Usher Tells Abu Dhabi Fans He Can’t Feed Them Cherries, Seemingly Due to UAE’s Decency Laws

Usher left fans in Abu Dhabi disappointed when he announced he wouldn’t be feeding anyone cherries, likely due to the country’s strict public decency laws.

During his performance at Club Social in Etihad Park on Yas Island, the singer took a moment to apologize to the thousands in attendance for not doing the cherry stunt that has gone viral on his current tour. He reassured the crowd that his “love” and “heart” would make up for the absence of cherries.

“I’m sorry, ladies and gentlemen. No, I will not be giving any cherries out tonight,” Usher said, prompting a collective sigh from the audience. “But I have nothing but love for you. I give you my heart in exchange for the cherries. I give you my love in exchange for the cherries tonight.”

Usher didn’t state why he wouldn’t be feeding women cherries, but speculation was that it had something to do with the country’s strict public decency laws that prohibit “acts that violate public morality and can be punished with fines and even imprisonment for repeat offender,” according to the Federal Penal Code.

Prohibited acts include exposing parts of the body, public displays of affection, dancing to loud music, and more. The laws are so intense that the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) enforces morality by blocking access to obscene materials and pornographic websites.

Usher’s cherry stunt would more than likely land him in hot water with the country’s authorities. There have been several viral moments that came from Usher giving out cherries such as him feeding T.I.’s wife Tiny, to a man that took matters into his own hands and fed his wife while also humping her during the tour stop in Brooklyn.