Following his electrifying performance at Super Bowl LVIII halftime, Usher surprised fans by jetting off to Bali for a post-wedding honeymoon with his new wife, Jennifer Goicoechea.
However, it was his unexpected meetup with controversial figure Russell Simmons that stirred up a storm of controversy.
Simmons, a music mogul, has been embroiled in a slew of rape, sexual harassment, and misconduct allegations spanning nearly seven years.
Despite vehement denials from Simmons, including claims of passing nine lie detector tests related to the alleged encounters, a recent lawsuit filed against him reignited public scrutiny.
The lawsuit, brought by a former Def Jam music executive and video producer identified as ‘Jane Doe’ in court documents, alleges that Simmons raped her in his apartment during the 1990s.
The plaintiff claims the assault led to severe emotional distress, including panic attacks, depression, and anxiety.
While Simmons has remained tight-lipped about the allegations, his social media posts celebrating his time with Usher in Bali raised eyebrows.
In a now-deleted post, Simmons shared a photo with Usher, praising the singer for his support during challenging times.
“When I was at the lowest point in my life, I woke up and this man was sitting by my bed,” Simmons wrote. “I had known Usher since he was a kid, but we really bonded because of our mutual love for self-discovery and our belief in Yogic science.”
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Simmons’ endorsement of Usher triggered a backlash on social media, especially considering Usher’s recent involvement in legal controversies.
In court documents, Usher was implicated in allegations of sexual assault against music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who accused Diddy and others of assaulting him during the production of the 2023 album “The Love Album: Off the Grid.”
Further, allegations from Diddy’s former bodyguard, Gene Deal, suggested that Usher was groomed by Diddy during his teenage years, leading to a hospitalization incident. Deal’s claims hinted at a troubling dynamic between Usher and Diddy, raising questions about Usher’s associations and alliances.