Usher's Super Bowl Halftime Performance Inspires a Flurry of Memes
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 11: Usher performs onstage during the Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Usher tore down the stage during his Super Bowl Halftime Show performance at the big game on Sunday night, Feb. 11, and fans have already begun making a slew of memes inspired by the lively presentation.
The 2024 headliner kicked off the long-awaited display, which he previously described as being "30 years in the making," by jumping into his lengthy list of hits, beginning with his 2004 single, "Caught Up," effectively hyping up the crowd for what was to come with tunes "Superstar" and "Love in This Club."
The 8-time Grammy winner delivered a Vegas-inspired showcase, showing off his showmanship, before being joined by Alicia Keys, who kicked off with her single, "If I Ain’t Got You," and then joined Usher for a sultry rendition of their 2004 hit "My Boo."
Usher even surprised the audience in a standout moment with guest appearances from H.E.R., will.i.Am, Lil John, and Ludacris.
And the show would be remiss to not include some head-turning fashionable outfits. For the special musical presentation during the annual football event—where the Kansas City Chiefs faced off against the San Francisco 49ers—Usher donned electric outfits, from an all-white piece to a sparkly black and blue one, and eventually, opting to go shirtless—a moment that understandably sent the internet into a frenzy.
Both during and immediately following the show, internet users promptly took to social media with their reactions to the performance, expressing nearly every emotion—from excitement, elation, and shock to bewilderment, and even disappointment, for leaving off some of his popular tunes that simply couldn't fit into an 13-minute timeslot.
Check out some of the best memes below.
2023 Super Bowl: 2024 Super Bowl:
Rihanna is pregnant We’re all pregnant pic.twitter.com/gYlbFBakSt— Brian Cohen (@CohenBrian_) February 12, 2024
usher, lil jon, and ludacris being together again literally felt like the avengers assembling for the first time in a decade pic.twitter.com/plzVd4gz2U
— rocky (@WAYSTIAR) February 12, 2024
The way those hits upon hits kept on transitioning was a mazzaleen. Usher did all that, and still had time to fling on skates ???? and show out. Epic ????????#SuperBowl #Usher #UsherBowl pic.twitter.com/M7PtJF7pPm
— DECLAN JOLLOF ?? (@studiopixie) February 12, 2024
WHEN THE HALFTIME SHOW IS BETTER THAN THE GAME ????#Usher #Superbowl #Halftimeshow pic.twitter.com/sE1fxYF7uM
— The Cast Patrol (@thecastpatrol) February 12, 2024
All I know is I had an absolute blast with Usher's halftime show#SuperBowl #SuperBowlLVIII #Usher pic.twitter.com/4vFNdtDcbJ
— Tyler Calvert (@ItsTylerCalvert) February 12, 2024
Usher ripped his shirt off, roller skated on stage, killed it with iconic songs, and just doing the MOST AND loved every moment of it. What a performance!! pic.twitter.com/WhaaSOveYi
— CJ Johnson (@cjjohnsonjr) February 12, 2024
Millennials watching usher slide around shirtless transitioning from my way to my boo to confessions to let it burn to u got it bad to caught up to love in this club to yeah pic.twitter.com/hpd0XdRxbK
— Sophie Ross (@SophRossss) February 12, 2024
#Usher came and did EVERYTHING he said he was gonna do!!!!!! The undisputed KING of R&B, and the BEST male performer of his generation!!!!!!!!!! PERIOD!!!!!! #HalftimeShow pic.twitter.com/dvJGqWUnin
— AD III ?? (@anseldeangelo) February 12, 2024
A few took issues with some of the songs he didn't perform:
What do you mean usher’s performance is over he didn’t do scream or dj got us fallin in love yet pic.twitter.com/1ilUS2OfEH
— rev (@whyrev) February 12, 2024
Others were bummed that he didn't bring out Justin Bieber, as was previously rumored:
No Justin Bieber during Usher's halftime show pic.twitter.com/vkmSmNPHJ3
— Caleb Bets (@ohthatscalebb) February 12, 2024
Celebs poured in with celebratory comments, too, praising the milestone performance:
Wooow @Usher YOU JUST KILLED THAT SHIT!!! How YOU FEEL?! pic.twitter.com/hgA9kuOX1f
— Leslie Jones ?? (@Lesdoggg) February 12, 2024
this will forever be one of the most remembered halftime show performances. ever. #SuperBowlLVIII @Usher
— papa fish (@jordanfisher) February 12, 2024
WE LOVE YOU USHER!!!!!!!!!! All day ????
— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) February 12, 2024
As Parade previously reported, it was first announced that the R&B hitmaker was confirmed as the Super Bowl LVIII headliner in Sept. 2023, when the NFL revealed the news with two promo videos featuring player-turned-coach Deion Sanders and Kim Kardashian.
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