R&B legend Usheris defending his musical peer,Sean "Diddy" Combs, months after the superproducer was sentenced to several years in prison.
In anew interview with Forbes, Usher, 47, said he feltCombshad been "misrepresented" amid his closely watchedfederal sex crimes trial, and cited "legacy" as the one word that comes to mind when the Bad Boy Records founder's name comes up.
"In many ways, I think certain people are prosecuted and maybe not recognized for the greatness that they offer," Usher told the outlet in the March 25 interview. "I don't have anything negative to say about Sean Combs because my experience was not what the world has seen and how he's been misrepresented."
The disgraced music mogul, who was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution in 2025, is set to be freed in 2028.Combs, 56, isbehind bars at New Jersey's FCI Fort Dixserving a 50-month sentencefor his conviction, after being acquitted on the more serious charges, sex trafficking and racketeering.
"I'm not saying that every man is perfect. I'm not saying that all of us don't have flaws," Usher continued. "But I can't with any sense of humanity not recognize the valuable contributions that this man made for us as Black entrepreneurs, for us as businessmen, for us as people who have transitioned culture and ideas into something that's tangible."
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"So many people benefitted from what he created and I acknowledgethat," he added. "That's who I see that man as. And that's what I choose to remember. I put respect on his name because I realized that what I learned as a businessman before I even understood what business was came as a result of seeing the incredible things that he was able to do and the way that he positioned himself as a businessman."
Combs' convictioncentered on the transportation of two former girlfriends –Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fineand the anonymous "Jane" – as well as sex workers for the intent of prostitution.
Sean "Diddy" Combs becomes emotional as his children go to the podium to make impact statements during a court sentencing, after the music mogul was convicted on charges of transporting prostitutes to engage in drug-fueled sexual performances, in New York City, Oct. 3, 2025, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs gestures as he speaks with his defense team before the day's session of his sex trafficking trial in New York City on June 18, 2025, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Defense lawyer Teny Geragos cross-examines witness Special Agent DeLeassa Penland before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian during Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City on June 17, 2025, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs watches sex tapes that are shown to the jury during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City on June 17, 2025, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sex tapes are shown to the jury during Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City on June 17, 2025, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs watches sex tapes that are shown to the jury during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City on June 17, 2025, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson displays text messages between Sean "Diddy" Combs and Casandra "Cassie" Ventura as she questions Special Agent DeLeassa Penland during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City on June 17, 2025, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Singer Dawn Richard testifies about seeing Sean "Diddy" Combs strike his then-girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian at Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, May 19, 2025 in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Foster questions Kerry Morgan at Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, May 19, 2025 in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs' listens to testimony during his sex trafficking trial in New York City on May 12, 2025, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Male stripper Daniel Phillip, the prosecution's second witness, testifies at Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City on May 12, 2025." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian presides at Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial on May 12, 2025." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Hotel surveillance footage of Cassie Ventura is shown as prosecutor Christy Slavik questions Israel Florez, a former security guard, at Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, on May 12, 2025." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Israel Florez, now an LAPD officer, was cross-examined about his recollection of events when he responded to a call for "a woman in distress" after Combs attacked then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in an incident partially captured in a 2016 hotel surveillance video." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Prosecutor Emily Johnson points to Sean "Diddy" Combs before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian at Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City on May 12, 2025. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Defense lawyer Teny Geragos makes opening statements to the jury before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian at Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City on May 12, 2025. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs faces the jury as his defense lawyer Teny Geragos makes opening statements." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs reacts to his family members seated in the audience at his sex trafficking trial." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Family members of Sean "Diddy" Combs attend his sex trafficking trial." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs puts his hand on his heart as he enters the courtroom for jury selection at the start of his sex trafficking trial in New York City on May 6, 2025, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs sits before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian as jury selection continued at his sex trafficking trial in New York City on May 6, 2025, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs stands with his attorneys before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian to observe the pool of potential jurors entering for the first day of his sex trafficking trial in New York City on May 5, 2025, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs embraces his attorneys before jury questioning got underway in his sex trafficking trial in New York City on May 5, 2025, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
District Judge Arun Subramanian interviews potential jurors as Sean "Diddy" Combs sits with his legal team, at the start of his sex trafficking trial in New York City on May 5, 2025, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs observes the pool of potential jurors entering for his sex trafficking trial in New York City on May 5, 2025, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs sits at the defense table during his pretrial conference next to Teny Geragos, member of his defense team, in New York on April 25, 2025, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs sits with members of his defense team Teny Geragos and Alexandra Shapiro for a conference ahead of his trial next month on sex trafficking charges, in New York on April 18, 2025, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs stands with one his lawyers, Marc Agnifilo, during his hearing where he pleaded not guilty to an expanded federal indictment charging the hip-hop mogul with five criminal counts, including racketeering and sex trafficking on in New York, April 14, 2025, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs stands as he is arraigned on a superseding indictment ahead of his May trial on sex trafficking charges, in New York on March 14, 2025, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs attends a pre-trial conference in his sex trafficking case with his attorneys Marc Agnifilo and Anthony Ricco in New York City on Dec. 18, 2024, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs listens accompanied by attorneys Anthony Ricco and Alexandra Shapiro, on the day of his hearing on his request to be released from jail pending trial in New York City on Nov. 22, 2024, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs', with his mom seated in the back, attends a hearing in federal court in the Manhattan borough of New York City on Oct. 10, 2024, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs' bows and waves back to friends and family who wave at him as he attends a hearing in federal court in Manhattan on Oct. 10, 2024, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson argues for the prosecution as Sean "Diddy" Combs and his defense lawyers Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos are seated during a bail hearing in federal court in the Manhattan borough of New York City on Sept. 18, 2024, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sean "Diddy" Combs stands before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky after prosecutors brought three criminal charges against him in federal court in Manhattan on Sept. 17, 2024, in this courtroom sketch." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial: See courtroom sketches of his family, witnesses, judge
Sean "Diddy" Combs becomes emotional as his children go to the podium to make impact statements during a court sentencing, after the music mogul was convicted on charges of transporting prostitutes to engage in drug-fueled sexual performances, in New York City, Oct. 3, 2025, in this courtroom sketch.
Major moments from the trial included Fine, a former Bad Boy Records artist, providing emotional testimony about his alleged abuse and rapperKid Cudi, who was once romantically involved with her, alleging the music mogul broke into his home.
Combs, who has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct, is stillfacing upwards of 70 civil lawsuitsacross the country.
Contributing: Brendan Morrow, KiMi Robinson and Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Usher defends Diddy – 'I put respect on his name'
