After seemingly avoiding the topic of alleged former lover Irv Gotti, singer Ashanti is finally telling her side of the story.
On October 26, the 42-year-old bombshell opened up about Gotti’s claims on Angie Martinez’s IRL podcast. Martinez and Ashanti delved deep into the controversial documentary Gotti created, and the “Only You” singer revealed why she refused to participate in the Murder Inc. documentary.
The veteran media personality got right to it.
“What can you tell us about this Murder Inc. story that’s been told in documentary, Irv and Ja (referencing Ja Rule) on Drink Champs? You clearly decided to not participate in the doc. Can you tell us why?”
Ashanti aptly responded, laughing, “I think the world can see why. It’s a lot to consume, ya know? For the record, I love Murder Inc., ya know? All the guys… I’m cool with everyone. It’s all love. It’s very unfortunate how Irv decided to handle his documentary. It’s a little sad to see a grown man conduct himself in that manner. I feel like the Murder, Inc. legacy is so much bigger. We accomplished so much and made amazing history. And the way he handled it tarnished and cheapened the brand. We all worked so hard and for you to just throw mud…that’s so selfish and so degrading.”
“Did you watch it,” Martinez asked.
“I watched a little of the first episode; I think,” Ashanti said. “And I watched a little bit of the third.”
Martinez also asked her about the Drink Champs episode and how did her personal circle respond to Gotti’s behavior.
The Long Island native told her that’s when she realized how many people “loved her.”
Diving into the allegations of the extramarital affair, Ashanti expressed that Gotti was trying to ruin her reputation by exposing the two-decades-old tryst.
She also revealed that the 52-year-old mogul made the relationship more than it was.
“Irv has flat-out lied about a lot of things. And the crazy thing is, when we were in a good space, a positive space – pillow talk is a dangerous thing. There are so many things that I know. [But] I don’t have the desire to expose certain things. I operate at a different vibration than him. I don’t play in the mud.”
“We dealt with each other, but was Irv my boyfriend, and was I his girlfriend? Never.”
Ashanti shared that she thought the married hitmaker was separated from his wife because the two weren’t living together. She also said she wasn’t his only lover.
The “Baby” songstress also said she had to walk a delicate line and felt “a lot of pressure” to stay in the relationship because of their professional association.
“If I say [no to the relationship], does that mean we’re not going to record?”
One specific detail she revealed that Gotti didn’t mention in the allegation was that he reportedly threatened her with violence and death for moving forward with her relationship with “Country Grammar” rapper Nelly.
“I believe he wishes death on me to this day. In my heart, I feel like Irv is just hurt, and he doesn’t know where to place his hurt, and he doesn’t know how to channel it as a man. And it’s very sad.”
Ashanti has also seemingly moved on while Gotti can’t seem to get her off his mind.
The 42-year-old singer celebrated her birthday earlier this month and has a new single that will be released on Friday.
On October 24, Ashanti posted a photo of herself donning a racy black bra and boyshorts on the cover promoting the song “Falling For You.”
“Falling for You” FRIDAY 10/28. Pre save link in bio.”
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We are glad to see she’s moved on!
