Music legend Lionel Richie took a shot at R&B superstars Usher and Chris Brown during a performance in Arizona this week, contrasting his generation’s behavior with the legal and social media troubles of modern artists.
Speaking to a crowd at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Tuesday night, the 77-year-old singer suggested that the younger generation’s attempts at innovation are actually echoes of the past, albeit with more controversy. Richie, who is currently navigating his own headlining arena tour, referenced the “R&B Tour,” a massive joint stadium venture between Usher and Brown.
The “All Night Long” singer told the audience that while the pair are attempting to “do something new,” his former bands already set the blueprint decades ago. He noted that the primary difference between his era and the present day was a lack of criminal records and the absence of constant digital scrutiny. “Commodores and Earth, Wind & Fire, we were doing that back 40 years ago,” Richie said in fan-recorded footage shared on social media.
“Only difference is, between then and now, we didn’t go to jail! We’re fine Christian men.” Richie’s comments appeared to target the long history of legal issues surrounding Brown, 37, as well as recent viral mishaps involving Usher, 47. The “R&B Tour” has been plagued by a string of unusual headlines, primarily centered on Usher.
The singer recently faced backlash in Nashville for an awkward onstage interaction with a fan and sparked rumors in New Jersey that he had utilized a body double for portions of his set. Richie suggested that the immediate nature of platforms like TikTok and Instagram has amplified modern celebrities’ ability to spread misinformation or have their mistakes broadcast globally. “See, we didn’t have that Instagram and that TikTok and that go out and tell a lie and they go and post it,” Richie said during his Phoenix set.
Chris Brown responded to the now viral video. “[Laughing emojis] “Damn, unk. We love ya paw paw.”
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