Nelly And Ashanti Secretly Married Since December, Public Docs Show

Nelly and Ashanti's public records reportedly show that they have been married for six months now.

The couple's marriage was reportedly recorded on Dec. 27, 2023, in St. Louis County, the 49-year-old rapper's hometown, according to the documents obtained by TMZ.

Enstarz double-checked the records on St. Louis County's database and found that Cornell Iral Haynes (Nelly) and Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas (Ashanti) indeed were married on paper on the said date.

RELATED: Nelly, Ashanti Engaged; Expecting First Baby Together

This report comes over a week after the "Hot In Herre" artist clapped back at a critic who questioned the dynamic of his and Ashanti's family by writing, "But it's not the Haynes family. It's definitely the Haynes/Douglas family. I know y'all gone (sic) be mad, but be mad at him for not marrying her after all this time and giving her his last name."

Nelly directly responded to the social media user, saying, "Ummm. It's definitely the Haynes family! LOL."

Because of his response, fans started to speculate that they may have gotten married secretly.

RELATED: Nelly Confirms He, Ashanti Are Already Married? Fans Think So After He Clapped Back At Critic

"I take that as him saying they are married," commented one Instagram user at the time.

"He [is] confirming that they are married. Glad he checked the haters," wrote another.

"It's giving 'we're already married, and it's none of your business,'" quipped someone else.

Meanwhile, in Ashanti's recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, she said that they have yet to walk down the aisle.

"We're definitely. We're ready. We're both extremely busy with the baby coming and everything else. I do know what month I want it to be [but] I'm not telling yet," she said when asked about their big day.

She added that she does not want to be pregnant at their wedding.

"It could mean she just wants to have her wedding without being pregnant with the baby. They're saying they got the marriage certificate confirmed but who knows? [The] only reason I thought she was already married is because she has the band on with the engagement ring attached. Meaning that's a wedding ring. But time will tell," a social media user speculated after watching her interview.

The "Rock Wit U" singer previously announced that she was engaged to the rapper and was looking forward to becoming a mother by posting a reel captioned, "Baby baby baby baby."

"This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope and anticipation. Motherhood is something I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé, and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an amazing experience," she said in an exclusive interview with Essence magazine at the time.