no knowledge of any outstanding warrant and should have been allowed to his way.

The lawyer said that part of Haynes’ international travels needed him to “supply proof of no warrants” to law enforcement, including the FBI, making the recent arrest unjustified.

He has also demanded an “inquiry” into the conduct of the officer involved and expressed his confidence that the case would lead nowhere.

Edited by Prem Deshpande
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