Usher is finally addressing his steamy moment with Alicia Keys on the Super Bowl stage!
Last week, the vocal powerhouses stopped the world with a jaw-dropping performance of their hit 2004 song, “My Boo” and Usher got quite handy with his co-singer.
Following the backlash from many about not respecting boundaries, the R&B singer is clearing the air about his decision.
Usher Had A Laugh With Swizz Beatz About Alicia Keys’ Performance
Usher and Alicia seemed super cozy on stage as they gave an excellent rendition, but many were not pleased with how the “Love in This Club” singer was touchy with Alicia, a married woman.
Addressing the remarks, the eight-time Grammy winner, during an appearance on “The Breakfast Club,” explained that his steamy performance with Alicia shouldn’t be viewed as “perverted.”
The Super Bowl LVIII Half Time show headliner noted that their performance was “literally about having fun” and a tribute to the legacy of the song they created 20 years ago. “I didn’t mean no disrespect to anybody or anything like that.”
As for the state of his relationship with Alicia and her husband Swizz Beatz, Usher revealed that the trio had a laugh about the viral moment and how the Internet presented it as something vile. Recall that on the big night of the Super Bowl, Usher couldn’t keep his hands off the “If I Ain’t Got You” songstress.
Alicia rocked a figure-hugging bedazzled jumpsuit from Dolce & Gabanna while Usher placed his hands on her waist multiple times before hugging her from behind as they rounded off their performance.
Given that the “Confessions” singer was blamed for having a hand in Keke Plamer’s breakup from Darius Jackson following a steamy July encounter at his Las Vegas Residency, fans weren’t so kind about his Super Bowl performance with Alicia.
However, Swizz Beatz didn’t seem to share in the criticism as he took to his Instagram Stories to shut down the speculations and slam the critics. “Y’all talking about the wrong d— thing !!! y’all don’t see that amazing dress covering the entire stadium ⚡️🚨😂😂😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨,” he wrote alongside a breathtaking photo of his wife.
The famous producer continued, “Tonight’s performance was nothing but amazing with 2 amazing Giants! Congrats @usher and my love @aliciakeys that song is a classic 🤍 We don’t do negative vibes on this side we make history ✌🏽 Go see GIANTS at @brooklynmuseum it’s open until July blessings 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽.”
Usher Regrets Unhinged Performance With Nicki Minaj
While Usher doesn’t feel some type of way about his cozy performance with Alicia, the same cannot be said of his 2014 VMA performance with rap queen Nicki Minaj.
For the award night, the Atlanta native was seen playing the guitar as he bumped his head against Minaj’s behind before standing up to give her a smack. When host Charlamagne Tha God asked about the “unhinged” performance, Usher claimed his seemingly erratic behavior was inspired by “Jamaican culture.”
“That was just a moment that was fun,” he explained while noting that it wasn’t rehearsed. However, Usher admitted he had one regret about the performance. “I think I was reaching a bit when I smacked her though. I shouldn’t have smacked her butt,” he confessed.
The award-winning singer also commented on the viral “Boondocks” episode where a married woman fanned out and turned into an Usher groupie in front of her husband.
Usher described it as “funny” before adding that it was the “Usher Effect” that caused such a visceral reaction in the woman.