Ashanti Reveals Why She Won’t Forgive Irv Gotti After Everything

It looks like the bad blood between Ashanti and Irv Gotti runs deeper than we thought because Ashanti is still holding onto the grudge between them, even after his passing. While some say she owes her career to Irv since he was the one who discovered her, Ashanti has spent years speaking out about how he mistreated her. And from the looks of it, she has not gotten over the pain he caused her.

Ashanti had some kind words to say about Irv when he passed, but many believe she didn’t truly mean them. According to reports, she is never going to forgive him for everything he did to her. But what exactly did he do, and why is Ashanti so determined to never let it go? Let’s break this down.

Irv Gotti’s Role in Ashanti’s Career

Irv Gotti played an instrumental role in shaping Ashanti’s rise to stardom in the early 2000s. She was already gaining traction in the industry with her standout features on hit records like Fat Joe’s What’s Luv? and Ja Rule’s Always on Time. Recognizing her potential, Gotti brought her into the Murder Inc. family, and in 2002, she officially signed with the label. Her debut album Foolish became a game-changer, selling millions of copies and winning her a Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album in 2003. Under Gotti’s guidance, Ashanti became one of the biggest R&B stars of the era, delivering hit after hit.

However, despite their initial success, things didn’t stay smooth forever. In 2009, Ashanti and Murder Inc. parted ways, marking the beginning of their deteriorating relationship. What once was a strong creative partnership eventually turned into years of tension and resentment.

The Controversial Interview

In August 2022, Irv Gotti sat down for an interview on Drink Champs and made a shocking claim: he alleged that he and Ashanti had been in a relationship during her early years at Murder Inc. If that wasn’t messy enough, he also insinuated that Ashanti was disrespectful to him and implied that she owed her career to him.

Gotti said, “There was no shame in us being together… She wasn’t responsible for my divorce. I could give you three other chicks that were. I was already separated. She got a record deal through a man named Mario Basa. When I first met her, I told her I was focused on Jay-Z, but she stayed around the studio, and that’s how she got opportunities like ‘What’s Luv?’ and ‘Always on Time.’ I put that girl on.”

While he tried to frame it as a positive story, his words carried an underlying bitterness, making it clear that he felt betrayed when Ashanti distanced herself from him.

Ashanti’s Response

Ashanti wasted no time shutting down Gotti’s claims. She made it clear that whatever he was saying wasn’t true. According to her, Irv had multiple girlfriends at the time, but she was never one of them. She also denied ever having a romantic relationship with him, stating that he had fabricated the entire story.

“Let’s clear this up. We dealt with each other, but was Irv my boyfriend? Was I his girlfriend? Never. He was still married at the time, and he had several other girlfriends.”

Ashanti also accused Irv of trying to sabotage her career after their fallout. According to her, he actively blocked opportunities for her, even telling DJs not to play her music. She claimed he refused to let her into the studio and warned people not to work with her. The final straw came when Ashanti was in talks with Dr. Dre for a potential deal, and Irv demanded a massive cut of her future earnings.

“Me and Dre were talking about a deal, and when I mentioned it to Irv, he said something like, ‘I want 90% of anything you make for the rest of your life.’ It was crazy.”

The Master Rights Battle

One of the biggest disputes between Ashanti and Irv revolved around the ownership of her master recordings. Irv openly opposed artists fighting for their masters, which didn’t sit well with Ashanti, who wanted control over her own music. She alleged that he took a significant cut of the money generated from her work, leaving her with far less than she deserved.

Ashanti’s Classy Tribute

Despite their rocky history, Ashanti chose to take the high road after Irv’s passing. While many expected her to mock him—especially considering how 50 Cent publicly ridiculed Irv after his death—Ashanti kept it classy. She posted a tribute on Instagram, writing:

“I can’t believe things ended like this, and it makes me so sad. We weren’t on the best terms the past few years, but as I’ve always said, through our ups and downs, I will forever be grateful for everything you’ve done for me. We made history, and that will remain infinite. I’ve always respected your musical genius and ability to push me to be my best. The greatness and positive things that came far outweigh the dark and negative times. I have always prayed for you to find peace. Sending love and prayers to the entire family. Rest well. Rest in peace, Irv.”

Will Ashanti Ever Forgive Irv?

While Ashanti’s tribute was heartfelt, it’s clear that she still has unresolved issues with Irv. Many fans praised her for handling the situation with grace, despite years of mistreatment. One fan commented, “The way Irv talked trash about Ashanti for years, I’m shocked she still showed class in her tribute. I respect her even more.” Another added, “Ashanti is better than me. I would have said ‘rest in piss’ to Irv.”