Ice Spice Reveals Usher Was Her Celebrity Crush Growing Up: 'Gorgeous Man'

One celebrity had Ice Spice thinking, “OMG,” when she was growing up. 

On Instagram and Unwell’s new podcast Close Friends Only, the rapper, 23, revealed who her celebrity crush was growing up. The hitmaker teamed up with fellow hip-hop star and current tour mate Doja Cat for a fun chat on the debut episode of the podcast, which dropped on Thursday, and shared during their candid conversation that Usher used to be the apple of her eye. 

“I feel like you can learn a lot about someone from this one: Who was your first ever celebrity crush?” the Scarlet artist, 28, asked the “Deli” rapper. 

At first, the rising rap star (real name Isis Naija Gaston) was a bit hesitant. “It’s so embarrassing,” she said. 

While giggling, she teased, “I shouldn't say it, right? Should I say it?”

Doja (real name Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini) reassured her that she didn’t have to answer if she didn’t want to, but added that it’s not embarrassing as long as the famous dreamboat isn’t in her generation. 

“It can’t be because I was a kid,” the “Princess Diana” artist responded. 

Immediately after, she revealed, “I’m just going to say it. It was Usher.” 

The Grammy-nominated rapper also mentioned that she experienced a full circle, swoon-worthy moment when she ran into the R&B superstar, 45, at the 2023 Met Gala. The recording artist revealed, “I saw him at the Met Gala. I was like — for the first time I’ve ever seen him — I'm like, ‘My God, it's him.’”

After the “Paint the Town Red” rapper agreed that the “Yeah!” singer is “beautiful,” Ice adorably added, “Gorgeous man.”

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Although it’s unclear if the two stars interacted at the red carpeted gala, the “Munch” MC made her Met Gala debut this past year. At the event themed Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty, she wore a white, floor-length Balmain gown and carried a bedazzled camera clutch. 

Usher, meanwhile, stepped out in a sleek black suit designed by Bianca Saunders and nodded to the theme by wearing a pair of leather gloves. 

Doja actually also shared a sweet moment with the Grammy winner this year. In October, she stepped out to attend his acclaimed My Way residency in Las Vegas. 

At the show, fans captured footage of him coming out into the crowd to serenade the “Agora Hills” singer with a special performance of his 2010 hit “There Goes My Baby.” 

He even made the rendition extra special by altering the lyrics to reflect the perform’s black latex minidress and stilettos. “Bet you ain’t know that I was checking you out when you was putting your stilettos on,” he crooned, instead of the usual “heels” lyric.

While Ice may have crushed on the “Love in This Club” artist when she was growing up, somebody new is said to have her attention nowadays. In an October interview with The Los Angeles Times, the Bronx artist confirmed that she is in a relationship, but declined to share more details because she wanted “to keep their focus on what I’m here for, which is music.”