In an interview with Charlamagne Tha God and Jess Hilarious that aired duringThe Breakfast Clubon Monday, the “U Got It Bad” artist, 45, addressed getting handsy withNicki Minajduring their performance at the awards show 10 years prior.
“Have you seen some of your old moments, like when you were on stage with Nicki Minaj and you were headbuttin’ her ass? Why was you so unhinged?” Charlamagne, 45, asked Usher, referring to the performance in which he also slapped the “Anaconda” musician’s derriere.
The R&B star initially attempted to laugh off the moment and provide his rationale.
“Absolutely! That was Jamaican culture! So you gotta go to Jamaica. That was just a moment that was fun,” Usher said, referring to the island’s dance culture. “By the way, it was me playing my bass, so I probably would’ve bumped my shoulder or my hand, but I had my bass in my hand and I was playing, so I kind of bopped off her body a little bit. If you go back and look at the video, you’ll understand because I did it there for the first time.”
The 2014 performance features the eight-time Grammy winner bouncing his shoulder and head against Minaj’s behind as he plays bass during their 2014 collab “She Came to Give It to You," before he stands up and spanks the rapper, 41.
“Oh no it was on beat and everything!” Charlamagne recalled. “It was on beat, and I was like, ‘Damn!'"
“I think I was reaching a bit when I smacked her, though,” Usher admitted. “I shouldn’t have smacked her. I shouldn’t have did that.”
Jess, 42, then interjected and brought the conversation back to how he had been discussing the importance of supporting fellow Black artists, “See, you gotta lift her up!”
“Iwaslifting!” the “Burn” musician said of the controversial moment.
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Usher; Nicki Minaj.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage
Earlier this month, Usher headlined the 2024Super Bowlhalftime showand enlisted a show-stopping lineup of performers for his set includingAlicia Keys, H.E.R., Lil Jon,Ludacris, Will.i.am and Jermaine Dupri.
His career-spanning concert featured songs including “Caught Up,” “U Got It Bad,” “My Boo,” “Yeah!” and more.
Usher’s Super Bowl performance was just two days after he released his ninth studio album,Coming Home. While he wrapped his Las Vegas residencyin December 2023, he’ll hit the road for hisUSHER: Past Present Future touron Aug. 20 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
source: people.com
