Usher And Chris Brown 'Still Icy' Days After Backstage Battle - TMZ

Usher and Chris Brown have not resolved their issues a week after a backstage argument at their Atlanta concert delayed the start of the show by nearly three hours, TMZ reported.

The initial dispute on Thursday, Nov. 5, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium stemmed from a disagreement over timing. Heavy traffic and street closures prevented many concertgoers from reaching their seats, leading Usher to want to start on time while Brown wanted to wait for the fans to fill the stadium, sources told TMZ.

Fans demand refunds, others want an apology after Usher, Chris Brown Atlanta show starts late — WSB-TV

The resulting delay pushed the 7:30 p.m. show back to approximately 10:00 p.m. That truncated setlists for both headliners due to the venue’s midnight curfew and eliminated their planned joint numbers. Insiders told TMZ that clashing egos ignited the standoff and pointed to an intense rivalry persisting throughout the tour.

Despite reports that the dynamic between the two performers remains “still icy,” other members of the production paint a different picture. Opening act Tank suggested on the Atlanta radio show The Big Tigger Morning Show that any friction had already been cleared through direct conversations.

Chris Brown Responds After Backstage Fight With Usher & Ends Atlanta Show Early — ALL URBAN CENTRAL

“In the spirit of competition, in the spirit of trying to be great, in the spirit of everybody having their own ideas of what greatness looks like, how to approach it, all of these things, there is bound to be conflict. Once those conversations are had, night two a movie, night three a movie,” Tank said on the show.

Tank also attributed part of the rough kickoff to scheduling rust following a three-week hiatus for the tour production.

Brown dismissed the initial rumors on Instagram, writing that the reports were “Internet [cap emoji]. Don’t fall for it.” When the duo returned to the stage on Nov. 6, they performed their “Back to Sleep” collaboration from separate platforms on opposite sides of the stage and kept a physical distance during the “It Depends” remix.

Usher And Chris Brown 'Still Icy' Days After Backstage Battle - TMZ — Photo: complex.com

On Sunday, Nov. 8, Brown invited Gabrielle Cheyenne onto the stage. Cheyenne previously made headlines in July after appearing indifferent when pulled onstage by Usher, later telling TMZ she had been hoping for an encounter with Brown instead. Sources told TMZ that Usher was completely unbothered by Cheyenne’s guest appearance.

The cast and crew have maintained a positive energy despite the feud, and crew members are hopeful the two headliners will sit down soon to clear the air for the remaining dates. Following two final Atlanta shows on Tuesday and Wednesday, the tour is scheduled to continue until Dec. 12, though two of its remaining shows have already been canceled.