Usher hits back at rumors of ‘heated exchange’ with Justin Bieber at Oscars afterparty

Usher’s close friend Da Brat clarified the situation on 'The Rickey Smiley Show', revealing that Usher personally denied the claims
PUBLISHED MAR 25, 2026
Usher has dismissed claims that he had a heated argument with Justin Bieber at Beyonce and Jay-Z’s Oscars afterparty, calling the report 'exaggerated' (Getty Images)
Usher has dismissed claims that he had a heated argument with Justin Bieber at Beyonce and Jay-Z’s Oscars afterparty, calling the report 'exaggerated' (Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Usher has clapped back at a report that claimed that he and Justin Bieber had a heated argument at Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Oscars afterparty. TMZ reported on the alleged fight, as it also revealed that the two ended up being involved in a fist fight.

But now, the claims have been called an “exaggeration”. Usher’s friend Da Brat revealed during an episode of ‘The Rickey Smiley Show’ that the ‘Yeah’ singer told her “This is an exaggeration of the conversation.”

Usher is supportive of Justin Bieber

“He’s been nothing but supportive of plenty of issues that Justin Bieber has had throughout the years and y’all can actually check the records for all that he has been,” she noted, as she continued, “Justin is on his own journey, dealing with his own reality that he’s created.”

Usher attends the Tiffany & Co. Celebration of the launch of Blue Book 2024: Tiffany Céleste at The Beverly Estate on April 25, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Tiffany & Co.)
Usher attends the Tiffany & Co. Celebration of the launch of Blue Book 2024: Tiffany Céleste at The Beverly Estate on April 25, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Tiffany & Co.)

Brat also added that the 47-year-old singer has only good wishes for Bieber and “they have no hostility towards each other.”

Usher and Justin Bieber are 'cool with each other'

“People just take stuff out of context when they see something and they run with it, and I’m just here to say that is not the issue. They are definitely cool with each other, and they have love and they support each other,” the rapper asserted.

This came after, in February 2024, a Page Six report said that Usher, former mentor of the ‘Baby’ hitmaker, asked him to participate in his Super Bowl halftime show, but Bieber refused.

Justin Bieber is seen leaving iPic Theater in Financial District on February 05, 2025 in New Yo on February 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)
Justin Bieber is seen leaving iPic Theater in Financial District on February 05, 2025 in New Yo on February 05, 2025 in New York City (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)

At the time, a tipster claimed that there “was no bad blood between Usher and Justin. Justin just wasn’t up for it — he just wasn’t feeling it.”

Usher considers Justin Bieber his 'child'

Usher had even referred to Bieber as his “child” while discussing the ‘Never Say Never’ singer’s past legal issues.

In 2016, the actor shared on 'The Howard Stern Show’, “As a mentor, he’s accepted my opinion, I can give him my perspective. He’s like a child to me, so I don’t necessarily feel like it’s business, you know what I’m saying? I feel like I’m talking to someone who has had hardships.”

“If your child ever has difficulties, every person who’s listening to this s—t right now understands that nobody’s perfect. You’re gonna have moments. And if he does, I can only show him the reality of what has happened … Of course, we’ve had stern talks,” Usher added at the time.

Usher performs onstage during the Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation)
Usher performs onstage during the Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation)

Justin Bieber said his soul was not always protected

Bieber himself has spoken about his difficult past in an Instagram post.

In a December 2025 post, he wrote, “I grew in a system that rewarded my gift but didn’t always protect my soul.” “

"There were moments I felt used, rushed, shaped into something I didn’t fully choose. This kind of pressure leaves wounds you don’t see on stage,” the father-of-one added.

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