Ashanti Says She and Nelly Are 'Having a Lot of Fun' in Rekindled Romance: 'Everything Is Positive' (Exclusive)

The R&B star opened up to PEOPLE at the 2023 MTV VMAs shortly after Nelly confirmed they got back together

Two decades since Nelly and Ashanti were first romantically linked, they keep on running back to each other.

After the "Hot in Herre" rapper confirmed their relationship is officially back on following months of rumors, Ashanti opened up about their rekindled bond on the red carpet at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Tuesday.

"We are in a great space," the Grammy winner, 42, tells PEOPLE while carrying a personalized clutch bag printed with a 20-year-old photo of her and Nelly, 48, on the carpet. "Everything is positive. [We're] having a lot of fun."

Related: Ashanti Carries a Purse with Nelly's Face on It to Confirm Their Rekindled Romance at 2023 VMAs

Ashanti and Nelly have been linked on and off since 2003 and have kept the details of their relationship under wraps. In 2008, they collaborated on the sexy R&B-pop song "Body on Me" with Akon — and she says fans can "maybe" expect another duet from the couple in the future.

Earlier on Tuesday, Nelly confirmed he and the "Foolish" singer renewed their romantic relationship in an interview with Love and Hip Hop’s Rasheeda and Kirk Frost on her Boss Moves with Rasheeda podcast. "We cool again," he said.

"I think it surprised both of us,” Nelly added. “It wasn't anything that was planned."

Related: Nelly Confirms He and Ashanti Are Back Together: 'It Surprised Both of Us'

"We both were pretty much doing what we do,” explained the "Ride Wit Me" performer. “But sometimes being separate, you understand one another more. You could be like, 'Well yo, let me exactly see maybe what they see.' We all can be defensive sometimes in our own relationships. We know we wrong but we going to stand on it, you know what I mean? But we all a victim to that." 

Nelly also told the hosts their relationship is in a positive place. "I mean, because it's no pressure,” he explained, “Before I felt like both of us are doing what we’re doing before career-wise, And when you got so many people in the middle of it, it can be tough."

Both musicians have been spotted together in the last several months, sparking rumors of a reconciliation. In June of this year, the two appeared at the 3rd Annual Birthday Ball for Quality Control CEO Pierre "P" Thomas at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta.

In May, Ashanti brought Nelly out on stage during her Las Vegas show at the Palms Casino Resort where the two performed “Body on Me." The month prior, the two were seen at the Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia boxing match at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Following the fight, video footage captured them holding hands. 

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