Usher is one of Essence’s Sexiest Men of the Moment cover stars, and as part of his editorial he did a letter to Black Women in collaboration with the other men featured, Russell Wilson and Damson Idris.
While the collab was beautiful, the Usher portion didn’t go over so well with social media.
Watch:
Dear Black Women, #ESSENCE pic.twitter.com/UM4km2C46k
— ESSENCE (@Essence) April 12, 2024
One user said:
leave us alone ???? we’re not the faces of strength and labor. We’re not work mules who exist to “hold you down.” Stop praising us for our ability to endure and do something about that which requires so much endurance. Show us.
Another called it ‘so performative’.
This is so performative … especially considering Usher wife is white. Like..
— ThereGoTerry (@ThereGoTerry) April 13, 2024
Most think it is hypocritical for Usher to dedicate anything to black women based on who he is currently married to.
While layed up with a white woman????????♀️
— Tia???? (@NickiTeaRoom) April 13, 2024
and
His wife is…..nvm lemme choose peace
— Camille???? (@djcamic) April 13, 2024
and
All the black women in the responses right now ???????????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/LQM0wGFdhk
— ????????Erebus-V HawtSquad Leader???????? (@ErebusVFWG) April 14, 2024
One user made it clear that she was not an Usher stan but to be fair, Usher has dated black women for most of his life.
I’m no Usher Stan, but Usher dated nothing but Black women before his new wife, and married a Black woman before her. His new wife choice does not negate the message. Can we just accept his appreciation of Black women? He still loves Black women! ????
I’m no Usher Stan, but Usher dated nothing but Black women before his new wife, and married a Black woman before her. His new wife choice does not negate the message. Can we just accept his appreciation of Black women? He still loves Black women! ????
— Here For THEE Comments 1 (@forthecomments1) April 13, 2024
and another had a similar sentiment:
He's married to a white woman and he was also married to a black woman and also dated black women, it's not like he's exclusively been with white women, that being a point of contention is pretty weird to me, ngl.
— #FreePalestine ???????? ???????? (@Itu_meleng_) April 13, 2024
Who has Usher dated/Married
We made a short list of some of Usher’s long term relationships, see below:
Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas (2001-2003) – Usher dated Rozonda Thomas from 2001 to 2003.
Tameka Foster (2007-2009) – Usher was married to Tameka Foster from 2007 to 2009. They have two sons together.
Grace Miguel (2009-2018) – After his divorce from Tameka Foster, Usher dated and later married Grace Miguel in 2015. They separated in 2018.
Jenn Goicoechea (2020-present) – Usher has been in a relationship with Jenn Goicoechea since 2020. They welcomed a daughter together in 2020 and got married in 2024. (Jenn Goicoechea is of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent.)
Most have been black women but the girls are still not loving his contribution to this letter, what do you think?
As a Black woman, I felt very uncomfortable watching this.
— #ReparationsNow ???????? (@Coutorce) April 14, 2024
