The 2024 BET Awards were an evening of glitz, glamour, and heartfelt moments, with one of the highlights being Usher receiving the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. However, the night took an unexpected turn when the audio during Usher’s acceptance speech was heavily censored, leaving viewers puzzled. Let’s dive into why this happened and what Usher really said, especially about his absent father.
The Audio Malfunction and Censorship
BET initially attributed the audio issues to a technical glitch, apologizing to Usher and the audience for the “inadvertently muted” parts of his speech. However, as more details emerged, it became clear that certain moments were censored due to Usher’s use of profane language. The network’s attempt to bleep out explicit words inadvertently resulted in larger segments of the speech being muted, frustrating viewers who missed out on significant portions of Usher’s heartfelt message.
Usher’s Candid and Emotional Speech
Usher’s acceptance speech was raw and unfiltered, touching on his journey, the struggles he faced, and the people who stood by him. He began by acknowledging the challenges and expressing his gratitude: “Gettin’ here has definitely not been easy, but it has been worth it….
Reflecting on His Absent Father
One of the most poignant parts of Usher’s speech was when he spoke about his father, Usher Raymond III, who was largely absent from his life due to struggles with addiction. Usher shared, “I can proudly say I’m the bastard of Usher,” referring to his father who left him and his mother when he was a baby. He continued, “But I made something of it and I did it because my mother, she subbed in two ways, she was a mother and a father at the same time. This is the power of a Black woman in America”.
Usher’s father, Usher Raymond III, battled addiction and was absent during most of Usher’s childhood. Despite this, Usher sought reconciliation later in life. He decided to forgive his father, especially during a critical time when Raymond III needed a liver transplant. Unfortunately, Raymond III passed away in 2008 following the surgery.
The Importance of Forgiveness
Usher’s speech also touched on the power of forgiveness, a theme that resonated deeply given his personal history. He publicly forgave those who had wronged him, stating, “I want to thank the ones who are not here to be able to see this moment whom are fathers or were like fathers to me”. He also highlighted how forgiveness played a crucial role in his journey: “You have to have a forgiving heart in order to understand the true pitfalls and hardships of a Black man in America”.
Background
Usher’s relationship with his father, Usher Raymond III, was complex and fraught with difficulties, primarily due to Raymond III’s struggles with addiction and his absence during Usher’s formative years. This absence and eventual reconciliation were topics Usher discussed candidly in various interviews, including a memorable interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Biography of Usher Raymond III
Early Life and Family Background
Usher Raymond III, born in 1955 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was raised in a large family with ten siblings. His parents, Usher Raymond Jr. and Evangelist Ernestine Carter, were both deeply involved in the church. Growing up in a religious household, he attended Howard High School and graduated in 1973. He was active in sports, serving as the captain of the school’s basketball team.
Education and Career
Usher continued his education at Motlow State Community College, graduating in 1977. During his college years, he was a member of Greater Friendship Primitive Baptist Church and contributed to the Overcomers Organization as an instructor. Professionally, he served as a pastor at the Chapel of Taylor Funeral Home in Tennessee and engaged in various community activities.
Relationship with His Children
Usher III had five children: Usher Raymond IV, Tomika Johnson, Ursula Parson, Ushyra Raymond, and Shelley Lusk. Despite his efforts, his relationship with his son, Usher Raymond IV, was strained due to his struggles with addiction. However, towards the end of his life, Usher IV supported his father by covering his medical expenses.
Death and Legacy
Usher Raymond III passed away on January 18, 2008, due to complications from liver surgery, a consequence of his long-term drug use. He was 52 years old at the time of his death and was buried at Highland Memorial Gardens in Chattanooga.
Usher shared in a 2012 interview with Oprah, “I wanted to understand him. I wanted to know him. But he never really gave me that chance. It was difficult because I never got the chance to reconcile.”
Usher’s journey toward reconciliation with his father was tragically cut short when his father passed away before they could truly mend their relationship. Despite his efforts to understand and forgive, Usher never had the opportunity to connect with his father on a deeper level. That’s why he said in his speech, “I was trying to make sense of this name a man gave me that didn’t stick around because he didn’t love me,” referencing the challenges of growing up without his father’s presence. He continued, “You have to have a forgiving heart to understand the true pitfalls and hardships of a Black man in America. And my father, he was a product of that.”
