While promoting the 20th anniversary tour of her debut album The Way It Is, R&B singer Keyshia Cole stirred controversy after seemingly revealing that fellow artist Ashanti is expecting her second child, news that had not been publicly confirmed.
During a May 29 radio interview, Cole praised Ashanti, her former VERZUZ competitor, and casually congratulated her:
“Shout out to Ashanti… she’s amazing. She got a baby… she pregnant again. Ooh, congratulations girl.”
The comment instantly raised eyebrows, as Ashanti had not announced a second pregnancy. When The Breakfast host Loren Lorosa sought clarification, Cole backtracked:
“Omg… I didn’t break anything. I saw this on the internet.”
Fans of Ashanti were quick to criticize Cole for spreading unverified personal information. By May 31, the backlash had grown enough for Cole to address the incident directly on Instagram:
“My apologies… I shouldn’t have said that. I thought she announced it. If that isn’t true I apologize.”
As of now, Ashanti has not commented publicly on the situation. The singer, who shares a son named Kareem Kenkaide Haynes with rapper Nelly, welcomed her first child in July 2024.
While the alleged “leak” was unintentional, the moment serves as a reminder of the sensitivity surrounding personal announcements, especially in the spotlight of celebrity culture.
