Usher Friend Denies Feud with Bieber After Oscars Party

Usher and his former protégé Justin Bieber reportedly shared a tense moment at an exclusive Oscars afterparty hosted by Beyoncé and Jay-Z on March 15 at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, but a close friend of the R&B star has dismissed claims of a feud as an overblown misunderstanding.

The incident gained attention after witnesses described Usher approaching Bieber with noticeable intensity, leading to a brief exchange that some outlets portrayed as heated or nearly physical. However, no authorities were called, and neither artist has publicly confirmed any altercation. Representatives for Bieber have not commented, while Usher addressed the speculation indirectly through rapper Da Brat, who spoke on The Rickey Smiley Morning Show on March 23. "I spoke to Usher, and he said this is an exaggeration of conversation," Da Brat said. She emphasized that the two men simply talked privately, and observers misinterpreted the interaction. "They had a conversation. Nobody heard the conversation but the two of them, people just take it and twist it and turn it around," she added.

Da Brat portrayed their relationship as supportive and affectionate, countering narratives of simmering...