Lionel Richie mocks Usher and Chris Brown during concert tour

During a performance in Phoenix, Arizona, as part of his “Sing a Song All Night Long” tour with Earth, Wind & Fire, Lionel Richie mocked the joint stadium tour of R&B artists Usher and Chris Brown.

Richie suggested that the contemporary pairing was not doing anything groundbreaking, noting that his own work with The Commodores and Earth, Wind & Fire utilized a similar stage show style forty years ago. He added a pointed remark regarding legal history, stating, “Only difference is, between then and now, we didn’t go to jail!”

Following the audience's reaction, Richie offered an apology for referencing Brown’s legal troubles, later clarifying that the artists are “fine Christian men.” He also commented on the impact of social media, specifically mentioning how platforms like Instagram and TikTok allow for the spread of misinformation.