A few hugs, handshakes, and heartfelt shoutouts allegedly aren’t enough to squash a good old-fashioned R&Beef.
While Usher and Chris Brown appeared to put on a united front during the second and third nights of the Atlanta stop of The R&B Tour, sources claim the tension between the two music heavyweights is far from over. Fans, however, are singing a different tune, with some finding the lingering feud rumors far-fetched after witnessing the pair’s public displays of brotherly love.
A source claimed Usher and Chris Brown “can’t stand each other” behind the scenes.
According to sources who spoke with PEOPLE, the R&B superstars still “can’t stand each other,” despite appearing to show one another love in front of thousands of fans during their Nov. 8 and Nov. 7 shows. The reported tension has allegedly become so serious that it played a role in the cancellation of their Inglewood and Miami performances.
“They were doing it for show,” one source claimed in an interview published Nov. 12, adding that the two singers were still not speaking backstage.
And allegedly, the issues go much deeper than a disagreement over who gets the final word on the setlist.
According to the insider, the relationship between Usher, 48, and Brown, 37, has never exactly been a brotherly bond. The source described their connection as more of a professional arrangement than an actual friendship, alleging that Usher has long viewed Brown as egotistical and someone who struggles with anger, a source claimed to PEOPLE.
Things reportedly came to a head during the opening night of their Atlanta tour run when the concert was delayed by nearly three hours.
Sources claim Brown wanted to push back the show’s start time because of heavy traffic surrounding the stadium, hoping to give fans more time to get inside. Usher, however, was reportedly frustrated with the delay and blamed Brown for the situation.
At one point, Usher allegedly yelled at Brown, “You think you know ATL better than me?!” the insider claimed.
As previously reported, the disagreement reportedly turned into a verbal confrontation, and the situation was allegedly made worse by what sources described as “competitive egos,” contributing to the lengthy delay.
But the start time wasn’t the only thing causing friction. The insider claims both singers have struggled with creative differences and their desire to have the final say, creating tension even before they officially hit the road together.
Eventually, their respective teams reportedly stepped in to smooth things over, and the singers managed to share the stage for several performances, including “Back to Sleep” and “It Depends (Remix).” From the audience’s perspective, everything appeared to be just fine. The two embraced, dapped each other up, and gave fans the kind of brotherly energy you’d expect from two R&B legends sharing a stage.
Behind the scenes, however, the situation was allegedly much less friendly. Hit the flip to read more!
Ongoing tension allegedly led to Chris Brown and Usher’s Inglewood and Miami tour stops being canceled, according to an alleged source.
Disagreements continued for the remainder of the tour run. And those canceled dates? According to the insider, don’t blame ticket sales.
The pair’s Monday, Nov. 16 performance at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, was canceled, along with an additional Dec. 6 date in Miami, allegedly due to the personal conflict between the singers.
Their Sunday, Nov. 15 Los Angeles performance remained listed on Ticketmaster as of press time. However, PEOPLE was told that even members of the artists’ respective teams weren’t entirely certain whether both singers would take the stage for that particular show.
Usher and Chris Brown shared a moment of brotherly love during their Nov. 11 show.
For now, the financial stakes of the tour and their commitment to fans may be enough to keep things professional.
But before we officially declare this R&B brotherhood over, there may be a little hope on the horizon. According to TMZ, both artists’ teams have been working behind the scenes to get the singers back on speaking terms, especially with several tour dates still remaining.
Sources familiar with the situation told TMZ that Chris and Usher still hadn’t sat down for a conversation following their reported backstage altercation on night one of the Atlanta stop of The R&B Tour. According to the outlet, Usher has family traveling with him on tour, making it difficult to find time to connect with Brown.
Instead, the two teams reportedly held discussions without the singers to figure out how to get everyone on the same page. Sources say both sides agreed that attitudes need to change and that the two artists need to have a conversation as soon as possible.
And perhaps Chris is already testing the waters.
During their Nov. 11 Atlanta performance, Brown gave Usher a special shoutout, referring to him as his “brother” in front of the crowd.
“Make some noise for my brother, Usher Raymond,” the star shouted.
Sources told TMZ that Usher had no idea Brown was planning to make the moment, but the gesture appeared to be well received. So, is the R&B beef finally cooling down, or is this feud far from over? Some fans think this is either overhyped or a straight publicity stunt.
Either way, hopefully these two can get in a room, have an honest conversation and remember that there’s plenty of room for two R&B kings at the top. The fans came for the music, not the backstage drama!
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