Usher Says “Jamaican Culture” Inspired Viral Raunchy Behaviour Onstage with Nicki Minaj -Interview

Amid backlash from his viral moment with Alicia Keys at the Super Bowl, Usher discussed a previous viral moment on stage with rapper Nicki Minaj, which the R&B singer said was influenced by Jamaican culture.

During the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards, Usher took to the stage to perform his and Minaj’s single, She Came to Give It to You.

As Minaj performed her rap verse and shook her butt, Usher began bumping her butt with his shoulder as he played the guitar, then bumped it with his head. The singer proceeded to slap Minaj on the butt.

Speaking on his viral moment during an interview on the Breakfast Club, Usher described it as Jamaican culture.

 “…That was Jamaican culture. So you gotta go to Jamaica. That was just a moment that was fun [ … ] I had my bass in my hand, so I was playing, so I just kind of bopped off her body a little bit [ … ] That was a little bit of Jamaican culture,” Usher stated.

Despite expressing that it was all meant to be fun, Usher said he went too far when he slapped Minaj on the butt.

“I think I was reaching a bit when I smacked her, though. I shouldn’t have smacked her butt. I shouldn’t have did that,” Usher stated.

The Let It Burn singer went on to address his viral dance with Alicia Keys during the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Usher said that no aspect of their performance should be viewed as perverted, as it was a celebration of their single, My Boo, and a moment of fun.

Watch the interview below.