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Usher Sued For Allegedly Exposing Sexual Partners To Herpes
Usher performs at a 2016 Concert (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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A lawsuit was filed Monday accusing Usher of failure to inform three plaintiffs that he may have exposed them to genital herpes before sexual contact.
Lisa Bloom, the attorney for Quantasia Sharpton, and two other plaintiffs who have only been identified as John and Jane Doe, filed the suit on Monday at Los Angeles Superior Court. California law requires carriers to disclose their status to sexual partners.
The three plaintiffs allege that Usher Raymond IV (a.k.a. Usher) committed sexual battery, negligence, and emotional damage when he engaged in vaginal sex with the two female plaintiffs, and oral sex with the male.
"Raymond's failure to rebut the numerous reports that he has herpes has reasonably induced the plaintiffs to believe that Raymond has the virus and that he exposed them to it," the lawsuit claims, reports City News Service. "In the event plaintiffs have contracted the herpes virus, their health may be compromised in the future as a result of the increased risk of cancer, diabetes, high-risk pregnancies, higher risk of contracting HIV and other medical conditions..."
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Sharpton, who lives in New York, stated that she attended an Usher concert for her 19th birthday two years ago and was picked by the singer out of the crowd. She then alleged that she was invited backstage and later had sex with the singer in a hotel room.
"When I first heard he had herpes, I couldn't believe it ... I would never have consented if I had known," Sharpton said, reports CNS. "Usher if you are negative, please say so. If you are positive, you need to warn your sex partners so they can make their own informed decisions."
Sharpton has since tested negative for the disease, but at least one of the other plaintiffs in the case has tested positive.
In July, leaked court documents were obtained by Radar Online that first alleged Usher's apparent diagnosis. The documents were related to a lawsuit brought against the singer by a "celebrity stylist" who claimed Usher exposed her to herpes while the two had "rigorous unprotected sex."
During Monday's press conference, Bloom did not accuse Usher directly of having the STD, but stated that the eight-time Grammy-winning artist has not denied claims, and that Bloom has been contacted by other parties for whom she may file additional lawsuits.
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