Chris Brown and Usher Clash Backstage as Atlanta Show Starts Nearly Three Hours Late

Chris Brown and Usher argued backstage before their joint show in Atlanta on Thursday night, according to TMZ, after heavy traffic around the venue left many fans struggling to reach the stadium on time.

The show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was scheduled to begin at 7:30 in the evening, but did not start until around 10, nearly three hours late. Sources close to the situation said the two singers disagreed backstage over whether to hold the start for fans still stuck in traffic or to begin the show.

The disagreement grew heated, and sources described the pair as extremely competitive throughout their joint tour, saying egos played a part in the clash. The two have not resolved their differences, though sources do not believe the tour is in danger.

Sponsored · Why this ad?

What's on, and what's next

Upcoming Nepali films with BS and AD dates, plus the stars behind them.

Learn more

On stage, the pair performed separately for the whole night, skipping the duets that had been a feature of their shows together. Parts of the setlist were cut, and the show ended around midnight.

Brown appeared to push back against the reports on Friday, posting the word "Internet", a cap emoji and the words "don't fall for it" on his Instagram Stories. He did not say which claims he was disputing, and neither singer has publicly confirmed that an argument took place.

The Atlanta dates are the first five-show run by any act at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on a single visit. Four more shows are scheduled, on 6, 8, 10 and 11 November.

The two singers were previously reported to have fallen out at Brown's birthday party in Las Vegas in May 2023, when Usher stepped in during an exchange involving singer Teyana Taylor. They later appeared together in public again.