Lionel Richie apologizes to Chris Brown and Usher for 'jail' dig, calls them 'fine Christian men'
PHOENIX, ARIZONA: Lionel Richie immediately apologized after making a sharp remark during his performance with Earth, Wind & Fire at the Mortgage Matchup Center.
The 77-year-old singer took a dig that referenced “jail” and tried to redeem what he said. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member later referred to Chris Brown and Usher as “fine Christian men.”
Speaking about legal issues, Brown had some back in 2014 and was under police scrutiny, but Usher has never been under house arrest or been to jail.
Lionel Richie apologizes after taking a dig at Chris Brown and Usher
Richie performed in Phoenix on Tuesday, August 11, and made a comment that grabbed the audience’s attention. The singer compared The Commodores' collaboration with Earth, Wind & Fire to Brown and Usher's joint tour.
“Usher and Chris Brown, see they trying to do something new,” said Richie, addressing the crowd. “The Commodores with Earth, Wind & Fire, we were doing that back 40 years ago. Only difference is between then and now... we didn’t go to jail.”
He added on stage, “See, we didn’t have that Instagram, and that TikTok and that ‘go out and tell a lie and then go post it.’ What was that?” Now, right after slipping out this comment, Richie made sure to apologize immediately to water it down, saying, "I’m sorry. They’re fine Christian men."
Brown, for his part, smartly dropped a post. He shared a few crying-laughing emojis and wrote, “damn unk. We love ya paw paw.” The question now remains: Why did Richie comment? Well, Brown has some history with legal troubles.
Tracking back to Brown's legal history, he spent 131 days in Los Angeles County jail for violating his probation rules. This was related to his 2009 case involving his then-girlfriend Rihanna.
More recently, Brown pleaded guilty in relation to an incident at a London nightclub back in 2023, according to People. However, Usher has not been involved in any such legal issues and has preferred to stay away from such incidents.
Chris Brown and Usher's ongoing R&B tour
Speaking about Usher and Brown's R&B tour, the 'Love In This Club' singer explained why the collaboration is significant to him. “This isn’t just the story of R&B. It’s our story,” he said. “The blues comes from what we’ve lived. The rhythm is what keeps us connected, generation after generation,” he said.
For those unaware, the R&B Tour launched on June 26 in Denver, Colorado, and features both Usher and Brown performing across North America. It is expected to run till December 12, concluding in Tampa, Florida.
