Usher Says He’s Been ‘A Man of Integrity’ During Nasty Custody Battle With Tameka

usher oprah interview own

By: Amanda Anderson-Niles

As you probably have already heard, Usher made an appearance on OWN last night, as the R&B singer gave his first and last interview about his marriage to Tameka, the eventual divorce, and the current custody battle that has left Tameka without her two sons from their marriage. Many were anxiously awaiting the interview because they are supporters of Usher who have been waiting for the singer to combat Tameka’s claims of mistreatment during the nasty custody battle. Some of those claims include a recorded taunted phone call Usher allegedly made to his ex just 24 hours after the closing arguments. And for those who aren’t supporters of Usher, they only see the interview as more publicity and propaganda that is needed to fix Usher’s image after many have began to announce their disgust with how he treated Tameka. Not to mention those pesky reports and gossip bits that alleged that Usher has been manipulating the press with his money, and purposely throwing Tameka under a bus to keep his career and image in tact.

Some of the highlights of the interview of course are when he discusses why he married Tameka and how the two got to the point that a custody battle eventually followed.

On how Usher feels he’s handled the whole custody situation with Tameka Raymond:

“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 why he married Tameka:

“I wanted to give her the wedding that she wanted. But I wasn’t quite ready. I impregnated this woman, we were in a relationship, we were in love… I was taking responsibility.”

When the marriage began to fall apart, which he says was after Usher V was born:

“After that, I did get a great sense of the insecurities that were there and the fact that she wasn’t coping well with being in this position, being married to Usher, and all that came with that.”

And he reveals that he views the custody battle as an attack from Tameka:

“We don’t see eye-to-eye. The friend that I was to Tameka, I don’t know that I could ever be again because I really felt like we were friends. She made us enemies in a way that I could never understood. It wasn’t until I was on the stand, where I cried, when I realized, ‘Oh, this is an attack.'”

After watching the interview, we don’t see it being convincing enough to change people’s opinion, whether you’re Team Usher or Team Tameka. We have a feeling those that support Tameka will just see this as another manipulative PR stunt from Usher, and those that are supporters of Usher will believe every word and then some.

Regardless, we’re sure Oprah had a slam dunk in ratings last night.

What are your thoughts? Did your opinions of Usher or Tameka change any?

22 comments

      1. Some would say that Usher needs to grow some “nuts.” You don’t dog your wife out because the public doesn’t like her. Coward.

  1. If Oprah was a real journalist, she’d go after Tameka and get her side too. But because she’s a sell out, she won’t. She’s obviously Team Usher too. Anything for ratings I guess. Oprah sucks. Role model my a–.

  2. Honestly, no one knows what really happened but Usher and Tameka. So for anyone else to take a side is insane and completely idiotic. I only wish that these two could keep it grown for the kids. Because in the end, this will hurt them if they don’t.

    1. Honestly, it seems as if both of them have done things in poor judgement with the children. But either way, Usher is coming off as the bad guy in all of this.

  3. Usher’s intentions are so clear. He wants people to keep thinking he’s the victim and Tameka is some old witch that was set on destroying his life and taking his money. She loved him and he loved her. It didn’t work, but don’t try to destroy her because you have the power to do so. If you have a new woman and you’re really happy, you wouldn’t be plotting against your ex all the time. Grace, honey you need to be concerned about why he’s so focused on Tameka despite your presence in his life. IJS.

  4. I couldn’t get through this interview. I used to be an Usher fan, but this whole thing with Tameka has turned me off. I don’t care if I don’t know the whole story, he took her sons despite her losing one to tragedy. He’s heartless for that. I believe in honor, and what this man did to this woman is shameful. He’ll always have women who will support him, but I know better.

    1. I agree 100%. When her son died in the middle of all of this, he had an opportunity to stop the madness in court and have compassion and integrity for the mother of his children and the mother of his dead stepchild who he supposedly loved. It could of changed the whole trajectory of their relationship as far as respecting each other. He chose to carry on with the craziness and from that day forward I was no longer a fan of his as a human being. Shame on him!!!!!

    1. Either you’re stupid, or it was just too early in the morning for you to actually think of a comment that would contribute to the conversation. But judging by what you wrote, I’d have to go with the former.

  5. I’m good. I didn’t even need to watch the interview. I’ve met Usher before and I know how terrible he is. Whatever.

  6. Usher has already proven himself to be manipulative and we already can see what his agenda is. I don’t have to watch this interview.

  7. I don’t understand what some of yall are mad about. He didn’t say anything bad about Tameka. He just said that he feels like she was trying to get to him through the whole custody thing and I’m sure the feeling is mutual. They should both let it go and learn to be civil for the kids.

  8. LOL @ Oprah having this fairy on her bootleg, failing network looking more desperate than a $2 escort.

    Usher’s career is finished!

  9. I saw the interview yesterday and honestly it did not feel usher was genuine about the whole situation. Either way, I hope the children will end up alright. They have been through too much this summer.

    1. They have lost their big brother and now they have lost their mother……no way that they won’t carry the scars of that and it won’t be life changing for them. I have learned from experience that 9 times out of 10 the right thing to do morally in most situations is always the hardest. Although I know the hardest thing for him to do in the situation when his stepchild died was to check himself and be kind, gracious and compassionate to her and reconsider his position and maybe back off a little, he choose not too. I believe it was a test from up above and he epiccally failed. Shame on him!!!! As a mother who adores her children, it was too heartless for me…..and unfortunately my opinion now of him has not one iota to do with his talent.

  10. Yeah, I’m not even trying to watch it. I stopped supporting Usher a good minute ago. There are better R&B singers out now anyway, ie. Miguel and Frank Ocean. Usher’s time has passed.

  11. The people that are claiming that usher still pursued the child custody battle are very dumb people because after the death of tameka’s son usher filed a motion to POSTPONE the trial because of the tradgey but Tameka thinking that losing her son would get the judge on her side told the judge no let them continue the custody battle. Now that she lost she wants to play victim I don’t feel bad for her at all

    1. “usher filed a motion to POSTPONE the trial because of the tradgey ” <<< Nope. That was actually proven to be FALSE according to the official court documents. Maybe you should do more research before you call other people dumb. There's a search feature on this blog, grab a cup of coffee and catch up. We ain't dumb around these parts sweetie. Keep on drinking Usher's koolaid though.

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