Nelly CONFIRMS he is back with Ashanti a decade after they called it quits and admits rekindling ‘surprised’ them both: ‘We cool again’

Nelly and Ashanti’s reunion took them both by surprise.

The two stars were reported to have reconciled earlier this year, a decade after they first ended their relationship, but the Hot In Herre hitmaker insisted getting back together hadn’t been ‘planned’ by either of them.

During an interview with Love and Hip Hop stars Rasheeda and Kirk Frost, Nelly confirmed their rekindled romance: ‘Yeah, we cool again,’ he said. 

‘I think it surprised both of us though. It wasn’t anything that I don’t think was planned.’

The 48-year-old star believes spending so long apart from one another has been helpful with their reunion because the distance allowed them to ‘understand’ each other and their relationship better.

He explained: ‘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.’

The couple’s relationship ‘feels good now’ because there is ‘no pressure’ on either of them.

Nelly added: ‘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.’

Nelly and Ashanti, 42, sparked rumours they were back together after being spotted in Las Vegas in March, and a week later they attended a 40th birthday party for businessman Jon Schwartz together.

In December last year, the Foolish singer appeared on stage with Nelly during Power 98.3 and 96.1’s Under the Mistletoe concert.

Following the show, Ashanti admitted she was surprised by the response from fans wanting the former flames to get back together.

Appearing on Watch What Happens Live, she told host Andy Cohen: ‘My reaction was, “wow”. It was a lot of comments and a lot of people wanting that.’

Raising eyebrows! The former flames recently put on a cuddly display on Instagram 

Although she stayed coy over whether or not they would get back together, she did admit they were in a much ‘better place’ than they were when they broke up.

She added: ‘What I will say is we’re in a better place… We’re cool now. We had some conversations, so it’s cool.’

Ashanti and Nelly, real name Cornell Haynes Jr., first got together after meeting in 2003.

The rap star has collaborated with the R&B star on various occasions, including her 2007 track Switch and 2010’s NY Lover.

Heart to heart! Ashanti and Nelly, real name Cornell Haynes Jr., first got together after meeting in 2003; pictured 2012

Ten years ago Ashanti reportedly split with Nelly due to his alleged ‘cowardly betrayal.’

Ashanti spoked about their breakup while on The Meredith Vieira Show in 2015.

‘I think sometimes when people have their own insecurities it allows them to act out of character. I’ve been betrayed,’ she said at the time.

‘Again, you just have to grow. You have to grow up and accept responsibilities for the things that you do. I’m not a big fan of people being cowards.

‘I think it’s really important to know yourself and understand what you want and get it. I’m in a different place right now.’