Usher adds onstage disclaimer at latest ‘R&B Tour’ stop: ‘Don’t bring your a— up here if you don’t wanna be here’
TheGrio...
The Grammy winner adjusted his onstage routine following widespread reactions to a fan who later said she attended the show primarily to see Chris Brown.
Usher has added a verbal waiver to his concert routine after one awkward Nashville serenade became a multiday internet fracas. During the “R&B Tour’s” first Birmingham stop, the singer delivered a stage warning before inviting another woman into the spotlight, giving more country to the ongoing saga of Usher versus Gabrielle Cheyenne, who appeared uncomfortable onstage when being personally serenaded by the R&B legend and again when she explained that she had attended the show mainly to see Chris Brown.
“Before we get started, don’t bring your a— up here if you don’t wanna be here,” Usher told the crowd in a clip shared online, a comment that drew significant crowd reaction.
“God don’t like ugly. But most certainly doesn’t feel too good about pretty privilege either! “Pretty privilege” is a reference to the phrase Cheyenne used while defending herself from criticism online. The concert disclaimer was delivered with a smile, but the message was clear.
At this point, the “Can U Handle It?” segment may need a consent form, a FAQ page and somebody from human resources standing beside the stage bed.
The back-and-forth began at the tour’s July 25 stop at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Cheyenne was selected for Usher’s recurring audience serenade, but her reserved reaction quickly became the main event. Usher noticed the energy mismatch, stopped the routine and had her escorted from the stage.
Cheyenne later said the tour’s team had moved her into the VIP section without telling her which performer might invite her onstage. She explained that she came primarily to see Brown and would have responded differently if he had been the artist in front of her.
That answer did not end the discussion. It gave the internet another shift.
Cheyenne defended her appearance, referenced “pretty privilege” and said she had enjoyed the experience despite how the video looked. She also said she had no problem with Usher, making the continuing debate sound increasingly like an argument being held by everyone except the two people involved.
Usher’s Birmingham response showed that he had heard the commentary. Rather than issue a formal statement, he folded the joke into his next performance and made the rules clear before the music started.
Usher’s stage warning probably will not close the case, though. The original clip, Cheyenne’s explanation and Usher’s reply have now produced enough episodes for a limited series. Still, future volunteers have received the assignment: know who is calling you up, know what the routine involves and bring a visible amount of enthusiasm.