Usher has apologized for hugging Alicia Keys and slapping Nicki Minaj’s buttocks, which drew criticism from Boosie Badazz and Cam’ron. Keys is married to Swizz Beatz.
During an appearance on The Breakfast Club, the famous musician discussed the viral Super Bowl moment with Keys, stating that it should not be perceived as negative or inappropriate. It was basically about having fun because of a song that Alicia and I wrote many years ago.
“We celebrated because of its legacy. According to HiphopDX, he stated that he did not mean any disrespect to anyone.
The host, Charlamagne Tha God then asked Usher if he, Keys, and Swizz had laughed at how people reacted to the hug, to which he said, “Yes, we joked about it. It’s incredible how people [concentrated on] that. It is all about how you present things, guy. But it is all love.”
After Usher’s Super Bowl performance, Swizz Beatz said on Instagram that he didn’t mind the singer dancing with his wife, indicating his attitude towards the situation.
Swizz stated, “You’re talking about the wrong damn thing!!!” You don’t see the beautiful outfit that covers the entire stadium. Tonight’s show was nothing short of fantastic, featuring two incredible Giants! Congratulations, @usher and my love @aliciakeys. That song is a classic. We don’t spread negativity on this side; we produce history.”
The “Caught Up” singer admitted to slapping Minaj’s rear during their 2014 MTV Video Music Awards performance, which went viral again after his Super Bowl appearance.
He defended his behavior by saying, “That was Jamaican culture. You know what I mean? You need to travel to Jamaica. It was just a fun moment. And, by the way, there was me playing my bass, so I would have probably bumped my shoulder or hand, but I had my bass in my hand, so I just bopped off her body slightly.
“Go back and watch the video; you’ll understand because I did it there for the first time. That was a small taste of Jamaican culture.”
Nonetheless, the R&B star admitted that he was “reaching a bit” when he slapped Minaj’s buttocks, stating, “I should not have smacked her butt.”
Fans can watch Usher’s Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show performance in a new documentary created in partnership with Apple Music.
Jay-Z and Hamish Hamilton directed the 10-minute video, which was recorded exclusively on an iPhone 15 Pro. It was released on February 17.
This mini-production allows fans to witness rehearsals, studio sessions, and an astounding number of setlist modifications, giving them an idea of how much labor went into the production.