Trigger warning: This article contains references to drugs and sexual assault
Rapper Nelly, 49, whose state name is Cornell Haynes II, was arrested around 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7, in St. Louis, Missouri, and charged with possession of four ecstasy pills — a controlled substance — and not having insurance, according to state patrol records obtained by NBC News.
According to the publication, the State Patrol turned him over to the Maryland Heights Police Department, where he was arrested for failure to appear on a warrant stemming from an old traffic charge in the St. Louis suburb. The Hot in Herre rapper was released shortly after by the MHPD, according to his arrest record.
Nelly’s longtime attorney, Scott Rosenblum, immediately responded to the allegations against him, claiming that Nelly was not charged with drug possession. He was only arrested on a warrant issued in December 2023 for “no proof of insurance” from 2018, for which he received no notice.
In his statement, according to NBC News, the lawyer also claimed that Nelly was “targeted by an overzealous, out-of-line officer,” who said the background check was necessary after Nelly won a certain amount of money at the casino where he was arrested. Rosenblum pointed out that the background check had not been conducted previously when Nelly had earned “similar or greater amounts” at the same location.
He said the officer who handcuffed Nelly paraded him throughout the casino and searched him without probable cause, after which he claimed ecstasy was found in his belongings. Rosenblum said, “We will be seeking an investigation into this officer’s conduct.”
As People reports, this wasn’t the musician’s first run-in with law and order.
In October 2017, Nelly was arrested after a woman named Monique Green accused him of sexually assaulting her on his tour bus in Washington. However, the charge was dropped in September 2019 after Green backed out from testifying. Nelly said that whatever happened between them was consensual, as reported by the above-mentioned outlet.
In 2015, Nelly was taken into custody by Tennessee State Police officers on multiple drug charges, including felony drug possession.
According to the report, troopers found a plastic bag filled with five colored crystal-type stones that were found to be methamphetamine; a small amount of marijuana; about 100 ziplock bags; and several handguns, including a gold-plated .50 caliber Desert Eagle pistol. Scott Rosenblum, defending his client at the time, said in a statement that Nelly was one of 15-20 people who could have accessed the bus from the street.
The rapper was charged with drug possession, marijuana possession, and drug paraphernalia possession in the case. According to People, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession, but the charges against him were dropped after he completed a diversion program.
In other news, Nelly is currently expecting his first child with Ashanti, whom he married in December 2023. Ashanti, who is also a singer, revealed the news during an April 2024 interview with Essence, saying she always looked forward to motherhood.
If you know someone who is struggling with substance abuse or sexual assault, please contact the authorities and report it. There are many helplines available for this.
Also read: ‘Beautiful, intimate moment’: Ashanti reflects on Nelly’s proposal during pregnancy