Nelly is making it clear that he’s hands-on when it comes to parenting duties.

During an interview with DJ Envy on 96.1 The Beat, Nelly confirmed his active role in his son’s care, specifically mentioning diaper changing as part of his responsibilities.

“Let’s set the record straight. I have changed diapers,” Nelly stated in the discussion. “Even when I initially spoke on this, I have changed diapers. But my point is, as you age, certain tasks become less significant.”

He further elaborated that his previous remarks were not to imply he shirks parental duties but to emphasize that people often exaggerate the importance of such tasks.

“It’s fascinating how people act like changing diapers is life-altering,” he added. “I’ve yet to see an astronaut make it to the moon just because they changed diapers.”

“The fact that people act like changing Pampers makes a difference in your life is, like, so amazing to me,” he continued. “I have never seen anybody go to the moon because an astronaut changed their diapers.”

The conversation originally stemmed from a moment on the couple’s Peacock reality series Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together.

“I’m going to take you back to this conversation we had before you kicked me under the table,” he said on the show. “I said, ‘Baby, I’ll give you the world. I just ain’t changing no diaper.’”

After fans weighed in, Nelly later clarified that the moment was meant to be lighthearted and not a reflection of how he actually shows up as a father. “Excuse me, I’ve always changed diapers,” he told People Magazine back in September. “I think people took a joke and made it into a debate.”

At the time, he said that his mindset has always been about support. “Our conversation was really about making sure we had help when we needed it,” he explained. “I’m here to do whatever needs to be done.”

He added, “It was on our show, so if it didn’t come off as a joke, then we are the ones to look at for that. But yeah, of course I’ve changed diapers. My thought process wasn’t like, ‘Yo, I’m not changing the diaper.’ Our conversation was like, ‘Listen, I’ll do whatever needs to be done, but what I’m saying is that I’m giving you the best help I can get with me and a 24-hour nanny.’ See, everybody forgets that part.”

Nelly and Ashanti welcomed their son, Kareem Kenkaide Haynes, on July 18, 2024.

Photo Credit: Nelly Instagram; BCKOnline