The story behind Nelly's band-aid: Why did he wear a plaster?
Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., is an American rapper, singer-songwriter and entrepreneur. He is best known for hit tracks such as Hot In Herre and Dilemma. The hip-hop star has won various accolades throughout his career, including nine Billboard Music Awards. But besides his illustrious career, Iral’s nostalgic music videos feature him wearing a plaster on his left cheek. So, what was the mystery behind Nelly's band-aid?
Source: UGC
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Cornell’s fashion sense has always been loud. Whether it is a gigantic bling hanging from his neck or an oddly placed plaster on his cheek, the rapper has never been shy of capturing the attention of his fans.
However, Nelly’s signature face band-aid has always been subject to public scrutiny, and many theories have arisen about why he wore it for over a decade. Here are all the rumours debunked.
Nelly's profile summary
| Full name | Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. |
| Famous as | Nelly |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 2 November 1974 |
| Age | 49 years old (2023) |
| Zodiac sign | Scorpio |
| Birthplace | Austin, Texas, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Alma mater | University City High School |
| Height | 5’8’’ (173 cm) |
| Weight | 83 kg (183 lbs) |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Marital status | In a relationship |
| Partner | Ashanti |
| Children | 4 (2 biological, 2 adopted) |
| Parents | Cornell Haynes and Rhonda Mack |
| Profession | Rapper, singer-songwriter, actor, entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1993-present |
| Net worth | $70 million |
| Social media | InstagramFacebookX (Twitter) |
How old is Nelly?
Nelly (aged 49 as of 2024) was born on 2 November 1974 in Austin, Texas, USA. He is the only son of Cornell Haynes and Rhonda Mack. Haynes served in the Air Force for much of Iral’s childhood.
Source: Original
After his parents divorced when he was seven, Nelly relocated with his mother from St. Louis, Missouri, to University City.
Nelly's band-aid story
The hip-hop star gained mainstream recognition in the early 2000s thanks to his musical prowess and charismatic personality.
His fans, however, became intrigued about his personal life after he started wearing a small band-aid on his face. This plaster soon became synonymous with Nelly’s image.
Why did Nelly wear a plaster on his face?
Nelly has never confirmed the reason behind his face plaster. In interviews, he has always been somewhat elusive about the band-aid’s meaning, and it seems he intentionally maintained an air of mystery around it.
Nonetheless, this has not stopped his fans from coming up with different explanations and theories to address this issue.
Source: UGC
Capital XTRA reports that the renowned singer wore the band-aid to cover up a basketball injury. However, he allegedly wore it even after the wound healed in honour of City Spud, an ex-St. Lunatics member, with whom he collaborated on the song Ride Wit Me.
According to LADbible, Nelly once revealed that City Spud, who was serving a 10-year sentence for robbery at the time, was innocent. He stated:
I know when he sees me on TV wearing this band-aid, he knows I am wearing it for him.
Various sources, however, report that the band-aid was just a fashion statement the star adopted to distinguish him as a brand. Ultimately, the exact reason why the businessman wore a plaster on his face remains unknown.
Why did Nelly stop wearing his face band-aid?
After City Spud’s release from prison in 2008, Nelly’s face band-aid became less prominent in his image. As of 2024, the rapper no longer sports the plaster on his cheek.
Nelly’s career
Iral made his career debut in 1993 as part of the hip-hop group St. Lunatics. Six years later, he signed with Universal Records as a solo artist.
Source: UGC
His debut album, Country Grammar, charted in the top ten list of the Billboard Hot 100 and received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
In 2014, the star was ranked America’s fourth-best-selling hip-hop artist by RIAA, with 21 million albums sold in the USA. Here are some of his studio albums:
- Country Grammar (2000)
- Nellyville (2002)
- Sweat (2004)
- Suit (2004)
- Brass Knuckles (2008)
- 5.0 (2010)
- M.0 (2013)
- Heartland (2021)
In 2023, the singer partnered with HarbourView Equity Partners, who purchased a selection of his recorded assets, including Dilemma and Ride Wit Me.
He reportedly sold 50% of his catalogue for $50 million. Per Variety, the star did this to tap into new generations and broaden his audience reach.
As artists, we put our heart and soul into each track, and there comes a time when you consider preserving that artistry. My music is my legacy, and I want it to last beyond me, continuing to make my existing fans happy while reaching new generations and audiences. I am excited to partner with HarbourView to create opportunities for the discovery of my music decades from now.
Source: UGC
Acting
Nelly began acting in 2001, starring in the film Snipes. He has been featured in several TV series and films, as highlighted below:
| Film/TV show | Year |
| The Longest Yard | 2005 |
| CSI: NY | 2008-2009 |
| 90210 | 2011 |
| Nellyville | 2014-2015 |
| Reach Me | 2014 |
| The Platinum Life | 2017 |
| Dancing with the Stars | 2020 |
What is Nelly’s net worth?
Celebrity Net Worth estimates Iral’s net worth to be $70 million. He has amassed this wealth from his successful career in the entertainment industry and various business ventures.
Nelly’s band-aid has been an integral part of his image. Many fans knew him because of the plaster on his cheek. Even though various speculations and theories exist about why the rapper kept it on his face for this long, he has never officially confirmed any claims.
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Source: Briefly News
