During a recent interview, Usher shared his appreciation for Diddy and his legacy. While the singer received major backlash for his comments, one person in particular was happy to hear them: Diddy. The controversial mogul offered a statement via his rep, Juda Engelmayer, to TMZ, saying, “I’ve always had love and respect for Usher.” He also noted that he appreciated Usher’s kind words and “everything he’s achieved” throughout his career.

The singer and Diddy first crossed paths in 1994 when he was just 14 years old. The pair got so close that Usher would eventually move in with the Bad Boy founder. Diddy was also the executive producer for Usher’s self-titled debut album.