Lionel Richie joked about Usher and Chris Brown during a concert in Phoenix, comparing their current co-headlining stadium tour with the Commodores’ past work alongside Earth, Wind & Fire. His remarks drew attention because he suggested his generation avoided legal trouble and social-media controversies, implicitly referencing the pair’s public reputations.

Speaking at Mortgage Matchup Center on Tuesday, the 77-year-old said the older acts had done similar touring “back 40 years ago” but were “fine Christian men” who did not face Instagram or TikTok scrutiny. The article notes that Usher, 47, has recently attracted viral attention over concert and public incidents, while Chris Brown, 37, has remained comparatively absent from current tour-related controversy; it also points out Richie had already left the Commodores 40 years ago.