He’s breaking his silence. Earlier this year, it was revealed that Usher once settled a lawsuit after a woman became forward claiming he gave her herpes. Shortly after details of the 2012 settlement came public, multiple sexual partners filed a lawsuit claiming he neglected to mention his diagnosis before engaging with them sexually. Now, the 38-year-old has responded to the lawsuit. Watch the video below to find out what he said.
In the specific lawsuit that Usher’s responding to, three people — a woman name Quantasia Sharpton, and two others identified only as “Jane Doe” and “John Doe” — claim they had sexual encounters with the singer. Quantasia spoke at length at an August press conference about their alleged interaction, though she has maintained that she did not contract the sexually transmitted disease from the Grammy winner.
“I love Usher’s artistry and music. I went to a concert of his with some friends a few years ago, to celebrate my birthday. I was wearing a birthday crown, and because of that, I was selected to go backstage before the show. Later, a security guard picked me up and asked me for my number. He told me Usher had seen me backstage and was interested in me,” the 21-year-old said of the incident, which allegedly took place around her 19th birthday. “After the show, my friends and I returned to the hotel. I got a call from Usher on a blocked number, asking me what hotel I was staying in and the room number. About an hour later, he arrived. We spoke for a while, and then we engaged in sexual contact. He never warned me about any STDs.”
She continued, “When I first heard reports that he had herpes, I couldn’t believe it. I had a child a year ago, and I knew I was negative. But I contacted Lisa Bloom to find out what my rights are as a woman. Although I am negative, I am upset by the reports because I never would have consented, if I would have known. I would not have taken a risk of getting an incurable disease. My health is very important to me, now that I am a mother. I feel that my rights were violated.”
Usher — who has been married to Grace Miguel since 2015 — has kept a low profile since it was first revealed that back in 2012, he paid more than $1 million to an unnamed stylist who allegedly contracted herpes from the singer in 2010. In the recently unearthed documents, the unnamed stylist stated, “Getting infected with genital herpes from Raymond has devastated [name redacted]. She feels that her health and body have been ruined.”
