Usher took to Instagram Stories on Wednesday to share a hilarious yet endearing tale involving his 15-year-old son, Naviyd Eli Raymond.
He began, “So…a week or so ago my son, Naviyd, stole my phone so he could dm his favorite artist @pinkpantheress.”
Usher’s curiosity piqued when he noticed messages flying back and forth with someone sporting a profile picture of Buttercup from Powerpuff Girls. “I open it and I’m like oh this boy done DMd this girl from my damn phone,” he recounted with amusement.
The singer later reached out to PinkPantheress to extend his apologies for his son’s impromptu DM session. To his surprise, PinkPantheress not only took the whole ordeal in stride but also extended an invitation to her show.
The eight-time Grammy-winner said he initially considered not allowing Naviyd to see her show “because he did the MOST just to connect with her on my account.”
In a DM exchange with the British artist, Usher confessed, “I had to send him considering his level of dedication and creativity…to figure out getting your attention through stealing my phone…that’s commitment. Hopefully you guys get to link.”
Naviyd and Pink did end up linking up, and now the teenager’s profile pic features a photo of him and PinkPantheress.
Reflecting on the incident, Usher couldn’t help but marvel at his son’s hustle, acknowledging that while he may never fully trust him around his phone again, he couldn’t help but admire his ingenuity.
“This was a great moment for Naviyd … this was him movin on something he was passionate about,” he explained. “Yes…he violated my trust in the process and for that I will never trust him around my phone, but I should have known better. Nonetheless, I appreciate the hustle and him makin it happen. From a text, to a concert, to the artist. He masterminded this whole thing and made it happen.”
In the end, Usher couldn’t help but tip his hat to Naviyd’s entrepreneurial spirit, declaring, “#HustleHard.”
