Usher has just come off of a major career high after his Super Bowl Halftime Show, but he’s also taken some time to reflect on a tragic part of his past.
Speaking to PEOPLE on Thursday (February 15), the “U Got It Bad” crooner spoke about the death of Kile Glover — the son of his ex-wife, Tamika Foster, whom she shared with Ryan Glover — as a result of a tragic jet-ski accident in 2012.
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“I received the call back then, she was in Italy at the time, and I chartered a private plane to get her home as fast as I could because she was just so distraught,” he said. “We were not even together at the time. But I was like, ‘OK, let me try and be of help to her and help her as much as I possibly can’. It’s a real hard thing to lose a child.”
He continued: “Kile was an amazing child. For the time that he was here, he was a great influence. There’s not a day that his brothers and his mother don’t think about him.”
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According to The Los Angeles Times, Usher raised Kile Glover as though he were his own from the age of four until he lost his life at 12.
The jet-ski accident, which happened at Georgia’s Lake Lanier, ultimately resulted in the conviction of the boat’s driver, Jeffrey Simon Hubbard, of homicide by vessel and a wide sundry of other charges including serious injury by vessel, reckless operation, unlawful operation of personal watercraft and a boat traffic violation.
Hubbard was sentenced to four years in prison, plus an additional 15 years of probation, for the conviction.
In July of last year, Tameka Foster announced her efforts to push for Lake Lanier to be emptied. Her efforts were inspired by the tragic events of 2012.
Foster took to Instagram to honor her son as well as to shed light on the petition, writing: “On this significant day, July 6, we remember the tragic accident on Lake Lanier that forever altered my life. My courageous son, Kile Glover, fought for two weeks with unwavering strength until his passing on July 21. Today, we honor his memory by rallying together for change.”
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She continued: “Let’s ensure a safer future by demanding improved safety measures, better zoning, and the removal of haunted debris from the lake. Join me in signing the petition and sharing this vital cause. Together, we can create a fresh start and bring about lasting transformation. #JusticeForKile #SignForSafety #IWILLFIGHTTILTHEENDOFMYDAYS.”
