Ashanti Believes Irv Gotti Is "Bitter" & Calls His Comments "Really Negative"

BY Erika Marie 2.6K Views
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Ebro wanted to know why she wasn't in the Murder Inc doc and Ashanti suggested she needed to protect herself.

It looks like Ashanti is having a press run of her own. After remaining relatively silent earlier this year as Irv Gotti spoke freely about the evolution of their rumored '90s romance, Ashanti is giving her side of the story. She emerged as Murder Inc's songbird and became a global sensation under its umbrella, but it wasn't her musical contributions that caught fans' attention during Gotti's interviews.

The Murder Inc label head floated from one platform to the next speaking about his relationship with the singer. He talked about their intimate moments being the inspiration behind her hits and alleged that Ashanti left him in the dust when federal authorities came knocking.

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(Photo by Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Atlantis Paradise Island)

On the heels of the release of a trailer that features Ashanti sitting down for a one-on-one with Angie Martinez, the singer also made an appearance with Ebro in the Morning on Hot 97. In a clip shared by the station, Ebro asked why she wouldn't be in the Murder Inc documentary that was released via BET.

"I think that once someone goes after you and attacks you and intentionally tries to consistently hurt you, at some point, you have to protect yourself," she answered. "I just felt like I don't want to put myself in that space, in that energy, because it was really, really negative."

Ebro said that as an observer, he's watching it unfold with the rest of the world. He wanted to know if this tension was business or personal.

"I think it's a combination of being bitter because of the business and how things happened in his mind," Ashanti said. "After a while, you assume that a grown man kinda understands what it is and moves on."

Meanwhile, after receiving waves of backlash over his remarks about Ashanti, Irv said he wouldn't be talking about her anymore.

Check out Ashanti's Hot 97 interview below.

About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.