Why DMX’s Ex-Wife Believed He and Aaliyah Became a Little Too Close

#NOLAZINE - DMX and Aaliyah created one of the most memorable rapper-and-R&B-singer collaborations of the early 2000s. Their chemistry was undeniable.

They appeared together in the 2000 movie Romeo Must Die, collaborated on the soundtrack record “Come Back in One Piece,” and developed a friendship that DMX continued speaking about with love and respect long after Aaliyah's tragic death.

But there was apparently one person who wasn't always comfortable watching their chemistry:

DMX's then-wife, Tashera Simmons.

Years later, both DMX and Tashera told a hilarious—but revealing—story about what happened while DMX and Aaliyah were filming the “Come Back in One Piece” music video.

According to Tashera, the two stars became a little too cozy for her liking.

So was there actually something romantic happening between DMX and Aaliyah?

There is no credible evidence proving that.

But once you hear what happened on the video set, it's easy to understand why DMX's wife wasn't exactly smiling.

DMX and Aaliyah Connected Through “Romeo Must Die”

DMX and Aaliyah's friendship developed around the making of the 2000 action film Romeo Must Die.

Aaliyah starred alongside Jet Li in the movie, while DMX made a memorable appearance as Silk.

DMX later recalled that Aaliyah and producer Joel Silver personally approached him while he was on tour about participating in the movie.

That made an impression on X.

Aaliyah was already a major star, yet instead of simply having somebody from her team make a telephone call, she personally came to see him.

DMX agreed.

And from there, the two artists developed a friendship.

Then Came “Come Back in One Piece”

Their connection continued through the Romeo Must Die soundtrack.

DMX joined Aaliyah for “Come Back in One Piece,” a record that perfectly combined their completely different musical personalities.

Aaliyah was smooth and mysterious.

DMX was aggressive and gritty.

On paper, it might have seemed like a strange combination.

On record, it worked.

The contrast was exactly what made the song special.

The music video further emphasized their chemistry, with Aaliyah entering DMX's world and filming scenes around Mount Vernon and Yonkers.

But behind the scenes, another story was developing.

And DMX's wife was watching everything.

Tashera Simmons Was on the Video Set

When DMX filmed the “Come Back in One Piece” video with Aaliyah, he wasn't hiding anything from his wife.

Tashera was actually there.

DMX later remembered bringing his wife and his dog to the video shoot.

During one particular scene, DMX was sitting on a bench while Aaliyah was positioned between his legs.

According to DMX, the weather was chilly.

He had on a jean jacket.

Aaliyah only had on a T-shirt.

So between takes, X decided to help keep Aaliyah warm.

He began rubbing her arms.

That's when things apparently changed.

Because across the set stood Mrs. DMX.

And she was watching.

Tashera Thought They Were Getting “Too Cozy”

Years later, Tashera Simmons recalled the incident for TV One's Uncensored special about DMX.

From DMX's perspective, he was simply warming up his friend.

From his wife's perspective?

It looked entirely different.

Tashera described DMX and Aaliyah as looking a little too comfortable together.

She acknowledged that someone can innocently try to warm up a friend, but what she was witnessing appeared “a little bit too cozy.”

DMX knew his wife wasn't happy either.

He later joked about feeling Tashera staring at him from across the set.

Any married man probably understands that look.

You don't need your wife to say anything.

You already know you're in trouble.

DMX Looked at His Wife—and Kept Going

This might have been the part that irritated Tashera the most.

DMX noticed her.

According to both of their recollections, he looked over and could tell she wasn't happy about what she was seeing.

But instead of immediately creating some distance between himself and Aaliyah, X essentially decided he would deal with his wife later.

Tashera remembered thinking that her husband was behaving as though he didn't have a wife standing right there on the set.

She was furious.

She later joked that she wanted to cause a scene but forced herself to maintain her composure.

Imagine the situation.

Your husband is one of the biggest rappers in the world.

He's filming a music video with one of the most beautiful and popular R&B singers in music.

She's sitting between his legs.

And now he's rubbing her arms.

While you're standing across the room holding the dog.

Tashera's reaction suddenly becomes much easier to understand.

But Did DMX and Aaliyah Actually Have an Affair?

This is where the story needs to be separated from internet speculation.

There is no established evidence that DMX and Aaliyah had a romantic or sexual relationship.

Tashera's comments describe what she witnessed and how uncomfortable it made her.

That's very different from proving an affair happened.

DMX consistently spoke about Aaliyah as somebody he genuinely cared about.

Their friendship clearly became important to him.

But neither DMX nor Aaliyah publicly confirmed that they were secretly dating.

So while the chemistry may have made Tashera suspicious or angry, it shouldn't automatically be transformed into a claim that DMX cheated with Aaliyah.

DMX Definitely Admired Aaliyah

What cannot be questioned is DMX's admiration for Aaliyah.

Years after her death, X still became emotional discussing her.

He remembered how much he enjoyed working with her and talked about bringing Aaliyah into his neighborhood while filming their video.

He also recalled attending an awards show with her.

For DMX, being able to arrive somewhere with Aaliyah beside him apparently made him feel pretty good about himself.

And can you blame him?

Aaliyah was one of the biggest young stars in entertainment.

She had beauty, style and an almost mysterious personality that fascinated people.

DMX clearly enjoyed her company.

Aaliyah's Death Hit DMX Hard

Everything changed on August 25, 2001.

Aaliyah died at only 22 years old when a plane carrying her and members of her team crashed shortly after takeoff in the Bahamas.

The news devastated the music industry.

DMX was among the countless artists affected by her death.

He participated in Aaliyah's posthumous “Miss You” music video, delivering an emotional message to his late friend.

It became one of the most memorable moments in the tribute.

Seeing the normally aggressive DMX openly showing that softer side demonstrated just how much Aaliyah meant to him.

DMX Even Named His Daughter Aaliyah

Perhaps the greatest demonstration of DMX's affection for Aaliyah came years later.

DMX named one of his daughters Aaliyah.

That wasn't simply a celebrity giving another celebrity a compliment.

It demonstrated how positively he remembered her and the impact their friendship had made on him.

Years after Aaliyah was gone, X was still making sure her name remained part of his life.

That says a lot about their bond.

Why Was Tashera So Suspicious?

There's another important part of this story.

Tashera wasn't viewing the situation in a vacuum.

Her marriage to DMX eventually became extremely complicated.

In later interviews, she openly discussed dealing with infidelity during their relationship.

She and DMX had known each other since they were young, long before he became an international superstar.

But fame brought enormous changes.

DMX became one of the biggest rappers alive.

Women surrounded him.

Touring became part of life.

Money arrived.

Temptation arrived.

And according to Tashera's later accounts, DMX eventually fathered children with other women during their marriage.

So when she saw her husband becoming physically comfortable with another beautiful woman—even if that woman was simply a friend—it makes sense that alarms would go off.

Aaliyah and DMX Had Natural Chemistry

Watching their old footage today, it's easy to understand why people continue discussing their relationship.

They genuinely looked comfortable around each other.

Their personalities were completely different, yet somehow they connected.

DMX was loud, unpredictable and emotionally intense.

Aaliyah was calm, soft-spoken and famously laid-back.

Maybe that's why the friendship worked.

Sometimes opposites connect naturally.

And that chemistry transferred directly onto the screen.

More than 25 years later, people still watch “Come Back in One Piece” and talk about how good the two looked together.

Tashera apparently noticed that chemistry before everybody else.

Unfortunately for DMX, she was standing right there when it happened.

The Story Became Funny Years Later

What's interesting is that DMX and Tashera were eventually able to tell the story with humor.

There was clearly real jealousy at the time.

Tashera wasn't pretending she was happy about what happened.

But years later, both could describe the moment and laugh about parts of it.

That gives us an unusual glimpse behind the scenes of celebrity life.

To fans, it was simply DMX and Aaliyah filming a classic music video.

To Tashera, it was:

“Why is my husband rubbing Aaliyah's arms while she's sitting between his legs?”

Those are two completely different experiences.

So Did DMX and Aaliyah Become Too Close?

According to Tashera Simmons, they certainly became too comfortable for her liking during that video shoot.

DMX himself didn't deny the incident.

He openly admitted warming Aaliyah's arms while she sat between his legs and remembered feeling his wife's angry stare.

But that doesn't prove there was a secret romance.

What we can say is that DMX and Aaliyah developed a genuine friendship and shared obvious chemistry.

They made a movie together.

They made music together.

They filmed a memorable video together.

And DMX continued honoring Aaliyah long after her death.

Tashera witnessed some of that chemistry firsthand and reacted the way many wives probably would have reacted.

She wasn't having it.

Two Legends Gone Too Soon

The story feels different today because neither artist is still here.

Aaliyah died in 2001 at only 22.

DMX died in 2021 at 50.

Two completely different artists from two completely different musical worlds somehow crossed paths and created something fans still remember decades later.

Whatever their private feelings may have been, there is no credible basis for rewriting their friendship as a confirmed affair.

What we do have is something more human:

A husband, a wife, a beautiful friend, undeniable chemistry and one extremely uncomfortable day on a music-video set.

Tashera saw DMX and Aaliyah getting close.

DMX saw his wife staring.

And apparently X made the decision that countless husbands have regretted making throughout history:

He decided he'd deal with his wife later.

More than two decades later, we're still talking about it.