Lionel Richie Takes a Dig at Chris Brown and Usher During Phoenix Show

Lionel Richie had a blunt message for Chris Brown and Usher during a recent concert in Phoenix, joking that his generation of R&B stars knew how to put on a show without ending up in jail.

The 77-year-old singer made the comments Tuesday, Aug. 11, while performing with Earth, Wind & Fire at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Speaking to the audience, Richie referenced Brown and Usher’s ongoing R&B Tour.

“Usher and Chris Brown, see they trying to do something new,” Richie said, according to videos shared from the concert. “The Commodores with Earth, Wind & Fire, we were doing that back 40 years ago. Only difference is between then and now... we didn’t go to jail.”

Richie’s remark appeared to be aimed primarily at Brown, who has faced legal troubles over the years. In 2014, Brown served 131 days in a Los Angeles County jail after violating the terms of his probation. The probation stemmed from his 2009 felony conviction for assaulting his then-girlfriend, Rihanna.

Brown has also faced other allegations and legal proceedings in the years since. Usher, however, has never been to jail.

After making the joke, Richie quickly softened his comments and apologized to the crowd.

“They’re fine Christian men,” he said of Brown and Usher.

Richie then took aim at the social media culture surrounding modern celebrities.

“See, we didn’t have that Instagram, and that TikTok and that ‘go out and tell a lie and then go post it.’ What the hell was that?” he said.

Brown did not appear offended by the veteran singer’s comments. Instead, he responded playfully in the comments of an Instagram post about the moment, adding several crying-laughing emojis before writing, “damn unk. We love ya paw paw.”

Usher has described the R&B Tour as a celebration of the genre’s history and its connection between generations.

“This isn’t just the story of R&B. It’s our story,” he wrote on Instagram last month. “The blues comes from what we’ve lived. The rhythm is what keeps us connected, generation after generation.”

The R&B Tour began in June and is scheduled to continue with North American stadium dates through December.

Meanwhile, Richie’s tour with Earth, Wind & Fire continues across North America through October. He is also scheduled to return to Las Vegas for a series of residency performances at Wynn Las Vegas through November.