‘He just didn’t protect him’: Insiders reveal REAL reason Justin Bieber and Usher’s secret feud hit ‘boiling point’ at Oscars

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According to the Daily Mail, Usher has long felt overlooked and unappreciated by Justin Bieber, whom he once mentored, as Bieber rose to fame.

But sources say Bieber distanced himself for good reason: ‘He just didn’t protect him.’

Immediately after the 2026 Academy Awards on Sunday night, this secret feud came to a head.

According to a source who spoke with the Daily Mail, tensions came to a head at the Oscars. Usher is reportedly upset with Justin’s recent actions, especially his behavior during the awards show.

Another source stated that Bieber was not disrespectful, explaining that he was simply enjoying a party with his friends and his wife, Hailey.

‘What [Usher’s] taking as disrespect may actually be him feeling guilty or ashamed.’

Reports surfaced earlier this week that the Grammy-winning musicians had a tense argument at Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s after-Oscars party at the Chateau Marmont hotel in Los Angeles.

According to sources close to Justin Bieber, 32, Usher, 47, confronted him with a lot of emotion and seemed upset, but the situation didn’t turn violent.

According to a source at the Daily Mail, the argument didn’t turn into a physical fight because everyone involved wanted to be respectful of the people hosting the party.

‘[Usher] held himself back,’ the insider claimed. 

He decided not to make things worse out of respect for Jay-Z and Beyoncé, though some people believe he was prepared to fight if necessary.

According to reports, the singer of “Yeah!” felt ignored by Bieber when they met at the event, and this treatment has been a recurring issue for him.

Honestly, from where I’m seeing things, it sounds like this person feels really undervalued. They’ve been incredibly loyal and supportive, but haven’t gotten that same energy back, and it’s left them feeling dismissed and, frankly, a little hurt. It’s created a real distance between them, and it doesn’t feel good at all.

‘Usher, who played a key role in helping Justin get his start, feels that history matters.’

Now, the Daily Mail has learned why Bieber has kept Usher at arm’s length for a while.

According to a source, Justin Bieber feels like his former management, particularly Scooter Braun, didn’t treat him fairly and he harbors some resentment towards them. This tension has existed since he became famous.

According to a second source, Usher has known Justin since he was a child, which makes it surprising that Usher doesn’t understand what the problem is.

In 2007, a 12-year-old Bieber started getting traction on YouTube for his singing.

Raymond Braun found him online and quickly signed him to RBMG, a company Braun created with Usher. Braun and Usher first connected in the early 2000s in Atlanta when Braun was promoting events.

Usher was already a well-established star with many hit songs when he played a key role in launching Justin Bieber’s career.

Usher once told Oprah Winfrey that he saw a lot of potential in Justin Bieber, recognizing his strong passion for music.

I recognized he had the ability to succeed, but it ultimately depended on his own choices. I consistently reminded him that his potential was limitless, and he could achieve anything he set his mind to.

Bieber decided that he wanted to rise to that next level of fame.

Usher arranged a meeting between the singer and L.A. Reid, a record executive, to secure a bigger distribution agreement through Island Def Jam, as RBMG was a relatively small record label.

Reid described the boy as having a striking, almost feminine beauty – the kind that immediately commanded attention the moment he entered a room. He wrote about this in his memoir, Sing to Me, detailing his experiences with music, discovering talent, and finding the next big star.

Usher introduced me to an incredibly talented child, not just a good singer, but a natural performer destined for superstardom.

Justin Bieber was introduced to Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs through Usher, and the two became friends. However, their relationship has come under scrutiny following Combs’ 2025 trial involving sex crimes.

As part of the ongoing federal investigation, an old video of Sean Combs, now 56, with a 15-year-old Justin Bieber has reappeared. In the video, they mention spending 48 hours together and vaguely state they can’t reveal what they were doing.

Bieber quickly addressed the rumors through his representative, firmly denying any claims of past abuse by Combs.

While Justin isn’t one of the people Sean Combs harmed, others were genuinely hurt, and focusing on anything else takes away from the justice those victims deserve, according to his spokesperson.

In October 2025, Combs received a prison sentence of four years and two months after being convicted of transporting individuals for the purpose of prostitution. He is currently facing multiple civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault, but he maintains his innocence.

Harry Reid, now 69, faced a lawsuit from a former coworker alleging sexual assault and harassment. He refuted the claims and reached a settlement in January, without acknowledging wrongdoing.

Justin Bieber hasn’t publicly accused any music industry executives of wrongdoing, but he has openly discussed his struggles with mental health, which he attributes to the pressures of fame.

Even though he’d faced difficulties, he seemed to be on good terms with Usher as of 2020. That year, the singer shared a photo of them shaking hands in the recording studio.

‘Love you bro @usher,’ Bieber captioned the Instagram post at the time.

The duo were last photographed hanging out together at Coeur d’Alene in Idaho in 2022.

Usher was chosen to perform at the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show, and reports suggest that tensions between him and Justin Bieber increased around that time.

According to earlier reports in the Daily Mail, Usher really wanted Justin Bieber to perform with him and had been suggesting different ways to make it happen.

A source close to Justin Bieber shared that while he’s honored Usher wants him to join the Super Bowl performance, he’s currently inclined to let Usher have the spotlight. Bieber would prefer to potentially perform at the Super Bowl himself in the future if he’s asked.

Bieber ultimately declined. 

Usher publicly stated he respected his former protégé’s choice, but sources now reveal he was actually more upset by it than he admitted.

According to one source, the Oscars ceremony was the first time Justin and Usher had been in the same room in a long while. Apparently, there had been friction between them ever since Justin turned down Usher’s invitation to the Super Bowl several years prior.

Also in 2024, Bieber had a falling out with his manager, Scooter Braun, and left his management company. Reports suggest this was due to financial disagreements related to the cancellation of his Justice Tour.

Bieber and Braun reached a settlement on those financial issues in 2025.

According to a second source at the Daily Mail, it’s unknown how aware Usher was of the disagreements between Justin Bieber and Scooter Braun, but the source believes Usher could have intervened at certain points.

A third source agreed with the general idea, but didn’t provide any details about what supposedly happened that made Bieber need security.

Even though Justin Bieber and Scooter Braun had a falling out, Usher still maintains a friendly relationship with Braun, who was also publicly involved in a dispute with Taylor Swift.

According to one source, Usher remaining close to Bieber has actually made Bieber less likely to try and get back together with him.

According to one source at the Daily Mail, Usher believes Justin Bieber should be grateful for the help he’s given him. However, other sources say Bieber has become successful through his own efforts over time and has achieved a lot independently.

The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Usher and Bieber for comment. 

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2026-03-22 03:20