Usher invites a fan to the stage, but he hasn't yet learned what consent means The viral video rekindles the debate
For years it was one of the most anticipated moments of Usher's concerts: a fan is invited to the stage and the singer involves her in a performance to the tune of Can U Handle It? . A ritual that has now become a classic of his shows, which this time, however, went differently. During a stop on the tour in Nashville, the chosen fan remained visibly stiff and uncomfortable as the singer got closer. After a while, Usher interrupted the performance and had her go back to her place. The video went viral in a few hours, opening up a heated online debate. Subsequently, the girl, Gabrielle Cheyenne, explained that she had been moved to the VIP area without knowing that she would be involved in the stage moment with Usher. He said that he would have refused if he knew it.
The Almost Kiss Without Consent on Stage
Despite the obvious discomfort shown by the girl, Usher would have tried to kiss her, reacting with surprise and annoyance to her refusal. An attitude perhaps the result of an era, that of the 2000s, in which many stars were used to a relationship with the public based on different dynamics, but which today seems less and less acceptable. And, in reality, it never was. For years, we considered it normal for a celebrity to physically involve a person in the audience as part of the show, almost like the “highlight” of the concert. In recent years, we have begun to talk about consent more broadly, not limiting it only to sexuality, but extending it to every form of physical interaction. Consent is not something that is assumed or that is given once and for all, but it can change at any time and can also be expressed through body language, without the need for words. When Usher sensed the girl's discomfort, he stopped the situation, but he did it with a perceptible annoyance.
The debate on consent in concerts and cultural change
There are those who claim that those who agree to go on stage at an Usher concert already know that type of performance and therefore implicitly consent. Others point out that agreeing to participate in the show doesn't mean giving up the right to change your mind a second later. These are two positions that reflect a cultural change that is still in progress. Even the great stars, who for decades have built part of their image on dynamics of this type, are coming to terms with a new awareness: charisma does not replace consent and fame does not make it automatic. Perhaps the viral scene in Nashville tells just that. A society that is redefining its boundaries.