The premiere of the Atlanta-filmed movie “Burden” was held in Atlanta Monday night and Usher, who appears in the film alongside star Forest Whitaker, was one of several local celebrities in attendance.
Shot in the town square of Jackson, Georgia in 2016, the film stars Whitaker as a reverend who takes in a reformed Ku Klux Klan member after the latter opens a KKK museum in Laurens, S.C. in 1996. The film is based on a true story.
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Usher Raymond IV’s role is that of Clarence Brooks, who is the high school friend of the reformed Klansmen.
"It's great to be able to be able to see a film like this shed light," he told NBC's "Today" ahead of the film's premiere. "I think we all talk about the love that we should have for our enemies. But here's a story where a revereand actually takes in a KKK member in his home, endangering himself and his family and his community and look at what that story becomes."
At the premiere, Raymond kept things relatively casual in an oversize, short-sleeved button down beige shirt and black joggers that read, "shouldn't have took more than you gave." He paired the outfit with Converse sneakers. Meanwhile, the film's lead actor, Whitaker, wore a dark blue suit with a white pinstriped shirt and brown dress shoes.
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The two were far from alone on the red carpet. Crystal Fox, who recently starred in Tyler Perry's Netflix thriller "A Fall From Grace," also attended the premiere. She stars in "Burden" as Whitaker's character's wife.
Other Georgia celebrities walked the carpet, too. They included singer-songwriter Keri Hilson, a Decatur native, and rappers T.I., who initially called Atlanta's Bankhead neighborhood home and resides in Clayton County, as well as Lil Yachty, who is from Mableton.
Usher's role in "Burden," which is now in theaters, comes ahead of his new gig as a judge on the short-form mobile platform Quibi's dance competition show, "The Sauce." Usher also serves as an executive producer on the series, which is hosted by Atlanta-based dancers and brothers Ayo and Teo, Deadline reported.
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