Usher and Chris Brown have been bringing out numerous surprise guests during their “R&B” tour, leaving some fans overwhelmed by the number of people appearing on stage. After their MetLife Stadium performance in New Jersey this weekend, one unusual theory began circulating online — claiming the Confessions singer had sent a clone to perform instead of him.
The bizarre claim gained so much attention that Usher decided to respond, commenting under an Instagram post about the theory. As captured by Complex Music, he wrote, “Ya’ll are funny…clone? They can’t clone this??” He then added, “How ya’ll come up with this? [Three crying-laughing emojis] AI ain’t that advanced.”
Usher has previously brushed off wild internet rumors, so his playful reaction was not entirely unexpected. Still, the idea of a clone taking over a performance is an amusing one to imagine. Unlike a simple stage replacement, a concert of this scale requires much more than just showing up — especially when compared to situations like the late MF DOOM’s use of “DOOM-bots,” which only needed to deliver his verses.
Whether the strange theory continues gaining attention remains to be seen, but Usher and Chris Brown’s “R&B” tour will continue through December 12, when the pair are scheduled to wrap up the run with their final show in Tampa, Florida.
However, the clone theory is far from the most shocking moment to come out of the Usher tour so far. The biggest viral moment at the time involved the Gabrielle Cheyenne situation — a female fan who shared an uncomfortable onstage interaction with the singer during one of his more intimate performances.
Gabrielle later claimed she would have preferred Chris Brown instead, while defending herself against online criticism. Usher eventually appeared to address the situation indirectly during a concert in Alabama, telling the crowd, “Before we get started, don’t bring your a** up here if you don’t want to be here… God don’t like ugly, but he certainly don’t feel too good about pretty privilege either.”
Despite the viral moments and online debates, the “R&B” tour has continued to be a major success both in arenas and across social media. Whether fans continue searching for answers about the clone rumors or simply enjoy the performances, the tour has certainly kept people talking.
