Vogue Williams has publicly criticized singer Usher for touring with Chris Brown and for his past comments defending Sean "Diddy" Combs, citing their respective histories of violent crimes and legal troubles.
Williams, co-host of the podcast "My Therapist Ghosted Me," raised the issue during a recent episode, questioning Usher's association with Brown. Usher is currently on "The R&B Tour" with Brown, which is scheduled to conclude on December 12. The tour recently gained attention when a fan, Gabrielle Cheyenne, appeared to reject Usher's advances during a performance, stating she preferred Chris Brown.
Cheyenne later addressed online criticism, asserting her right to refuse participation and defend her actions. Usher subsequently made remarks on stage about "pretty privilege," which some interpreted as a response to the incident.
Williams also focused on Usher's comments about Diddy, who is currently serving a four-year prison sentence for charges including transportation for the purposes of prostitution. Usher had previously stated in a March interview with Forbes that he believed Diddy had been "misrepresented" and acknowledged his "valuable contributions" while noting that "not every man is perfect."
Williams found Usher's remarks particularly concerning, questioning the use of the term "misunderstood" in relation to Diddy's legal situation. Diddy's conviction followed the release of surveillance footage showing him assaulting his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, which corroborated allegations she made in a lawsuit. Usher and Diddy have a long-standing relationship, with Diddy having served as Usher's mentor in the early 1990s.
Chris Brown has a documented history of legal issues, including a felony assault conviction in 2009 for attacking his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. He has also faced accusations of other physical assaults and dismissed rape allegations. In 2017, his ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran was granted a five-year restraining order against him. More recently, Brown pleaded guilty to affray in connection with a 2023 nightclub attack in the UK, with more serious charges related to the incident being dropped. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 26 for the affray charge, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison.