Tiffany Haddish Told Usher Her Joke About His Alleged Herpes Right To His Face With No Shame

The topic came up after Haddish was asked if she thinks being a comedian is tough.

“No, I do not agree. I feel like it’s a harder time for men to be comics because a lot of them … hmm, how candid can I be? They become comedians so they can get laid,” she shared during the interview with Cosmopolitan.

She went on to explain that back in the day, comedians “could be reckless” with their jokes “and try to figure it out” in real-time. Now, “you have to actually write and be clever and not come from a place of hate.”

“I think you can say what you want. It’s about how you go about things,” she added.

Growing up in foster care, Haddish said she never thought people could say whatever they want without repercussions. As a result, the 42-year-old said she checks in with people to make sure a joke isn’t offensive.

“I check and verify with people,” she said. “If I can’t say it to your face, I shouldn’t be able to say it. Period. That’s how I draw the line.”

She then gave an example of a joke about Usher’s alleged herpes scandal in 2017.

“I got this joke, ‘I curse you out with joy. I hope that you spread it. I hope you spread it like Usher spreads herpes.’ I have said that in front of Usher,” Haddish said.

Haddish revealed that the singer’s response was actually pretty chill.

“Usher said, ‘Your ass is crazy.’ I said, ‘Yeah, well, there’s a rumor out there saying you got herpes. I don’t know if you do or don’t, but that s**t is funny.’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, it is,'” she said.

But if his response were different, Haddish said she would have axed the joke.

“If he had said, ‘Tiff, don’t say that no more. I don’t like it. I’m not comfortable with you saying that,’ I would stop saying it,” she continued.