“Married” Woman From Usher’s Viral Cherry Video Dishes On Divorce Rumors

Jimalita Tillman, the Chicago woman whose steamy onstage moment with Usher recently went viral, is setting the record straight: she is not married — and certainly not headed for divorce.

The internet had been buzzing with rumors that her seductive serenade during the R&B superstar’s live performance sparked a breakup with a supposed husband, but Tillman is calling it all fan fiction.

“That is completely false. I am single,” Tillman said in a recent interview. “I am a retired homeschool mom looking to expand the arts here and across the pond. I am single. You got a cherry, give me a jingle.”

The now-viral moment took place when Usher spotted Tillman in the crowd and approached her with a tray of cherries during his performance.

“When he came around with those cherries, I said, ‘Well, life is a bowl of cherries, I’ll take one, maybe two,’” she recalled with a laugh. Online, fans have affectionately dubbed her “Aunty Cherry.”

Tillman, who serves as the global director of the Harold Washington Cultural Center in Chicago, says she “locked right in” with Usher and even pulled out a little Broadway flair during their brief interaction. “He wasn’t even supposed to stop where we were! It was like magnetic. And he smells like vacation,” she said.

While the encounter was playful and unforgettable, Tillman says she hasn’t spoken to Usher since — and that’s by choice. “I don’t want him or his camp to feel uncomfortable. The moment was beautiful, and I’m embracing it,” she explained.

Beyond the viral fame, Tillman is excited that the spotlight has brought attention to the Harold Washington Cultural Center and her daughter’s artistic endeavors. “I’m so happy the way Chicago has been supporting me,” she said, beaming.

See the video of Tillman’s interview discussing her viral moment below.