During a recent interview, Usher shared his appreciation for Diddy and his legacy. While the singer received major backlash for his comments, one person in particular was happy to hear them: Diddy. The controversial mogul offered a statement via his rep, Juda Engelmayer, to TMZ, saying, “I’ve always had love and respect for Usher.” He also noted that he appreciated Usher’s kind words and “everything he’s achieved” throughout his career.
The singer and Diddy first crossed paths in 1994 when he was just 14 years old. The pair got so close that Usher would eventually move in with the Bad Boy founder. Diddy was also the executive producer for Usher’s self-titled debut album. Last week, Usher sat down with Jabari Young for Forbes’ The Enterprise Zone, where he expressed his thoughts on Diddy’s controversial legacy. According to him, “certain people” faced persecution, but haven’t been recognized for their “greatness.”
Usher noted that he has nothing “negative” to say about Diddy—who is currently serving a 50-month prison sentence at Fort Dix for violating the Mann Act—and says his experience isn’t what the world has seen. “I think certain people are prosecuted and maybe not recognized for the greatness that they offer,” Usher said. “I don’t have anything negative to say about Sean Combs. My experience was not what the world has seen and how he’s been, you know, misrepresented.”