DWTS Alum Arrested in Missouri

Heavy/Getty/ABC Nelly was arrested in Missouri.

Season 29 “Dancing With the Stars” alum Nelly was arrested by the State of Missouri Highway Patrol Gaming Division at the Hollywood Casino on August 7, 2024, Officer Terry McComas of the Maryland Heights Police Department told Heavy via email.

The rapper, whose real name is Cornell Haynes II, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (specifically four ecstasy pills) and not having insurance, per the police record obtained by Heavy.

The 49-year-old was taken into custody at 4:45 a.m. He was also arrested “for Failure to Appear on an old traffic charge out of Maryland Heights,” according to McComas. Nelly has already been released per online police records.

According to TMZ, “Nelly was asked to show his ID to police and his info was run for verification” when they discovered “an active warrant for no insurance from a previous traffic stop conducted by Maryland Heights Police.” While arresting him on the warrant, police searched the rapper and discovered ecstasy pills, the outlet reported.

Heavy has contacted a rep for Nelly seeking comment. At the time of publication, Nelly had not posted anything publicly about the arrest.

People Reacted to Nelly’s Arrest on a Reddit Thread

Maryland Heights Police DepartmentNelly’s mug shot.

In the mug shot provided by the Maryland Heights Police Department, Nelly is wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with a white shirt underneath. A silver necklace is also visible.

Shortly after news of his arrest broke, dozens of people reacted on Reddit.

“He forgot this old piece of wisdom – never break the law when you’re breaking the law,” one person wrote.

“Yeah you don’t mess with MHPD, they’re bored in their dodge sports cars,” someone else added.

“You don’t get rich off of music, kids. Even the top acts have side hustles. A lot of these rappers are drug dealers to the stars. Nelly ain’t been in demand in a while. A long while. They are called ‘starving artists’ for a reason,” a third comment read.

“Nelly my dude I know you can afford insurance,” another commented.

“Well this is the 20th time he has been arrested and never seems to suffer the repercussions the rest of us do,” another comment read.

Nelly Is Expecting a Child With His Fiancee, Ashanti

The St. Louis rapper has rekindled his relationship with singer/songwriter and actor Ashanti and the two are expecting a baby together and according to Page Six “secretly married” in December 2023.

“Baby baby baby baby,” Ashanti captioned an Instagram post on April 17. The joint post with Nelly is the top pinned post on his feed. It’s also the most recent post that Nelly has shared.

At least one Redditor commented on the fact that the rapper is going to have another baby.

“Isn’t Ashanti due any day now with her and Nelly’s baby?? As a fellow Advanced Maternal Age Mom, I’m upset on her behalf. Seriously, he needs to quit all this crap,” the Reddit user wrote.

Nelly and Ashanti first started dating in 2003. They split about 10 years later, per People magazine, but reunited in 2021.

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