03/01/2021
"Ashanti tested positive for COVID-19 beforehand, and we cannot put anyone at risk in the process," read a post from the official "Verzuz" account. "First time this has struck us so close to showtime. We apologize to our incredible audience! Get well soon, Ashanti ?????? Wear a mask, stay inside, and take COVID-19 seriously. It’s truly affecting our community."
Ashanti, 40, assured her fans on social media that she was "ok and not in any pain" and was working with "Verzuz" and Apple Music to see if it would be possible for her to continue the battle virtually from home.
"Never in a million years did I think I would get COVID," Ashanti said while occasionally coughing in a video posted to her Instagram account Saturday. "I'm super bummed. I'm still ready to do it tonight, though... I got my computer set up and I'm super ready to do it, but we don't think the technical aspect of things is going to be perfect."
The battle will now take place January 9.