Usher performed his song “She Came II Give It II You” live with Nicki Minaj at the 2014 VMAs. During one part of the performance, he knelt down and leaned his head and shoulders against the rapper’s butt – and then gave her a slap on the bottom. Looking back, the musician is not particularly proud of the last gesture.
“I think I exaggerated a little”
But this realization comes late. At first the singer tried to explain himself in an interview with the radio station “Breakfast Club Power”, told more about his style of playing bass and then explained the live moment with the words: “That was Jamaican culture. For that you have to go to Jamaica. It was just a funny moment.”
But when the interview questioned the fun of the situation, Usher caved: “I think I exaggerated a little […]. I shouldn’t have slapped her ass. I shouldn’t have done that.”
Nicki Minaj and Usher live at the 2014 VMAs:
However, Nicki Minaj herself has not commented again on her view of Usher’s show performance.
More about Usher
On February 9th, Usher’s new record, COMING HOME, was released – the successor to 2016’s HARD II LOVE. He will also present the album live in Germany: On May 1st, 2025 he will perform at the Uber Arena (formerly Mercedes-Benz Arena) in Berlin.