Nelly's pregnant wife Ashanti celebrates family birthday after arrest (2024)

Nelly's wife Ashanti brushed off news of the rapper's arrest as she shared snaps from her mother's birthday celebrations on Wednesday.

The hitmaker, 49, was taken into custody in the early hours of that morning after police allegedly discovered four ecstasy pills in his car.

Ashanti, who is heavily pregnant with her first child with Nelly, failed to mention her spouse's arrest, instead sharing a gallery of snaps from her mother's birthday party last month.

The mother-to-be showed off her growing bump in the selection of snaps, which were taken on July 14, as she partied with her family.

She captioned her post: 'Recap Mom’s bday!!!! @theoriginalmomanger ❤️❤️❤️ This was such a special night Happy Birthday again mom, I love you more than anything. s/o to @createsmedia I loved the frames! 7/13/24.'

Following Nelly's arrest, his lawyer Scott Rosenblum pushed back, saying he was 100 percent 'confident this case will go nowhere.'

Rosenblum is representing the Hot In Herre artist after his arrest inMaryland Heights, an outer suburb of St. Louis, Missouri, after police allegedly discovered four ecstasy pills in his vehicle.

The Ride wit Me artist, whose real name is Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., also was cited for driving without insurance in the arrest, according to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, FOX 2 News reported. He was released later on Wednesday.

In a statement released to DailyMail.com, Rosenblum said that Nelly 'was not charged with drug possession' but rather 'arrested for "No Proof of Insurance" from 2018 on a warrant issued [in] December 2023 that he received no notice' about.

Nelly had been 'targeted by an overzealous, out of line officer,' the lawyer said, after a successful evening at the Hollywood Casino and Hotel in which he won 'several jackpots.'

Rosenblum said that the police officer, 'instead of just supervising the transfer of [Nelly's] winnings ... felt compelled to needlessly run a check for warrants.'

The police officer told Nelly that 'a background check was mandated when a player won over a certain amount,'Rosenblum said.

The rapper knew that claim was false after having won 'several jackpots for similar or greater amounts, including one just a week prior without incident or a background check,' Rosenblum said.

Rosenblum said that after Nelly was told of an outstanding warrant for the insurance-related infraction, the 'officer felt compelled to handcuff [Nelly] behind his back and parade him through the casino in front of other patrons.'

Nelly's lawyer said that the officer then 'conducted a search without probable cause where he claimed to have found alleged "ecstasy" in [Nelly's] personal property.'

Rosenblum implied that the officer treated Nelly differently due to his fame, as 'under similar circ*mstances, assuming there was an old warrant without any notice to the individual for no proof of insurance, any other citizen would have been told to address it and allowed to go on their way.'

Nelly's lawyer said that the rap artist 'is regularly asked to supply proof of no warrants' in accordance with 'the requirements to travel internationally,' and has also been vetted by the FBI.

Rosenblum wrapped up in saying he was fully 'confident this case will go nowhere' and that his firm 'will be asking for an inquiry into this officer's conduct.'

After the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested Nelly, he was then transferred to the custody of the Maryland Heights Police Department, where he was arrested on a failure to appear warrant.

That warrant was reportedly related to a traffic charge he had previously received in Maryland Heights, the department said in a statement to NBC News.

Earlier this summer, Nelly was reported to have married fellow musical artist Ashanti secretly wed nearly six months earlier.

Citing public records, TMZ reported that the couple wed on December 27, 2023.

It's unknown where exactly they tied the knot, but the union became official in St. Louis County. Nelly hails fromSt. Louis.

DailyMail.com contacted representatives for the couple for comment.

The couple is expecting their first child together after Ashanti, 43, confirmed her pregnancy and revealed their engagementin April.

Recently, Ashanti shared details fromNelly's proposal.

The singer reflected on the event, explaining the casual way the rapper popped the question.

'It was just such a beautiful, intimate moment' Ashanti told Entertainment Tonight. 'We were not dressy.'

The singer said they were watching television in bed, dressed in pajamas, which added to why she was 'completely' shocked.

'I cried. I gave him the biggest hug and kiss ever,' Ashanti recalled. 'I FaceTimed everyone I know... I was overjoyed and shocked and surprised and happy kind of like all in one.'

When it comes to their impending nuptials, the Foolish artist confirmed she will give birth before walking down theaisle.

'Never in a million years did I think we would be here,' she gushed. 'Ten years ago — maybe yes — but after our breakup, you know, I didn't even think we'd ever have a conversation again.'

The couple dated from 2003 to 2013 before going their separate ways.

In 2021, Nelly and Ashanti ran into each other at Fat Joe and Ja Rule's Verzuz battle.

Nelly asked for Ashanti's number from DJ City, sparking the pair to rekindle their romance.

'I guess when you go through a breakup, for me personally, I kind of just shut that person out...' Ashanti continued. 'It's kinda like, OK, that chapter is closed and you just move on, you know, and there's nothing there.'