When did Ashley Martelle and Irv Gotti date? Former girlfriend pays tribute to late Murder Inc founder

Irv Gotti's former girlfriend, Ashley Martelle, is breaking her silence on his passing.

The Instagram model took to the platform to pen a lengthy, heartfelt statement alongside a carousel of images of the two over the years. In her statement, she reflected on their relationship, bond, and goals.

The record producer and founder met his demise on February 5, 2025, at the age of 54. Variety has reported that the cause of death still remains unclear, though he reportedly suffered several minor strokes in the months leading up to his death.

Irv Gotti and Ashley Martelle dated from 2016, though other details about their relationship, such as when they broke up or why, remain unclear. However, during that time, they were known to make several appearances together, such as at the 2016 BET Awards. However, as reported by HipHopDx, their relationship reportedly came to an end amid rumors of infidelity on Martelle's part.

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Ashley Martelle says she could never settle down for a man after Irv Gotti, says he raised the standards too high: Read more

In her statement on Instagram, Ashley Martelle penned:

"When I was told Irv passed, I didn’t say anything I just went silent.. few days passed and I didn’t have any emotions, I thought something was wrong with me. I was in shock and pushed the thought of him being gone so far I didn’t want to accept that.. but when it’s 4am and there’s nothing else to keep my mind occupied things start to sink in."

She also referred to her relationship with the record producer as "full force non stop love," noting that they made it "very public and clear. We told everyone how much we loved each other," she penned, referring to it as "the happiest time" in her life. She expressed her love for him and his family before adding that he set the standards too high for any man who came after him.

Ashley Martelle also described Irv Gotti as a man of his word, noting that he was "the most honest" and "if he said he got you he GOT you."

"We had so many open conversations that would ruin most friendships, but for us we could talk about anything because We knew what we meant to each other and what we had. We were family. It didn’t matter if Irv called me for a favor I was doing it, and did. I never had a man step up for me like Irv, he was the first, he was stamped," she penned.

Read her full statement on Instagram below:

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During a 2017 interview with The Breakfast Club, Irv Gotti revealed that he had moved on and was ready to settle down.