{"id":230633,"date":"2026-03-25T16:06:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T16:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/25\/usher-praises-mentor-diddy-wont-criticize-disgraced-criminal\/"},"modified":"2026-03-25T16:06:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T16:06:12","slug":"usher-praises-mentor-diddy-wont-criticize-disgraced-criminal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/25\/usher-praises-mentor-diddy-wont-criticize-disgraced-criminal\/","title":{"rendered":"Usher Praises &#8216;Mentor&#8217; Diddy, Won&#8217;t Criticize Disgraced Criminal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>After everything, Diddy received <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2025\/07\/whats-next-for-diddy-why-the-disgraced-mogul-will-probably-still-go-to-prison\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">only two convictions<\/a> and a mere 50-month sentence.<\/p>\n<p>Many are expressing their horror \u2014 not only for victims, but for our society and our justice system.<\/p>\n<p>Usher, however, insists that he doesn\u2019t have a single negative thing to say about the alleged sex trafficker.<\/p>\n<p>He believes that Diddy has been \u201cmisrepresented,\u201d and sings his praises.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><\/noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"742\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_01-1024x742.jpg\" alt=\"Usher and Diddy in 2004.\" class=\"wp-image-551427 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_01-1024x742.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_01-300x217.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_01-768x556.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_01-2048x1483.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_01-960x695.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_01-1080x782.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_01-1200x869.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_01-scaled.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Singer Usher and rapper\/producer Sean \u201cP. Diddy\u201d Combs pose backstage during the VH1 Big in 04 at the Shrine Auditorium on December 1, 2004.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo Credit: Frank Micelotta\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-well-this-is-disappointing\">Well, this is disappointing<\/h2>\n<p>During an interview with <em>Forbes<\/em>\u2018 <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=SZ0q0F-fSo8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Enterprise Zone<\/a><\/em>, Usher seemed to have only nice things about the disgraced criminal whom he views as a \u201cmentor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The singer played a game of word-association. When \u201cDiddy\u201d came up, he didn\u2019t go with \u201ccrime\u201d or \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2025\/07\/cassie-ventura-other-celebs-react-to-shocking-diddy-verdict\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cassie<\/a>\u201d or \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2024\/09\/diddy-indictment-reveals-gruesome-details-of-alleged-freak-off-sex-gatherings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">baby oil<\/a>\u201d as many might.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, Usher\u2019s most associated word, he claimed, was: \u201cLegacy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He admitted that he has a \u201ccontroversial\u201d opinion, which is that \u201cwe can\u2019t ignore the reality of the history.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn many ways, I think certain people are prosecuted and maybe not recognized for the greatness that they offer,\u201d Usher then claimed.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How Usher Raymond is Building His Business And Legacy\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SZ0q0F-fSo8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Usher\u2019s next line was truly shocking. Perhaps not surprising, but shocking.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t have anything negative to say about Sean Combs,\u201d he announced, \u201cbecause my experience was not what the world has seen and how he\u2019s been misrepresented.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That first part of the explanation is the usual annoying line \u2014 someone insisting that, because they are not personally a victim, it\u2019s fine for them to speak in support of someone.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s at the end that Usher takes a more sinister turn. <\/p>\n<p>He claims that Diddy has \u201cbeen misrepresented.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"847\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_02-847x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Usher and Diddy in February 2013.\" class=\"wp-image-551428\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_02-847x1024.jpg 847w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_02-248x300.jpg 248w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_02-768x928.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_02-1694x2048.jpg 1694w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_02-794x960.jpg 794w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_02-894x1080.jpg 894w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_02-993x1200.jpg 993w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"847\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_02-847x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Usher and Diddy in February 2013.\" class=\"wp-image-551428 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_02-847x1024.jpg 847w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_02-248x300.jpg 248w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_02-768x928.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_02-1694x2048.jpg 1694w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_02-794x960.jpg 794w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_02-894x1080.jpg 894w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_02-993x1200.jpg 993w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_02-scaled.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Usher and Sean \u2018Puffy\u2019 Combs attend the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons honoring L.A. Reid held at The Beverly Hilton on February 9, 2013.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo Credit: Larry Busacca\/Getty Images for NARAS)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-and-that-s-why-i-see-him-as-legacy\">\u2018And that\u2019s why I see him as legacy\u2019<\/h2>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_8-0\">\u201cI can\u2019t, with any sense of humanity, not recognize the valuable contributions that this man made for us as Black entrepreneurs,\u201d Usher insisted.<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_8-0\">He continued: \u201cFor us as businessmen, for us as people who transition culture and ideas into something that\u2019s tangible and becomes business.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_8-0\">Usher acknowledged: \u201cSo many people benefited from what he created. And I acknowledge that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Yes, powerful and wealthy men often get away with their heinous deeds because others benefit from their wealth.<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_8-0\">He added: \u201cAnd that\u2019s why I see him as legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"723\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_03-1024x723.jpg\" alt=\"Usher and Diddy back in 2004.\" class=\"wp-image-551429\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_03-1024x723.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_03-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_03-768x542.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_03-2048x1446.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_03-960x678.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_03-1080x762.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_03-1200x847.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"723\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_03-1024x723.jpg\" alt=\"Usher and Diddy back in 2004.\" class=\"wp-image-551429 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_03-1024x723.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_03-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_03-768x542.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_03-2048x1446.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_03-960x678.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_03-1080x762.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_03-1200x847.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_03-scaled.jpg\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Singers Usher and Sean \u201cP. Diddy\u201d Combs attend the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards at the American Airlines Arena August 29, 2004.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo Credit: Frank Micelotta\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Usher also praised \u201cPuff\u201d as \u201ca mentor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He likened Diddy to a \u201creally, really hard teacher\u201d who was able to educate him \u201cin real time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Usher continued: \u201cI put respect on his name.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He explained that this is \u201cbecause I realized that what I learned as a businessman before I even understood what business was came as a result of seeing the incredible things that he was able to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Saying businessman once again, Usher added: \u201cAnd the way that he positioned himself as a businessman.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Usher and Diddy in January 2020.\" class=\"wp-image-551430\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-728x728.jpg 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-960x960.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-1200x1200.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Usher and Diddy in January 2020.\" class=\"wp-image-551430 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-728x728.jpg 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-960x960.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-1200x1200.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0325_usher_diddy_04-scaled.jpg\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Usher and Sean Combs attend the Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs on January 25, 2020.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez\/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-does-this-mean-for-usher-fans\">What does this mean for Usher fans?<\/h2>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_11-0\">As for what we should take from this \u2026 a profound sense of disappointment, albeit without feeling truly surprised.<\/p>\n<p>There is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2024\/05\/diddy-violent-video\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">horrific video of Diddy and Cassie Ventura<\/a>, one that we won\u2019t describe here. And she is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2025\/05\/kerry-morgan-says-diddy-beat-her-with-a-hanger-assaulted-cassie-ventura-on-numerous-occasions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">not his only alleged victim<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The idea that anyone would support the man after seeing that should be <em>unthinkable<\/em>. But, sadly, it is not.<\/p>\n<p>We live in a world where men will bend over backwards to defend other men \u2014 because condemning them is inconvenient, because they feel a misplaced sense of loyalty, or because they fear facing justice themselves.<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_26-0\">In Usher\u2019s case, this looks like a case of misplaced loyalty. Which is perhaps why he has such a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2026\/03\/justin-bieber-vs-usher-fight-did-they-come-to-blows\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">beef with Justin Bieber<\/a> these days, since the Biebs clearly doesn\u2019t feel the same way.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2026\/03\/usher-praises-diddy-mentor-legacy-misrepresented\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reading Time: 3 minutes After everything, Diddy received only two convictions and a mere 50-month sentence. Many are expressing their horror \u2014 not only for victims, but for our society and our justice system. Usher, however, insists that he doesn\u2019t have a single negative thing to say about the alleged sex trafficker. He believes that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":230634,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-230633","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hollywood"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/230633","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=230633"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/230633\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/230634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=230633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=230633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=230633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}