Nelly Officially Brings Out His New Girl, La’Shontae Heckard, to ATL Club

This weekend rapper Nelly hosted a party at the Gold Room in Atlanta and had mouths talking as his new girl,  La’Shontae “Tae” Heckard was spotted partying it up with her man. Which leaves us wondering, what happened with him at R&B singer, Ashanti? 

The Nelly and Ashanti couple rumors began in 2003, well over 10 years ago, as they were spotted numerous times holding hands and exotic vacations. Despite the obvious evidence, the twosome never officially confirmed their relationship. In an interview with Loni Swain on WGCI in Chicago in 2010, the St. Louis Rapper let it be known the status of their “friendship”:

“I’ve never said I was in a relationship, she’s never said she’s in a relationship, so I don’t know where they do that at.” “But the thing is, we’ve always admitted we’re friends. We hang out. She’s a sweet girl, very pretty girl, very talented, but she does her thing as far as her career and I’m doing my thing as far as my career now. The end results are inconclusive.” (SOHH)

Ashanti also had her hand in denying their coupledom in a 2010 interview at ‘106 &Park”:

So one of the rumors that I would like to clear up, the whole Nelly-Ashanti, and Nelly’s denying and Nelly’s not claiming; let’s clear that up right now,” she says adamantly. “Me and Nelly are good friends. I never said I was his girl, I never quote, unquote, ‘claimed him.’ I never said we were an item and neither has he, so there you have it. We’re good friends. The whole, ‘Oh he’s denying and she’s denying,’ no claiming. Come on, son!”  (VIBE)

And now fast forward to 2013, it seems as though Nelly and Ashanti have ended their “friendship” as he was spotted in Atlanta this weekend with video model, La’Shontae “Tae” Heckard.  If Heckard looks familiar, his why– she’s appeared in numerous music videos (Busta Rhymes and Mariah Carey’s single, “I Know What You Want” and Ne-Yo’s, “So Sick”). Tae has also lent her acting chops to starring in BET’s “The Game” and played T.I.,’s former love interest in the movie “ATL.” According to The Inquistr, the Asian and Black beauty was born in Seoul, South Korea where her military father was stationed. The family later moved to Texas to which Heckard herself served in the  military for 9 years.

Now it seems as if Nelly and Tae are getting serious as Tae recently posted a picture to her Instagram of her and Nelly’s daughter, Nana. The caption read, “Me and my baby!!!! @nellelove”

The new couple do look happy together but we can’t help but wonder what really happened for Ashanti and Nelly to call off a 10-year relationship. Is this a direct diss to Ashanti as Nelly never fully committed to her in the media? Or did that relationship just run it’s course? Tell us what you think.

–Jasmine Aspinall 

Photo Credit: Prince Williams (ATL Pics)