BIRMINGHAM: Singer Usher appeared to address last week’s viral onstage incident with a fan during his concert in Birmingham, Alabama, joking that audience members who do not want to participate in his performance should not come on stage.
Speaking to the crowd before inviting another fan to join him during his signature serenade segment, the R&B star made a lighthearted remark that was widely seen as a reference to the incident at his Nashville show, where an audience member appeared uncomfortable and the performance ended early.
The latest concert marked Usher’s first public comments on the viral moment.
What Prompted Usher’s Remarks?
The comments followed an incident during the Nashville stop of The R&B Tour, where Usher invited audience member Gabrielle Cheyenne on stage for his interactive performance.
Videos of the encounter quickly spread across social media after the singer appeared to cut the segment short when he sensed the fan was not fully engaged.
Cheyenne later told TMZ Live that her reaction was not directed at Usher personally. She said she had hoped to be selected by co-headliner Chris Brown and had been unexpectedly upgraded to VIP seating without knowing which artist would invite her on stage.
How Did the Birmingham Performance Differ?
During Tuesday’s concert, Usher selected another audience member who enthusiastically participated in the performance, allowing the show to continue without interruption.
The viral Nashville moment has generated widespread discussion online, while separate clips from the same concert also showed fans interacting closely with Chris Brown during his performance.
Usher and Chris Brown are currently co-headlining The R&B Tour, which continues with scheduled performances across the United States throughout the summer.