Tiffany Haddish is a firm believer in checking but verifying when it comes to what and whom she’ll talk about in her comedic sets. For her cover interview for Cosmopolitan’s 2022 Travel issue, the “Night School” star recalled allegedly getting Usher’s approval before making a joke about him having a rumored sexually transmitted disease.
“I check and verify with people” before making jokes that involve them,” the 42-year-old star told the publication. “If I can’t say it to your face, I shouldn’t be able to say it. Period. That’s how I draw the line.”
The “Girls Trip” star recalled a joke where she takes a jab at the singer’s herpes scandal. In 2017, the “Confessions” singer was accused of allegedly passing herpes to several sexual partners during unprotected sexual encounters without warning he had the virus.
“I got this joke, ‘I curse you out with joy. I hope that you spread it. I hope you spread it like Usher spreads herpes.’ I have said that in front of Usher,” she told the magazine before claiming the singer responded, “‘Your ass is crazy,’”
“I said, ‘Yeah, well, there’s a rumor out there saying you got herpes. I don’t know if you do or don’t, but that s— is funny,’” Tiffany continued. “He’s like, ‘Yeah, it is.’”
Usher has yet to verify the comedian’s tale. However, the “Nobody’s Fool” star maintained, “If he had said, ‘Tiff, don’t say that no more. I don’t like it. I’m not comfortable with you saying that,’ I would stop saying it.”
Usher was sued by plaintiffs Quantasia Sharpton, Laura Helm (originally “Jane Doe”), and “John Doe,” who accused the star of sexual battery, fraud, negligence, and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
At the time, the “YEAH!” singer’s team “denie(d) each and every allegation” made against him by the trio. It came weeks after it was revealed that the singer reportedly paid a woman $1.1 million in 2012 to settle a lawsuit after she made similar claims against him.
Ultimately Helm’s case was dropped in November 2017, while Sharpton’s case was dismissed in September 2019.
