Usher
Learn the Truth About A-List Stars and Our Justice System
Are celebs above the law? Does a privilege exist for them which means they “get away” with conduct that regular, everyday citizens would never? Maybe yes. Maybe no. But if yes, why do they get this special treatment? Is it because they can sing? They can act? No. I believe it has nothing to do with their talent (or their looks!) but rather it is what privilege and celebrity can buy. And that, my friends, is a good lawyer. A good lawyer is creative, can hire experts to poke holes in a case and fully investigate witnesses in order to question their credibility. A good lawyer can raise enough doubt that a jury won’t convict or find for the plaintiff. And a good lawyer is nothing if not expensive. How expensive? Well, lawyer to the stars, Mark Geragos did not amass a net worth of more than 25 million by charging a hundred bucks an hour. Though I don’t know his hourly rate or if he charges by case (it’s likely he does both), I would venture to say his rate is well over $1000 per hour. But, that’s just a drop in the bucket for those on Geragos’ client list which includes Chris Brown, Usher and Nicole Ritchie.
The counter argument to preferential treatment is that scrutiny is at its most intense in high profile cases so those in the system are especially careful. New York based attorney to the stars, Ben Brafman, who has represented P. Diddy and many others, has been known to say that authorities like to use high-profile cases to send a message about obeying the law and thus the system is more stringent with celebrities. I agree with him. The truth is no one in the justice system wants to face public outcry or press hostility for any matter and certainly not one involving a celebrity. In today’s world when celebs instagram from crime scenes or tweet on their way to court and everything seems to be captured on film, prosecutors, lawyers, and judges need to be very careful with every decision they make, witness they call or ruling they issue.
In the end I agree with famed legal scholar and lawyer, Alan Dershowitz, a member of OJ Simpson’s Dream Team, who said, “It is true that the legal system treats celebrities differently from average folks…it could be worse treatment, or it could be better treatment. The coin flips two ways.”
Usher Is Ringing in 2019 As a Single Man: Here Are the Details on His Divorce
Looks like Usher is taking the old saying, “New year, new me” very seriously by filing for divorce from his wife, Grace Miguel. The couple married in 2015 about six years after they began dating. Miguel was Usher’s manager.
They couple appear to have separated around December 2017 and back in March 2018 issued a statement saying, “After much thought and consideration, we have mutually decided to separate as a couple. We remain deeply connected, loving friends who will continue to support each other through the next phases of our lives.” If anyone wanted any divorce drama with these two, it seems they’re both intent on not having that (thankfully!). The couple closed out their statement by saying, “The enormous amount of love and respect that we have for each other will only increase as we move forward.”
Usher’s Legal Problems: Herpes Lawsuits
While the divorce may not be full of drama, Usher’s recent legal life certainly has. In 2017, the singer was sued in California for knowingly infecting two women and a man with herpes. That’s against the law in California. We posted a copy of the lawsuit back when it was filed–it’s full of very interesting details so click here if you’d like to read it. Around this time it was also revealed that back in 2012 Usher allegedly paid out a $1.1 million settlement for infecting another woman with the disease. Usher faced another herpes lawsuit in 2017 in Georgia filed by Laura Helm (she first filed as a Jane Doe and when the singer’s legal team demanded she reveal her name, she did so. More on that in this Proof interview on the matter).
Of no surprise is that Usher’s camp insists that he did not intend to harm any of the people he was romantically involved with and argued that they assumed a risk when they consented to have unprotected sex with him. One can imagine the pressure these lawsuits likely placed on Usher and Miguel’s marriage.
Usher and Tameka Foster: Lots of Family Drama
Before his courtship and eventual marriage to Miguel, which spanned 11 years, Usher was married to Tameka Foster in 2007. The pair share two sons together. They divorced in 2009. Foster did not go down without a fight however.
It was a messy battle with Foster fighting for primary custody (though, notably, Usher would eventually be the one awarded custody of their two sons) and a Georgia mansion. Allegations flew throughout the proceedings, including one from a marriage counselor that Foster accused Usher of sleeping with two of her bridesmaids.
In July 2012, Foster’s son from another marriage was killed after being hit by a jet ski. It was rumored that Usher was not at the funeral, though he insisted that he was and told Oprah at the time that he even put their custody battle on hold to give Tameka time to breath and grieve.
In 2013 an emergency hearing was scheduled after one of Usher’s children was involved in a swimming accident at Usher’s home. Foster sought to regain custody of the children, but the judge denied her request and the children remain with Usher.
Though divorce is rarely easy the fact that Miguel and Usher do not have children together certainly will make things simpler. We bet Usher is ready for a new start in 2019.