Ashanti and Nelly have introduced they’re engaged and anticipating their first child collectively. The musical artists first dated in 2003 and delighted followers after they rekindled their relationship in 2023.

Essence journal introduced the pair’s large information on Wednesday, writing on social media: “Congratulations to Ashanti and Nelly, who’re ENGAGED and EXPECTING their first little one collectively!”

In a press release to the journal, Ashanti, 43, stated this yr is “such a blessing full of affection, hope, and anticipation.”

“Motherhood is one thing that I’ve seemed ahead to, and sharing this with my household, fiancé, and dependable followers, who’ve been so supportive of my profession, is an incredible expertise,” the Grammy winner stated.

The artists additionally shared the information in a video that includes Proov, an organization that gives at-home fertility checks, which Ashanti and Nelly co-own, in response to Essence.

Nelly and Ashanti relationship timeline

The couple first met in 2003 and saved their relationship largely beneath wraps, with Ashanti first publicly mentioning her relationship with the rapper at a Los Angeles Lakers sport in 2008, Leisure Tonight studies.

After a number of rumored breakups, Nelly, 49, instructed Complicated in 2010 that the couple by no means publicly admitted to being collectively or damaged up. “Solely factor we ever stated was we buddies and it is the identical means now,” the three-time Grammy winner stated.

Amid breakup rumors in 2013, Ashanti stated their relationship was like “ping-pong,” and confirmed in 2015 that that they had ended their relationship two years prior.

In 2022, the pair reunited to carry out their music “Physique on Me” collectively at a live performance in Arizona and Ashanti stated on Bravo’s “Watch What Occurs Stay” that she was shocked by how many individuals had been invested of their relationsip. 

Nelly and Ashanti engaged

In 2023, followers who adopted the connection carefully lastly received the affirmation they had been searching for. The pair had been seen collectively at a number of public occasions and a supply confirmed to Leisure Tonight that they had been “again collectively and really completely happy.”

Nelly has two youngsters from a earlier relationship and two youngsters he adopted after their mom, his stepsister, died of leukemia. That is Ashanti’s first little one. 

Laverne Cox has swept the board. 

The Orange Is the New Black alum makes a show-stopping look on the April 16 episode of NBC’s Password, leaving host Keke Palmer, recurring participant Jimmy Fallon and contestant Saigim visibly surprised in E! Information’ unique clip of her good bonus spherical.

Laverne and Saigim had 30 seconds to appropriately convey and guess 10 passwords beginning with letters “M” by way of “V” within the alphabet. Every right reply would earn Saigim $1,000 and an ideal rating would improve her prize to $25,000. 

The primary eight passwords have been a breeze for the duo, whose peak distinction Laverne famous as “iconic” when she first took the rostrum. After skipping the ninth password, the pair efficiently secured the tenth—leaving them only one guess away from the victory. With only one second on the clock, Laverne returned to the skipped password and appropriately answered “ukulele,” incomes her teammate the last word Password prize of $25,000.

US music stars Ashanti and Nelly have revealed they’re engaged and expect their first youngster collectively.

The award-winning performers – who first dated over 20 years in the past – rekindled their romance final yr.

They first met on the Grammy Awards in 2003, and dated for a decade earlier than going their separate methods.

Ashanti shared a video on Instagram, saying she’ll want “about 9 months” to arrange for her subsequent large gig.

Nelly additionally shared the put up, which was captioned, “Child child child child”, on his official Instagram feed.

Within the video, Ashanti’s mom, Tina Douglas, asks her how a lot time Ashanti might want to prepare for the present.

We see the Silly singer, who’s sporting a glittery outfit trimmed with fur, grabbing a being pregnant check and disappearing backstage, earlier than replying: “I will want about 9 months.”

The 43-year-old later confirmed she is engaged to the Scorching In Herre and Trip Wit Me rapper Nelly, 49, whose actual title is Cornell Haynes Jr.

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‘Sharing this with my household, fiance’

“This new yr of my life is such a blessing full of affection, hope, and anticipation,” Ashanti informed Essence journal.

“Motherhood is one thing that I’ve regarded ahead to, and sharing this with my household, fiance, and constant followers, who’ve been so supportive of my profession, is a tremendous expertise.”

The infant can be Ashanti’s first youngster and Nelly’s fifth.

Nelly has a daughter and a son together with his former accomplice, Channetta Valentine, and he adopted the 2 youngsters of his late sister, Jackie Donahue, after she died of leukaemia in 2005.

The rapper’s household starred within the actuality TV present Nellyville in 2014 alongside his then girlfriend Shantel Jackson.

With the T20 World Cup across the nook, New Zealand might be taking over hosts Pakistan in a five-match T20I sequence, beginning on 18th April, Thursday on the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi. The Blackcaps after having received 4 of the final 5 T20I encounters towards Pakistan might be trying to gear up for the upcoming biennial occasion. Nevertheless, the hosts had the final snort earlier this 12 months once they toured New Zealand and have a head-to-head file of 21 wins from 39 matches.

HT launches Crick-it, a one cease vacation spot to catch Cricket, anytime, wherever. Discover now!

4-time main championship winner Rory McIlroy on Tuesday mentioned he plans to complete his profession on the PGA Tour, denying a printed report by a London newspaper that he had been provided $850 million and an fairness stake within the LIV Golf League.

McIlroy mentioned neither he nor his brokers have ever mentioned a possible deal to lure him to the LIV Golf League, which is being financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund (PIF).

“I actually do not know the way this stuff get began,” McIlroy informed Golf Channel whereas on the apply vary at Harbour City Golf Hyperlinks in Hilton Head, South Carolina, the positioning of this week’s RBC Heritage. “I’ve by no means been provided a quantity from LIV, and I’ve by no means contemplated going to LIV. Once more, I believe I’ve made it clear over the previous two years that I do not suppose it is one thing for me.

“It doesn’t suggest that I choose individuals who have went and performed over there. I believe one of many issues that I’ve realized over the previous two years is that folks could make their very own choices for no matter they suppose is greatest for themselves, and who’re we to evaluate them for that? However personally, for me, my future is right here on the PGA Tour, and it is by no means been any completely different.”

McIlroy, a 24-time winner on the tour, can be scheduled to play with Eire’s Shane Lowry in subsequent week’s Zurich Basic of New Orleans, a crew occasion.

“It is by no means even been a dialog for us,” McIlroy mentioned. “It is unlucky we have now to take care of it, and that is the state our sport is in. I am clearly right here and going to the PGA Tour occasion subsequent week, and I will play the PGA Tour the remainder of my profession.”

Sean O’Flaherty, McIlroy’s agent, informed the Irish Impartial in an e mail that there was “zero reality” to a report by Metropolis A.M., a London monetary paper, that the second-ranked golfer on this planet was mulling over an $850 million provide from the LIV Golf League that would come with an fairness stake of about 2%.

O’Flaherty referred to as the report “faux information.”

“I believe during the last two years, there’s been so many rumors of men,” McIlroy mentioned. “I believe the one factor I’ve realized as effectively is guys have to preserve an open thoughts, and I am certain there’s been gamers which are nonetheless taking part in on the PGA Tour which have talked to the fellows from LIV and had presents and no matter.”

Though the PGA Tour and the PIF signed a framework settlement on June 6 to type an alliance, the edges have not been capable of finalize an settlement. The framework settlement, which expired Dec. 31, was prolonged as negotiations proceed.

LIV Golf lured then-world No. 3 Jon Rahm into its ranks in December with a deal reportedly value greater than $350 million.

On March 18, PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan met with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and gamers administrators from the tour’s coverage board, together with Tiger Woods, within the Bahamas.

McIlroy, who tied for twenty second ultimately week’s Masters, has been one of many extra vocal critics of LIV Golf and its crew idea.

“I nonetheless hate LIV,” he informed reporters on the 2023 RBC Canadian Open in Toronto final June. “Like, I hate LIV. Like, I hope it goes away.”

After the PGA Tour’s pending alliance with the PIF was introduced, McIlroy mentioned he felt like a “sacrificial lamb.”

Over the previous a number of months, McIlroy has softened his place on permitting gamers who left for LIV Golf to come back again to the PGA Tour and whether or not they need to have the ability to compete within the Ryder Cup.

• Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard are three all-time greats 
• Bastian Schweinsteiger weighed in on the talk of who was one of the best participant
• Liverpool have been ‘hungover’ since Man United dumped them out of the FA Cup – the place has their power gone? Take heed to the It is All Kicking Off podcast

By Will Pickworth

Revealed: 05:31 EDT, 18 April 2024 | Up to date: 06:11 EDT, 18 April 2024

Bastian Schweinsteiger has revealed Jose Mourinho banished him from the Manchester United first-team and made him practice with the Underneath-16s for 3 months with out rationalization.

The previous Germany worldwide and World Cup winner gained eight Bundesliga titles and the Champions League with Bayern Munich throughout a 13-year spell when he joined Manchester United in 2015, who had been then managed by Louis van Gaal.

Mourinho changed Van Gaal in the summertime of 2016 however Schweinsteiger mentioned he was ignored by Mourinho after returning to pre-season from the European Championship that summer time and was banished from the first-team squad on his birthday.

Schweinsteiger informed Gary Neville on the Overlap Podcast that he initially thought Mourinho’s choice was a “joke” – with former United captain Neville admitting that he was “shocked” and “embarrassed” by the revelation and claiming the best way Schweinsteiger was handled was “unlawful”.

Schweinsteiger, who left the membership to hitch Chicago Fireplace in MLS the next March, informed Neville of the day he was despatched away to coach with the youngsters: “Once I walked into Carrington, [football director] John Murtough was there and mentioned that I wasn’t allowed to stroll into the dressing room, the coach [Mourinho] had mentioned so.

“No warning, nothing. I don’t know. Somebody may have informed me there, or defined it to me in a standard manner, however okay, I went to the youth dressing room and educated with the Underneath-16’s. Sure, fully [kicked me out of the first team dressing room].

“I then had a gathering with him [José Mourinho] within the afternoon. He defined to me that he didn’t see me completely happy right here at United as a result of once I had my damage, I did my rehab with German docs, spending time in Germany.

“In fact, I got here again to United and was in touch with docs and watched the video games – I had a dialog with Louis van Gaal when he was coach, and he mentioned to come back on the weekends to United and stay in touch with the docs, they wanted me match and there was an FA Cup ultimate which I virtually performed.

“That was our settlement and I saved to it. For me, I simply wished to get wholesome and wished to have the ability to play – I caught to the settlement with Louis van Gaal however clearly the board thought just a little in another way about that.

“It was simply me [that got moved to the youth dressing room]. After that, I used to be coaching alone for a minimum of three months with a health coach. I educated earlier than and after the group.

“I suppose they wished to eliminate me. At that second, I used to be nonetheless tremendous completely happy at United, I cherished to put on the jersey, I cherished it. I used to be pondering that perhaps it was only a interval, I’ll practice now and maintain myself match and perhaps in the future they’ll change their thoughts. My dream was to all the time step again out into Previous Trafford.”

Schweinsteiger mentioned he was “very unhappy” with how he was handled by Mourinho whereas Neville claimed it was “unlawful”.

“I used to be the PFA Union Consultant, and also you’re not allowed to try this,” Neville mentioned. “You may’t dismiss somebody like that, it’s constructive dismissal in some methods.

“It’s most likely just a few years too late, you need to have come and seen me on the time.

“I’m shocked and embarrassed at what I’m listening to as a result of I all the time suppose, gamers go away golf equipment and other people fall out, however there’s a approach to do issues and a approach to behave and act.”

If there was ever any likelihood Rory McIlroy would go away the PGA Tour for a profitable contract with LIV Golf, he might need put an finish to that risk with one transient interview Tuesday.

Chatting with Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis on-site at this week’s RBC Heritage on Hilton Head Island, S.C., McIlroy denied a latest rumor that he was considering a transfer to LIV Golf. Metropolis AM, a London-based monetary paper, reported on Monday, citing unnamed sources, that “McIlroy is near becoming a member of LIV Golf.”

McIlroy addressed it at Harbour City.

“I actually don’t know the way this stuff get began,” McIlroy advised Lewis. “I’ve by no means been provided a quantity from LIV, and I’ve by no means contemplated going to LIV. Once more, I feel I’ve made it clear over the previous two years that I don’t assume it’s one thing for me. Doesn’t imply I choose folks that have went and performed over there. I feel one of many issues that I’ve realized over the previous two years is that individuals could make their very own choices for no matter they assume is greatest for themselves, and who’re we to guage them for that. However personally for me, my future is right here on the PGA Tour, and it’s by no means been any totally different.”

McIlroy has lengthy been one of many PGA Tour’s largest defenders and LIV critics because the start-up league got here to fruition a pair years in the past, though he felt blindsided when the 2 sides introduced final June they had been engaged on a merger.

“It’s arduous for me to not sit up right here and really feel like a sacrificial lamb,” mentioned McIlroy, lower than 24 hours after the deal was made. “[I’m] feeling like I’ve put myself on the market and that is what occurs.”

Within the time because the merger — which continues to be pending — McIlroy has softened his stance on LIV, at the very least publicly. Two of his 2023 Ryder Cup teammates, Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, joined LIV for the 2024 season.

In an look on Gary Neville’s The Overlap just a few months in the past, McIlroy known as it “a wise enterprise transfer from Jon.”

“It’s opportunistic,” McIlroy advised Neville. “I feel he sees that issues will come again collectively and he’s in a fortunate place. There’s not one individual that wouldn’t need him on our Ryder Cup crew due to how good he’s, so he was in an important place the place there wasn’t a ton of threat concerned for him to go. I’ve bought no downside with him going if that’s what he desires to do and he thinks that’s the correct resolution for him and his household. Who am I to say any totally different at this level?”

On Tuesday, McIlroy added he’s unsure the place the latest rumor a few PGA Tour departure began, however over the previous few months he’s discovered to maintain an open thoughts.

“I’m positive there’s been gamers who’re nonetheless taking part in on the PGA Tour which have talked to the blokes from LIV and had provides and no matter,” he mentioned. “However I do not know [where the rumor started]. It’s by no means even been a dialog for us. It’s a type of issues, it’s unlucky that we now have to cope with it and that is the state that our recreation is in, however yeah, I’m clearly right here right now and I’m taking part in the PGA Tour occasion subsequent week and I’ll play the PGA Tour for the remainder of my profession.”

McIlroy is paired with one other Ryder Cup teammate, Ludvig Aberg, for the primary two rounds of the RBC Heritage, which is likely one of the Tour’s big-money Signature Occasions. Aberg is coming off a runner-up end in his main debut on the Masters; McIlroy was T22 at Augusta. They tee off at 1:40 p.m. ET on Thursday and 10:30 a.m. on Friday.

Thursday 18th April 2024, 11:43am

Kevin Turvey – The Man Behind The Inexperienced Door. ‘Himself’ (Rik Mayall). Copyright: BBC

• Droitwich is planning to launch a comedy pageant in 2025 to honour Rik Mayall
• Mayall grew up within the Worcestershire city, and it’s believed he made his first stage efficiency at Norbury Theatre
• “We’re actually hoping we will get the inaugural pageant going as a becoming tribute to Rik” says the chair of the theatre

The Worcestershire city of Droitwich is planning to launch a comedy pageant in 2025, to honour former resident Rik Mayall.

The comedy star – who appeared in reveals similar to The Younger Ones, Backside and The New Statesman – grew up within the city and carried out many occasions on the Norbury Theatre. It’s believed his first stage efficiency was on the Norbury as a small boy, showing in a manufacturing of Ready For Godot that was directed by his father.

Mayall later gave his investigative reporter character Kevin Turvey a background in Worcestershire.

Mayall died in June 2014, and the city’s council is hoping to launch the pageant in June 2025 to mark this, and make it an annual occasion.

Councillor Richard Morris instructed The Droitwich Commonplace: “The household was contacted and it was thought a statue ‘wasn’t actually Rik and what he was about’. They would like a pageant as it might assist maintain comedy – which he beloved a lot and labored so onerous on – alive. One factor Droitwich does properly is festivals and one factor Rik did extraordinarily properly was comedy so hopefully will probably be a successful mixture.”

Norbury Theatre’s chair Anne Lane, mentioned: “We’re actually hoping we will get the inaugural pageant going as a becoming tribute to Rik, in addition to boosting and inspiring extra of the city’s comedic expertise. It’s incredible – as the primary place Rik carried out – to be concerned on this thrilling enterprise.”

Showing on the BBC, she added the present considering was to get the city’s pubs and cafes concerned, together with novice comedians performing. “We hope to get an enormous comic right here for the climax of the pageant”, including: “A blue plaque is a blue plaque – it may be anyplace. However a comedy pageant in Rik’s title, yearly, brings his reminiscence again.”

Additional particulars shall be launched concerning the comedy pageant when plans have been made.

Backside, the Nineteen Nineties sitcom Mayall starred in with Adrian Edmondson, is because of be celebrated through new documentary Backside: Uncovered on TV channel Gold tonight (18th April).