The R&B icon had social media buzzing after a woman identified as Gabrielle Cheyenne went viral for appearing uncomfortable during his signature onstage fan interaction in Nashville, Tennessee. Now, fans believe Usher has subtly responded to the criticism during a later concert in Birmingham, Alabama.
Usher Sends Message Before Inviting Fan Onstage
During his Birmingham performance, Usher appeared to reference the recent controversy before selecting another audience member for his popular "Can U Handle It?" segment.
Before bringing the fan onstage, the Grammy-winning singer jokingly told the crowd:
"Before we get started, don't bring your a** up here if you don't wanna be here."
The audience erupted in laughter before Usher added another comment that many interpreted as a direct response to Gabrielle Cheyenne's viral social media posts.
"God don't like ugly, but He most certainly don't feel too good about pretty privilege either."
The moment quickly spread across social media, with many fans connecting the remarks to the backlash surrounding the Nashville concert.
What Happened During the Nashville Concert?
The viral incident took place during Usher's July 25 performance in Nashville, Tennessee.
As part of his signature concert experience, Usher invited Gabrielle Cheyenne onstage while performing "Can U Handle It?" The segment typically includes playful flirting and audience interaction, but things took an awkward turn when the fan appeared visibly uncomfortable.
As Usher attempted to continue the performance, he noticed her hesitation and ultimately ended the interaction, telling the crowd:
"I don't think she wants to be on stage."
He then politely waved her off before continuing with the show.
Clips of the moment quickly circulated online, sparking debate among fans over whether the interaction was misunderstood.
Gabrielle Cheyenne Defends Herself
Following the viral moment, Gabrielle Cheyenne took to Facebook to explain her reaction and respond to criticism.
She said she never refused the opportunity to go onstage and claimed members of the concert staff moved her and her mother from floor seats into the VIP section before the show began.
Cheyenne also defended herself against online backlash, writing that people misunderstood the situation and insisting she had no idea what the onstage experience would involve before accepting the invitation.
Her post also included comments referencing what she described as her "pretty privileges," a phrase that quickly became a trending topic across social media.
Fan Says She Preferred Chris Brown
Cheyenne later spoke with TMZ, where she admitted she is a bigger fan of Chris Brown, who is also part of The R&B Tour.
According to Cheyenne, she wasn't informed that the VIP experience included participating in Usher's signature fan segment. She said her reaction likely would have been different had the interaction been with Brown instead.
"I'm more of a Chris Brown fan than I am of Usher," she said. "So, of course, it would've been a different reaction with Chris Brown... it wouldn't have been the stiffness."
She added that she never intended to ruin the performance and apologized if the moment came across the wrong way.