‘Ohh, She Hates You’: Usher’s Ex-Wife Tameka Foster Reveals the Truth About His Mother’s Feelings

In a recently resurfaced interview, Usher’s ex-wife Tameka Foster set the record straight about her relationship with the superstar’s mother, Janetta Patton, revealing details that challenge long-standing rumors about animosity between them.

The conversation gained renewed attention after Usher’s emotional Lifetime Achievement Award acceptance speech at the 2024 BET Awards. During his speech, Usher spoke about the challenges and importance of co-parenting, referencing couples like Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys, and Mashonda Tifrere as positive examples.

He then directly addressed Tameka Foster, the mother of his two oldest sons, from the stage, saying, “I’m trying, Tameka,” acknowledging their ongoing efforts to co-parent peacefully after years of public and private disputes.

Foster, a celebrity stylist, and Usher share two sons, Usher Raymond V and Naviyd Ely Raymond. Their 2009 divorce was followed by a highly publicized custody battle, which ended with Usher being awarded primary custody in 2012.

In a 2021 interview on “The Culture Club” with hosts Osas Ighodaro and Claudia Jordan, Foster discussed the evolution of her relationship with Usher and their approach to co-parenting. She explained that as their children have grown older, holiday arrangements have become more flexible, with both parents prioritizing their sons’ well-being and maintaining a united front.

The interview also addressed persistent rumors about Foster’s relationship with Usher’s mother. Many believed there was longstanding tension, with some even claiming that Patton disliked Foster.

Foster clarified, “Everybody was like, ‘Oh, she hates you,’ but it was never anything I felt once we were married.” She admitted that while Patton initially opposed their marriage, once the wedding took place, Patton was respectful and cordial. Foster even recalled that Patton had a Christmas ornament with Foster’s picture on her tree, further dispelling the rumors of hatred.

Foster acknowledged that mothers are often protective of their sons, especially if they are successful and wealthy, as they want to ensure their sons’ interests are safeguarded.

She emphasized that her relationship with Patton was not as contentious as the public believed.

The conversation also touched on Usher’s subsequent marriages. After divorcing Foster, Usher married Grace Miguel (now Grace Harry) in 2015, with whom he later split in 2018.

Foster shared that she actually likes Grace, describing her as “cool” and helpful, and emphasized that there was no overlap or infidelity between her relationship with Usher and his relationship with Grace. “We have a clean slate until she proves otherwise,” Foster said.

Usher is currently married to music executive Jennifer Goicoechea. The couple began dating in 2019 and married on February 11, 2024, in Las Vegas after Usher’s Super Bowl halftime performance. They have two children together: daughter Sovereign Bo Raymond and son Sire Castrello Raymond.

Foster concluded the interview by stating that cheating was not an issue in her marriage to Usher and reiterated her commitment to co-parenting amicably. She also acknowledged Usher’s dedication to becoming a better man in his new season of life.

This candid interview from Foster offers a nuanced perspective on the complexities of blending families, co-parenting, and navigating relationships in the public eye, ultimately highlighting growth, understanding, and mutual respect.