Chris Brown will not tour with Usher because of financial reasons, and not because Usher believes Brown is still tainted, his camp claims.
Rumors have swirled that the two may team up on stage during Usher’s upcoming tour after the R&B crooners performed together in July at Jamaica’s Reggae SumFest concert. But both camps now say that’s not happening.
Music insiders say the reason is that Brown already had a tour deal in place with Live Nation and it’s impossible for him to extract himself from that deal. Live Nation would not grant a waiver to loan Brown out for the Usher tour.
Other sources speculated that talks ended because Usher’s camp thought it wasn’t a good idea to be on tour with Brown. “They didn’t feel it was the right time,” said one Brown insider.
Brown is still dealing with the fallout after he attacked his ex-girlfriend Rihanna before the Grammys last year. He pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to 180 hours of community service and five years probation.
But sources close to Usher say that is absolutely untrue. “Usher has no issue with Chris,” one insider told us. “He and his camp were absolutely positive to the notion of touring. There were discussions, but it did not pan out.”
“There are no plans for Usher and Brown to tour together,” said Usher’s management in a statement.
Aside from Live Nation’s contract lockdown, Brown may not be able to tour overseas as he’s still having trouble getting a visa to travel because of his conviction.
This week wasn’t all bad for Brown: California Judge Patricia Schnegg told him at a court hearing Thursday that “he was doing a great job” serving his probation. And his new movie, “Takers,” with Idris Elba and Zoe Saldana was released yesterday.