On Tuesday (August 11), Lionel Richie aired out his thoughts about Chris Brown and Usher being on the ‘R&B Tour.’ He seemed to take jabs at the performers. After Lionel’s comments went viral, Breezy stepped in with a subtle clap back.
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Lionel Richie Appears To Shade Chris Brown & Usher
According to Sunny 104.3, Lionel Richie took the stage in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday. The show was part of his tour with ‘Earth, Wind & Fire.’ Between songs, he appeared to compare Usher and Chris Brown to his former funk and soul group, The Commodores, and claimed nothing the performers were doing was new.
“And Usher and Chris Brown…See, they try to do something new. The Commodores with Earth, Wind Fire, we were doing that back 40 years ago! Only difference is, between then and now, we didn’t go to jail!”
After a lil’ chuckle, Lionel Richie apologized and said, “We’re fine Christian men, we’re fine Christian men.” He added that performers from his prime didn’t have Instagram or TikTok where folks “go out tell a lie and then go post it.” Also, he said, “What the hell is that,” before the viral clip cuts off.
It’s unclear what prompted these comments from Lionel Richie. Additionally, he didn’t clarify what he meant when he said his former group and others have done what Breezy and Usher have. The duo has been going viral for their spicy performances featuring female attendees in different cities. None of said performances have ended in an arrest. However, Breezy is currently wrapped up in two court cases — a settlement with his former housekeeper and a pending sentence for an assault case in London. It’s unclear whether Lionel was referencing Breezy former legal issues and arrests, including for the assault of Rihanna in 2009.
Chris Brown Responds To Lionel Richie
The clip, seemingly first shared by Sunny 104.3 on Instagram, made its internet rounds, drawing a response from Breezy. He slid into the comment section to react to Lionel Richie.
“[4 laughing emojis] damn unk. We love ya paw paw,” Chris Brown wrote.
It doesn’t appear that Brown gave any further reaction. Usher also seemingly has not reacted to what Lionel had to say.
Chris Brown Brown replies to Lionel Richie
“😂😂😂😂 damn ink. We love ya paw paw” https://t.co/GyMTV0bkCM pic.twitter.com/hXZbyjbm8l
— MUSIC RADAR (@musicradarHQ) August 13, 2026
Tank & Fans Weigh In On The Shady Jokes
Fellow R&B singer, Tank, offered the performers some encouragement as a vet in the genre. Tank has also been featured in ‘The R&B Tour,’ and recently clocked shady comments Jacquees made about opting not to join the tour as a background singer.
“As an elder in this game i support, encourage, and uplift the next generation. I’m there as a brother through their ups and their downs. @chrisbrown x @Usher are doing something that has NEVER been done before. I’ll leave it at that..🙏🏾💙,” Tank said on X.
As an elder in this game i support, encourage, and uplift the next generation. I’m there as a brother through their ups and their downs. @chrisbrown x @Usher are doing something that has NEVER been done before. I’ll leave it at that..🙏🏾💙
— Tank (@TheRealTank) August 13, 2026
Lionel’s video has continued to pull in reactions on Sunny 104.3’s IG page and on X.
IG user @robjthoughts commented, “In no time, Chris Brown will be onstage looking just like this talking about he did something first. 😂 Watch. Time flies.”
@whoisnowellshaw said, “Y’all ain’t never sing dance do choreo, have pyro tech and fly from section to section. 😂”
“He just canceled shows due to being dizzy. Now he is being shady 😂,” @purplerosebudseason commented.
@lightchocolate25 added, “One the biggest complaints is the elders don’t uplift the generations that follow. It be our own tearing us down!”
“Unnecessary Lionel 😂. You made your impact on the industry in a different way. No need to mention them unless you are jealous 🥴,” @nenapooter said.
“Also, they didn’t go to jail back then for the crimes they committed against women! Tammy Terrell. Tina Turner. And countless other women, famous or not, didn’t get justice,” @onehighlyfavored1 commented.
@beautiful_queen.t wrote, “Ok now Lionel…let’s not throw bricks in glass houses.”
@arise_cooldaddy95 added, “I respect what he saying . He’s saying he don’t approve whats in the show and we need to be true artist again we know what’s going on . It’s not hate it’s correction.”
Meanwhile, @blue_butterfly2000 said, “He was just joking lol. Lighten up in these comments. Its not that serious 😂.”
Bro why is Lionel Richie calling out Chris Brown and Usher 🤣🤣🤣
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) August 13, 2026
Now why would he do this? This is why we say we don’t have elders. Only olders. https://t.co/AoJFXcCrl2
— N I J A (@batbglobal) August 13, 2026
You would’ve thought he was going to say something nice but I was like damn …. Can’t even just celebrate that they on tour together 😭. But just as to bring up that one of them been to jail https://t.co/0WCxjvpvU7
— Rozaay🌹🇰🇪 (@rozaaylove) August 13, 2026
What is even saying??? The artists back then were just as problematic, if not worse, as they are now. Only difference is their issues weren’t as public becuz there was no social media https://t.co/BV0qL7wxjo
— Breanna (@Breready_) August 13, 2026
Prime example of how the older Black generations hate on the younger ones for no reason…Then its “respect your elders” if Chris or Usher say something back https://t.co/AzAYtWbVHn
— Warden of the East ⚔️ (@ChampSantiago) August 13, 2026
whether it’s sports or music, old heads gone hate on the new generation for literally being younger https://t.co/DzemcFM9cM
— young sweet jones (@stewfromdalou) August 13, 2026
He is too great to be participating in this type of nonsense. Now all these kids that don’t know anything about his music have a reason to disrespect him. https://t.co/Fe4DVKMrqw
— Dont say my name (@stillnez216) August 13, 2026
lmfao he’s not lying but he’s definitely hating https://t.co/GCpVyfdnn8
— mays gilliam (@djelzee) August 13, 2026
lol Lionel Richie firing shots at Chris Brown wasn’t on my 2026 Bingo card. Now if they bring up his ex-wife putting hands and feet on him for cheating then they’d be outta pocket 😂😂😂 https://t.co/OxpV0KDOAU
— DaHoopPanel (@UnstoppableAX) August 13, 2026
That's how they get us to tear each other down for viral points…
There is no "graceful legend retirement status" for past pop stars anymore in the age of social media.
Stay off rambling to all them phone cameras yall, it ruins legacy, no matter how good surgery gets. 🙄 https://t.co/7u6JMTYLOE pic.twitter.com/mMRnPvJRlB
— ＳＯＯＰＡＤＡＡＲＫ 🔥 (@ruffandtuff) August 13, 2026
Does he know that both usher and cb blew up way before sosial media, and also neither one has gon to jail during the tour, what is he talking about? https://t.co/xtXggEQwc6
— Frida (@fridabrown22) August 13, 2026
Why Lionel Richie even saying anything about Chris Brown anyway??? I never heard nobody say turn on Lionel Richie
— Rae (@raejeanhightow8) August 13, 2026
TELL EM UNCLE LIE-NELL, DRY HUMPING ON STAGE AIN'T R&B! Damn sexual deviants! 🤣😂😭 https://t.co/5nlqCnymCk pic.twitter.com/MR7PaLEYBn
— 🌌⋆💜𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑵𝒊𝒌𝒌𝒊💜⋆🌌 (@miss_lady_diva) August 13, 2026
Lmfaooooo so random, he not lying but it’s giving big hater energy 😂 https://t.co/cBFvWtHuIs
— 🧡 Shana 🧡 (@ShanaMarissa) August 13, 2026
