Ashanti Says She “Extended The Olive Branch” To Irv Gotti Before Death

Ashanti opened up about attempting to reconcile her relationship with Irv Gotti before his untimely death in a new interview. Speaking with Angie Martinez on the Angie Martinez IRL Podcast, the R&B singer claimed she “extended the olive branch” to the producer and empowered their overlapping musical legacies.

“It was a lot to process. It was a lot of different feelings and emotions, and I think honestly what I said [in my tribute post] is really how I feel,” shared the 44-year-old, per HipHopDX.

“I was really sad and I’m still sad that it ended like this, because there was a time where things were just amazing. And I know my heart always just wanted peace for both of us and for us to be cordial. I wished peace for him. I prayed for him to be at peace and you just don’t really see this – it really just came out of nowhere.

“I really wanted to [be able to make peace with him before he passed] because like I said, we made history together. That is infinite. Like, talking about my son – my son is gonna know that we made these records together! I’m sad that the last few years we weren’t seeing eye to eye. What I do know is that I tried. I do know that I extended the olive branch. I just want things to be cool.”

Irv Gotti tragically passed away last month at the age of 54. According to Gotti’s brother, his official cause of death was “massive hemorrhagic stroke.” The Murder Inc. Records co-founder’s funeral was attended by Ja Rule, Jay-Z, Lloyd, Charli Baltimore, Vita, Fat Joe, Steve Stoute, Hype Williams, Benny Boom, Angie Martinez, Ashanti, and more.

At the time of Gotti’s passing, Ashanti wrote on Instagram, “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 that you’ve done for me.”

VIBE continues to send our condolences to the friends, family, and fans of Irv Gotti.