Usher appeared on Oprah’s Next Chapter show last night where he talked about all of the rumors that surfaced about him during his nasty custody battle with his ex-wife Tameka Foster. Ushers addresses everything from infidelity rumors with the bridesmaid/current girlfreind Grace Miguel, the final straw that made him pursue divorce, why he really walked off stage during his overseas tour, being an absentee father, his priorities and more.
Usher made no apology when speaking of his failed marriage to Tameka. Usher says that he’d done everything imaginable to repair the marriage [counseling and speaking to close friends in their circle] but nothing seemed to work and he found himself lost towards the end of their marriage and ultimately filing for divorce.
On whether or or he was hestiant of the marriage before it began and his feeling on his mother not attending the wedding:
“There were a ton of people who believed in the marriage and there were a ton of people who didn’t. Of course it hurt me. You know…this is supposed to be the person that I feel I’m going to share the rest of my life with and nobody is responding the way that I’d like them to respond.”
On why he chose not to speak publicly during the divorce and custody battle
“This will be the only time that I’ve ever chosen to speak about it. I’ve been a man of integrity throughout the entire process which I hope my boys will understand. That’s the way to go. That’s the way to be.”
On whether or not he was faithful to Tameka and did he cheat with her the bridesmaid/Grace Miguel.
“Towards the end of our marriage, I found myself lost, and I just wanted out. “No” I was faithful at heart, but not faithful all the way. Even having a conversation with another woman, period, about matters of your relationship or emotions is, in my opinion, not being faithful.”
Oprah then asks : “But were you with another woman sexually?”
“When we were separated, yes, I was,” admitted Usher. “We were not divorced.”
The Climax singer also admitted to Oprah that he engages into intimacy to his songs but he notes that its not a deliberate action but often a playlist that usually starts with Teddy Pendegrass, Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye and then his songs.
By mid interview Usher’s mother appeared to finally discuss why she never attended Usher wedding to Tameka, and having no regrets.
” When Usher’s divorce was final from Tameka, he [Usher] called me and he said: Mom you were right and I should have listened to you. For years I never said anything and I never once spoke to Usher about his marriage. “
She also noted that although she was “relieved of her duties” from Usher six or seven years ago she never resented her son for his decision, in fact she agreed but when it came to Tameka she knew from the beginning that she was not the one for her son.
On If Usher respect’s Tameka as the mother of his child and ultimately can become friends with her
“I really felt like we were friends. She made us enemies in a way that I could never understand.”
There’s alot of healing that needs to be done with Usher and Tameka [the parents] but Usher seems to be in a happier place in his life. With his family by his side including his two son’s Usher V, 4 and Nayvid, 3 [whom he has been awarded full custody of] Usher is more concerned with being a good father to his boys than a friend to Tameka.
Here’s the full interview below: