Usher and Bieber Clash at Beyoncé’s Oscars After-Party in Hollywood

Incident draws fresh attention to a fractured mentor relationship already tested by years of industry tension

A glittering Oscars night in Hollywood took an unexpected turn Sunday when Usher and Justin Bieber became involved in a heated confrontation at an Oscars after-party hosted by Beyoncé and Jay-Z, according to multiple sources familiar with the incident.

Sources connected to Bieber told TMZ that Usher approached the pop star at the party with “energy and anger,” and the two got into a heated exchange. Those same sources were clear that no physical contact took place, though they described the encounter as intense. Early accounts circulating among guests had suggested the confrontation turned physical, a claim Bieber’s camp firmly denied. Celebrity gossip account Deuxmoi later suggested reports had been inflated, saying Bieber simply chose not to engage in conversation with Usher, with no specific point of tension, no yelling, and no altercation.

The cause of the dispute has not been confirmed. The party, held at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, operates under a strict no-phones policy, limiting the flow of verified information from inside the venue. Usher’s representatives have not responded to requests for comment from multiple news outlets.

The incident comes against the backdrop of a relationship that has been quietly deteriorating for some time. Signs of tension first emerged publicly in January 2025 when fans noticed Bieber appeared to have unfollowed Usher on Instagram, a move that raised eyebrows given the depth of their shared history. Sources close to Bieber told TMZ the singer has been working to distance himself from figures associated with his early career, with one contact going as far as saying he has always been privately cool toward Usher.

The relationship between the two artists spans more than fifteen years. Usher, alongside music manager Scooter Braun, discovered Bieber when he was thirteen and played a central role in shaping the early years of his career. Their association with Sean “Diddy” Combs, who was subsequently arrested and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and related offences, has since cast a shadow over that shared chapter of their lives and prompted renewed public scrutiny. The two were last photographed together publicly in 2022.

The party itself was among the most star-studded gatherings of the awards weekend. Guests included Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Michael B. Jordan, Ryan Coogler, Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, Austin Butler, Jacob Elordi, Emma Stone, Emma Watson, Kendall Jenner, Megan Fox, Sofia Vergara, Vin Diesel, and Hailey Bieber, among others.

No police involvement has been reported, and neither Usher nor Justin Bieber has publicly addressed what took place.