Usher Steps In It, Says Diddy Has Been “Misrepresented”

0:00This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed Human Thank you for calling the Bombas Comfort line. Bombas make socks, slippers, tees, and underwear made with the highest quality materials. Press 1 for comfort, 2 for style, 3 for donation. You chose style. Bombas are styles for whatever you enjoy. You can run in Bombas, lounge in Bombas, dress them up, dress them down, but always give back in Bombas because with every item purchased, another is donated. Bombas. Comfort worth calling for. There's a difference between liking a house and actually getting it. Redfin is built to make up that difference and close the gap between finding and owning the home for you. Redfin agents close twice as many deals as other agents. So when you find a home you love, you're not a step behind when it comes to making an offer. That means less watching great homes disappear and more focus on the one you'll call home. Redfin helps turn saved listings into real addresses.

1:01Get started at redfin.com. Own the dream. This is Bowen Yang from Lost Culture Research with Matt Rodgers and Bowen Yang. We all know the feeling when life gets really busy, taking care of yourself can feel impossible. That's why premier protein shakes are my go-to. They have 30 grams of protein, 160 calories, no added sugar, and they taste amazing. So they're a healthy choice you'll actually want to make. It's not just for fitness. It's for getting after life. The 30 grams of protein gives you the fuel you need. It's not just for intense gym sessions. It's just for life. With a wide variety of flavors from capillata to cake batter, it never feels boring. It's a flavor for everyone. I personally love the peaches and cream, but maybe you're a root beer float or cinnamon roll kind of person. Premier protein powers me to say yes to more. Find your favorite flavor at premierprotein.com. That's P-R-E-M-I-E-R, protein.com or at Amazon Walmart and other major retailers.

2:03This is Martha Stewart from The Martha Stewart Podcast. Ever wonder how to make hosting look effortless? Here's a secret. When prepping for cooking and baking, get ahead of the mess with new Reynolds Kitchens countertop prep paper. Just lightly wet the counter so the paper grips. Lay it down and drips and spills stay on the paper, not on your counter. Cleanup is as simple as lifting it away to reveal clean counters. Effortless, it is. Thanks to Reynolds Kitchens countertop prep paper. Wet it, set it, prep it, done. Available in the Reynolds Wrap aisle at Walmart. Do you want to find a stress free way to buy your next car? Start at CarMax and shop your way. If you want to browse with confidence, get pre-qualified online, but no impact on your credit score and shop cars within your budget. From luxury cars to family rides. CarMax has options for almost every price range,

3:04including more than 25,000 cars priced under $25,000. So, hey, want to get started? Just head to CarMax.com for details and get pre-qualified today. Want to drive? CarMax. Hey, folks, it is Wednesday, March 25th, and Sean Giddy-Kombs and his legacy have been misrepresented. Yes, those words from superstar Usher. And by the comments, we are reading he has now stepped in it. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. If you are nodding, yes, this has gone. I'm going to let you actually hear Usher's words, but he has now kind of stepped in it, Robes. Give an idea of what the headlines and the comments are saying about Usher right now. Oh, from, I don't have anything negative to say about Sean Kombs, to, yeah, you were groomed by Sean Kombs. There are headlines and there are comments.

4:06And I have to say, I have been looking at comments about this interview that Usher gave where he spoke on Sean Giddy-Kombs. And I have not found one comment so far that has seconded what Usher said or said, yeah, it's good you said that, Usher. No, it's been actually incredibly solidly, completely against all of his comments. Like people are outraged at what Usher said. And we say that and we give a general idea. And folks, before we get into the specifics, generally speaking, he seemed, Robes, if you're just reading, I guess before listening to it fully, he seems to be coming to the defense of Sean Kombs, not because of what Sean Kombs did, but he was not willing to go even barely a step into the arena of criticizing

5:06or questioning Sean Giddy-Kombs behavior. The word misrepresented is going to be a problem as well, but Robes, it came across. Did it not as if he went out of his way to not say an Iota of negativity towards his men? He went out of his way to completely and totally whitewash or ignore the, not only the allegations but the convictions against Sean Giddy-Kombs. And certainly we all, I say we all, but we did in a lot of this country heard and listened to almost all of the testimony that took place in that trial. It was hard to hear. Nobody wanted to know all of this. I didn't want to know what these women were saying happened to them. And the story was the same, like woman after woman after woman. And so to hear that and to kind of have a reckoning with, okay, I love Sean Giddy-Kombs music.

6:07I love what he brought to the world. But I'm hearing this horrific, awful, criminal, despicable stuff. And like I have to find a way to try to make sense of it all. And so I think we would give a little bit of grace to folks who knew Sean Giddy-Kombs in another way, who maybe didn't know that side of him, who maybe didn't experience that side of him. I think we can all leave a space for that. But he didn't usher, didn't leave a space for all of that horrific, criminal, evil testimony that we heard that Sean Giddy-Kombs was convicted of. So to not acknowledge it, to not have that be a part of the conversation is hard. You can't ask us to just say, hey, this guy was a genius. He made a lot of money. He lifted up a lot of black artists. So yeah, I'm not really going to talk about anything negative he did because all I see is the positive. That is really hard to hear after the trial we saw unfold.

7:08All right, we'll let you hear it for yourselves. Here he is, Usher, giving an interview to Forbes. And he was asked about Sean Giddy-Kombs. A little context here, Sean Kombs did have a lot to do with the beginning of Usher's career. Produced his first album, it became a hit. These two have been closed since Usher was a teenager. That's the context, but he was asked about Sean Giddy-Kombs. This was the answer that he gave. This might be a bit controversial. But in the same way, I think many people choose to look past the reality of what our country is. The standards that we now stand on. We can't ignore the reality of the history. But in many ways, I think certain people are prosecuted. And maybe not recognized for the greatness that they offer. I don't have anything negative to say about Sean Kombs because my experience was not what the world has seen. And how he's been misrepresented. I'm not saying that every man is perfect. I'm not saying that all of us don't have flaws. But I can't, within any sense of humanity, not recognize the valuable contributions that this man made.

8:16For us as black entrepreneurs, for us as businessmen, for us as people who transition culture and ideas into something that's tangible. It becomes business so many people benefited from what he created. And I acknowledge that. And that's why I see him as legacy. All right, well, people are lighting them up over that answer. And we started and wrote, he said what he said. And it didn't sound like it was too much off the cuff. And one of the first things he said when he was starting the answer was this might be a little bit controversial. It almost felt as if in that moment he knew where he was about to go and what he was about to do. It's like when someone says no offense, but or don't take this the wrong way. But look, obviously the next thing that came out of his mouth was just what he cautioned people against. Obviously, it was offensive to a lot of folks to hear to hear us or say, I don't have anything negative to say about Sean com is because my experience was not what the world has seen.

9:24Okay, if we stop right there, why can't we take us at his word in that like that moment? Like I don't have anything negative to say about him because my experience is not what the world has seen. Okay. Okay, that is like an honest and it could be a legitimate assessment of his experience with Sean com's if only that sentence was said. Okay, yes, you and I are in full agreement here because if he had stopped there and said, but I recognize the pain that he has caused to so many people that I was not aware of and it's difficult for me to actually live with the Sean com's I know and the Sean com's I saw in court. So I understand the problem with that, but I just am here to say that there is some value in what he contributed, although I see and I've heard and I've been appalled by the other side of him. He needed to be able to say what he said in the and that's fine, but he needed to acknowledge what also is known about Sean com's at this point and to just say, it's like your look, this is a big issue with girls.

10:33It's funny. I don't know if guys have this issue, but this is a big thing among girlfriends. Okay, so you've got a friend and you know this other friend has just betrayed you are done done something horrible and you're trying to get your friends to say, hey, this isn't somebody we want to hang out with because they did this. And then one of the girlfriend says, but I haven't experienced that so they're cool to me. It creates an immediate divisiveness and divide and it's kind of like an us versus them and now you've got to take sides. Can't everything be true and there be some I think there is a space where you can say yes, Sean did he comes has done some incredible things and has lifted up many artists and done brilliant incredible things with his career. And at the same time has been a horrible human being, but he wasn't willing to even acknowledge the other side of that and that's the problem. I didn't think he had to go as far as you were saying he put up now that would have been nice that would have been completely appropriate.

11:35And some would even argue necessarily like you're saying, but even if he had stopped so he didn't even acknowledge that there was something maybe that Sean did he comes had ever done that was wrong. So I was in the wherever we got this news it was happening and I that line of his I don't have anything negative to say about Sean comes because my experience was not with the world has seen. I was listening to that and I was juxtaposing that image of him in that interview with the image of Cassie in the hallway image of Cassie being kicked and beaten and dragged. And how you can see that and still in the same way and I don't want to criticize because I love us shouldn't spend decent time with so this is not just an outward this is more an examination of why this conversation is gone the way it's gone versus us criticizing him we're seeing why that criticism is coming ropes that just wasn't on hint in here. Anywhere right given that everybody can describe that video still and to have someone say I got nothing bad to say about me and by the way forget that he didn't go there and didn't criticize him in any way he is he finished that sentence.

12:44I don't have anything negative to say about Sean comes because my experience was not with the world has seen and how he's been you know miss represented and you met you touched on that at the beginning the fact that he is saying and said and shows to. To word it this way that Sean did he comes has been miss represented I feel like that was the biggest. Dig of them all and that hurt the most hurt to some point he has to. I'm sure he does understand how that word set people off there might be more context that was needed he didn't add it but the suggestion is not suggestion he is flat out saying the way the world is seeing him he has been misrepresented and how all of this has gone out to the world that is how it is literally being said and interpreted and I think that's fair and it's fair for people to be upset about that.

13:46Yes because I think a lot of these women would say yeah you're right he had been misrepresented up until the trial where we actually now we're able to show the world who he really was behind the scenes behind the music behind all of the cameras this is who wise say behind the cameras but like actually there were cameras so it was all documented. But the point being is the misrepresentation was that he was this amazing business mogul who was there to just lift up artists it was so much more than that so I think that is where the rub that is where people are super upset and when you look at the comments. People are outraged by what us or his. And again people outrage often is the first reaction to just about anything I do encourage folks if you want to take the time to go and listen to his a little more he gave a little more of the answer to this but that was for the most part the stuff about did he that we let you hear there and he did go on and talk about the contributions when it talked about money quite frankly he talked about how influential Sean comes was not just in music but he turned this into a

15:00an enterprise a he made hip hop and enterprise to a certain degree to now we don't go anywhere down the street and hip hop and rap and that culture isn't touching American culture he made that point all of that stuff is true. So was the process with the pain all what what the process was the pain what meaning he did what he did but there was a lot of pain that was involved in the process like he. What he is now I didn't want to say accused of what he was convicted of created a lot of pain was it worth it. What in order for what there to be this media enterprise and this media mogul what that need to be obviously well yeah I can't I don't like to do that kind of some kind of equivalent well do we not have all these hits and no industry and people have this if these victims didn't weren't victims. I really can't do that it is what it is he is who he is he did what he did and a lot of what he did was incredibly positive are you not allowed to say that you're not allowed to recognize that are you not allowed to ever celebrate that no matter if that's did he no matter if that's our Kelly no matter if that's Michael Jackson and the list goes on and on and on and on folks stay here we're still trying to figure out what do we do with these fallen heroes.

16:24This is Bowen Yang from Los Cultures of the Mount Rodgers and Bowen Yang we all know the feeling when life gets really busy taking care of yourself can feel impossible that's why premiere protein shakes are my go to the of 30 grams of protein 160 calories no added sugar and they taste amazing so they're a healthy choice you'll actually want to make it's not just for fitness it's for getting after life. premier protein powers me to say yes to more find your favorite flavor at premier protein dot com that's p-r-e-m-i-e-r protein dot com this is Martha Stewart from the Martha Stewart podcast ever wonder how to make hosting look effortless here's a secret when prepping for cooking and baking get ahead of the mess with new Reynolds kitchens counter top prep paper just lightly with the counter so the paper grips lay it down. And drips and spills stay on the paper not on your counter cleanup is as simple as lifting it away to reveal clean counters effortless it is thanks to Reynolds kitchens counter top prep paper.

17:37Let it set it prepped done available in the Reynolds rap aisle at Walmart this is so fee a bush from work in progress with so fee a bush bring the good with avocados from Mexico upgrade your meals your get together is even your everyday life. Give your moments a little glow up either one everyone's glad showed up because avocados from Mexico spark the joy with every bite. And by the way you're good for you to so elevate your every day bring the good flavor so rich and cravable avocados from Mexico always good. Ryan Reynolds here for mint mobile I don't know if you knew this but anyone can get the same premium wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying it's not just for celebrities so do like I did and have one of your assistance assistance switch you to mint mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to do at mint mobile dot com slash switch up front payment of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate for three months only then full price plan options available taxes and fees extra

18:43fee full turns at mint mobile dot com you see it instantly it's cold water creek the mark of exceptional workmanship and signature touches inspired by a mountain west heritage distinctive styles created from quality fabrics silhouettes perfected with just the right drape feel good fits offering ease of movement and thoughtful details to elevate your look for a wardrobe you can count on season after season. Visit coldwater creek dot com shop the new spring collection at twenty percent off seventy five dollars or more with code i heart twenty. We continue here on the amy and tj of usher usher Raymond causing all kinds of conversations online a lot of a negativity coming towards him because of comments he made an interview in which he seemed to shy away from being critical in any way shape or form of Sean did he come someone who was a mentor to him a producer for him someone who helps him reach super startup roads I guess misrepresented is the word in his statement that is going to bother a lot of people to suggest that Sean did he comes and his reputation at this point has been misrepresented not exactly sure what

19:54was trying to say. I am because he didn't robes elaborate is given people the freedom to fill in the blanks and the blanks they're filling in don't bode well for Mr Raymond no and I think and you had even asked the question before we went to break and I do think that you can. Celebrate somebody's genius celebrate somebody's contribution and recognize and even honor what they did for rap what they did for hip hop what they did for the black community but at the same time still recognize that there was horrific deeds that have been proven to be true and you can admonish perhaps what he his what I don't know how to even describe his deviant side whatever like you can we're all complicated individuals and I'm not saying or suggesting that what Sean did he comes is accused of and was convicted of is something that's in all of us but we all have good sides bad side like I get that so but to not acknowledge it to completely dismiss something so

21:02aborant that's the tough part and we even heard Sean did he comes is responded by the way to what we heard from usher this all happened today he's already responded from prison through a spokesperson saying I've always had love and respect for usher I appreciate his words and everything he's achieved does that do him good does that do him harm to have did he actually speaking out from prison I didn't even know that was possible but apparently the spokesperson the spokesperson he's in contact with in there look I just have to what Sean did he comes means the world to some people out there he did you by the way well I'm talking about careers I'm talking about careers they owe their careers to this guy usher is among them in all likelihood who does what does he I don't even want to begin to try to understand how and frankly leave room for how painful it might be for him to have to see this maybe this side

22:08of somebody that he did know and to see somebody he loves go through all this and reputation to come down what that means for him he is seeing this whole thing differently from the rest of us I can respect that I his comments are what they are I can just leave room and respect why someone might be confused and annoyed and even pissed off by hearing it yes he's going to have to say something else I I think he's I think he might have left 1000 details look I was not aware I'll be full disclosure here I was not aware of this prior relationship that usher had with Diddy where he was actually he was he considered Diddy a mentor basically as a teenage looking up to him and there are all sorts of folks pointing all sorts of fingers about how usher may have been groomed by Diddy etc etc at the very at the

23:08end of the day we don't know and no one will ever know the the relationship that those who have but clearly still love from usher or at least respect coming from usher towards Diddy and I think look you this is a complicated situation because I I think any of us can put ourselves in the position of having somebody we looked up to somebody who was a mentor somebody who actually you could credit with your career or your success and now to have to say that person's a bad person or demon that's a really tough mental space to get into if that's the person who you would credit with your own personal success that that's a tough position to be in and I'm going to try to give usher that space because he's grappling with that and I don't think that I understood that fully hearing his comments feels incendiary like what how could you but then we don't know we don't know what those two and what he what he received from Diddy and what he owes it in a way maybe even to Diddy or

24:14what he thinks he owes to Diddy and his from his success well these are again you have like victims of horrible crimes and abuse that we're talking about here them hearing those words who hear him being praised and no acknowledgement even a little bit yes we can say all these great things he did and not even to mention one little bit of something that he might have done wrong that is going to sting for some people but again it's what what do we do with do you listen to Michael Jackson's music still do you listen to our Kelly's music still do you still watch movies by what's his name specter the film specter do we what do we do with these folks will you not watch a Cosby show rerun will you not I don't know what are you ever supposed to do with these folks I think I encourage everybody give everybody a break if you decide I don't ever want to listen to another Diddy song okay but also leave room for somebody who can say yeah that stuff he did was

25:15horrible but I love I think if I said that that would have helped and would have gone a long way I think to the victims out there a lot of the folks who have and there are a lot of comments that run the gamut but among them the the raining sentiment is if usher had a daughter if usher had someone he loved in the position that some of these women were in he would never be able to say what he's saying and I think that look it's always easy to say that person should put themselves in another person's shoes and if we could all put ourselves in the other person's shoes this world would be a perfect amazing place that doesn't happen oftentimes and look I don't know I don't know what usher is going to take away from the reaction to all of this but he knew what he was doing and you and I both said this when you listen to him this isn't somebody who was just flying off the cuff and just saying things he this was a well thought out decision where when he was speaking he

26:16was speaking with clarity he wasn't he was speaking with there was thought behind his words that was my impression mine as well but it's it's sparked a conversation and it shouldn't just be about usher and diddy and usher taking heat maybe it should be about how we do have a better conversation around and respect for people who are on both sides of these issues when it comes to so many of our quite frankly heroes somebody of our greats quite frankly in the arts who end up taking these falls and accused of horrible things what do we do maybe there is no answer but everybody should be respected with whatever they do decide to do and with that folks we always appreciate you spending a little time with us and TJ home on behalf of my dear Amy Roboc we will talk the other

27:20this is Chelsea handler from dear Chelsea after the big game like most people i kept thinking about the commercials and there was one that stayed with me it was from the blue square alliance against hate and it wasn't loud or flashy it showed a Jewish kid being targeted at school and another student who chose not to ignore it as someone who was Jewish that moment felt very real to me not dramatic just familiar and what struck me was how clearly it showed that hate doesn't always announce itself but the impact is still huge if you saw the blue square spot during the big game it's worth thinking about and if you want to show support sharing the blue square is one small way to do that this is bow and yang from lost culture east of some outroaters in bow and yang we all know the feeling when life gets really busy taking care of yourself can feel impossible that's why premier protein shakes are my go to they have 30 grams of protein 160 calories no added sugar and they taste amazing so there are a healthy choice you'll actually want to make it's not just for fitness it's for getting after life the 30 grams of protein gives

28:25you the fuel you need it's not just for intense gym sessions it's just for life with the wide variety of flavors from cafe latte to cake batter it never feels boring so flavor for everyone I personally love the peaches and cream but maybe you're a root beer floater sicken roll kind of person premier protein powers me to say yes to more find your favorite flavor at premier protein.com that's p-r-e-m-i-e-r protein dot com or at amazon walmart and other major retailers this is Martha Stewart from the Martha Stewart podcast ever wonder how to make hosting look effortless here's a secret when prepping for cooking and baking get ahead of the mess with new Reynolds kitchens countertop prep paper just lightly wet the counter so the paper grips lay it down and drips and spills stay on the paper not on your counter cleanup is as simple as lifting it away to reveal clean counters effortless it is thanks to Reynolds kitchens countertop

29:29prep paper wet it set it prep it done available in the Reynolds rap aisle at walmart when you manage procurement for multiple facilities every order matters but when it's for a hospital system they matter even more ranger gets it and knows there's no time for managing multiple suppliers and no room for shipping delays that's why ranger offers millions of products and fast dependable delivery so you can keep your facility stocked safe and running smoothly call 1-800 ranger click ranger dot com or just stop by ranger for the ones to get it done this is Sophia Bush from work in progress with Sophia Bush bring the good with avocados for Mexico upgrade your meals your get together is even your everyday life give your moments a little glow up either one everyone's glad showed up because avocados from mexico spark the joy with every bite and by the way they're good for you too so elevate your everyday bring the good flavor so rich

30:33and craveable avocados from mexico always good this is an i heart podcast guaranteed human