Ever since rekindling their relationship in September 2023, musical artists Nelly and Ashanti have kept their romance mostly private, even as they quietly tied the knot three months later and welcomed a baby boy born in July 2024. Now, the couple is finally inviting fans into their chaotic life with their new Peacock series, Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together.

While part of the series follows their budding romance, it also sees the couple juggling their demanding careers. Nelly is on a lengthy tour while Ashanti is home and raising their son, Kareem. However, fans were left shocked at comments the “Hot in Herre” artist made about how little he’s willing to help care for their newborn.

Fans Left Stunned By Nelly Refusing To Help Ashanti With Their Baby

Nelly And Ashanti Are Sharing Their Lives On The New Reality Show We Belong Together

Nelly and Ashanti hold nothing back as they invite viewers into their lives as a married couple in their new series, Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together. All eight episodes are now streaming on Peacock, and fans were stunned by the rapper’s admission about how little he contributes to help raise their son, Kareem Kenkaide Haynes.

During a dinner scene, Ashanti is visibly shocked to learn that Nelly can sleep through Kareem’s cries at night, leaving her to always get up and tend to their son. “It’s absolutely ridiculous that you’ll be in a dead sleep and he’ll be mad loud. That’s ridiculous,” she tells him. When the “Foolish” songstress tells her husband that it’s his turn to change diapers, Nelly expresses that his parenting style does not include tending to his newborn.

He adds, “I’m gonna take you back to this conversation we had before. … I said, ‘Baby, I’ll give you the world. I just ain’t changing no diaper.'” Ashanti replied with “Oh, my God,” while rolling her eyes.

Fans were not impressed by Nelly’s comments during the conversation. In a TikTok clip from the episode, most viewers expressed shock that the rapper was leaving Ashanti to care for their son entirely on her own, without offering any support.

• “I ain’t got nothing for him” in reference to his son is diabolical,” a comment read.
• “Just lost respect for Nelly. Real men change diapers and get up at night. Ashanti will resent him in time,” another person wrote.
• “Nelly basically gave her a child because she wanted to become a mom, he had no desire in being a parent again,” another read.
• “Oh noooooo. Ashanti settled for this??? uugghh,” a comment said.

Ashanti And Nelly Admit They Have Very Different Parenting Styles

Nelly Believes Kids “Learn More On Their Own”

In the same clip, Nelly did admit that he would be on daddy duty once Kareem gets older. Talking to his friends on his tour bus, he shares, “Until he can say ‘I’m hungry’ [and] … ‘I need to use the bathroom,’ it’s gonna be a lot in [her] lap. I told her [to] enjoy because as soon as he gets to walking and talking, he’ll be with the crew.”

While fans may have found Nelly’s parenting style shocking, it appears that both he and Ashanti know that they have two different parenting styles, and are okay with it.

In an interview with People, Ashanti called herself “very mama bear-ish” and “protective” because Kareem is her first child. “We have to boil everything and sanitize everything. Everything has to be organic. His sheets are organic, his socks, food-grade silicone, everything. I’m just very, very protective,” she shared. However, Nelly’s parenting style is much more relaxed. “I think I understand a little bit more about children. They learn more on their own.”

Kareem isn’t Nelly’s first child, so he does have experience raising kids, which makes fans even more critical of his decision to neglect his responsibilities during the newborn stage. According to People, Nelly has four other children:

• Chanelle Haynes (born in 1994 and whom he shares with his ex-girlfriend Channetta Valentine).
• Cornell Haynes (born in 1999 and whom he shares with Channetta).
• Shawn Thomas (Nelly adopted Shawn in 2005 when his sister, Jackie, died of leukemia).
• Sydney Thomas (Nelly adopted Sydney in 2005 when Jackie passed).

Ashanti Revealed She Would Not Show Her Child’s Face On Her New Show

Ashanti Became A First-Time Mom With Her And Nelly’s Son Kareem

When Ashanti mentioned that she was a very protective mom, she meant it. Fans won’t see Kareem’s face on her new reality TV show at all.

Speaking on Today, she shared her reasoning behind not allowing Kareem’s face to be shown. In fact, it’s become quite common for celebrities to shield their children’s faces from the public. “For me, it kind of was just a natural, organic instinct to become like mama bear and like super protective,” she shared.

Ashanti also touched on this in an interview with People, “There was no hesitation. I knew I was not gonna show my son, so, you know, he is blurred out, but you see him and I just feel like I’m kind of like a mama bear already, you know? Very protective. And I just feel like, I didn’t wanna show my son to the world.”

“I haven’t even posted him on Instagram or anything like that. I just feel like those moments are very sacred to me, and we’ll make the decision on when he’s ready to pop out and show.”

Despite being so protective over Kareem, Nelly did described his wife as a “great” mom to Kareem, who they have nicknamed KK.

“I have no complaints. I wish all mothers could see the way that she get down a little bit. You wish every kid had that type of love,” he said.