Fans React to Verzuz Battle with Ashanti and Keyshia Cole After Late Start, Sound Issues

The highly anticipated Verzuz battle between R&B queens Ashanti and Keyshia Cole finally took place, but not without its share of delays and technical difficulties. Despite the hiccups, the event delivered memorable moments, soulful performances, and sparked intense reactions across social media.

A Delayed Start and Technical Hurdles Originally scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. ET, the Verzuz battle experienced a late start, with Keyshia Cole arriving nearly an hour behind schedule. Fans grew restless as they waited, flooding social media with humorous memes and frustrated comments. Once both artists were finally on screen, audio issues plagued the broadcast, further testing the patience of viewers.

Keyshia, visibly frustrated at times, addressed the delays, saying, “I don’t know who all’s attending because at this point, we running way too behind.” Meanwhile, Ashanti maintained a lighthearted vibe, engaging with fans and keeping the energy upbeat while they waited.

Hit After Hit: A Nostalgic Showdown When the technical issues were resolved, Ashanti and Keyshia Cole reminded fans why they are R&B royalty. Ashanti delivered flawless renditions of her classics like “Happy,” “Rock wit U (Awww Baby),” and the timeless “Foolish.” Keyshia countered with emotional performances of her biggest hits, including “Love,” “I Remember,” and “Heaven Sent.”

One of the standout moments came when rapper O.T. Genasis made a surprise cameo during Keyshia’s performance of “Love,” adding an unexpected layer of entertainment to the night.

Billboard Declares Ashanti the Winner Despite a strong showing from both sides, Billboard crowned Ashanti as the winner, scoring the battle 12-10 in her favor, with three rounds declared as ties. While the official Verzuz platform doesn’t declare winners, fans were quick to share their own opinions, with some agreeing with Billboard’s verdict and others passionately backing Keyshia.

Fan Reactions Take Over Social Media Social media platforms were flooded with reactions throughout the event. Some fans expressed disappointment over the delayed start and technical glitches, while others praised the artists for pushing through and delivering iconic performances.

One fan tweeted, “The Verzuz started off shaky but ended up being a vibe. Ashanti and Keyshia still got it!” Another remarked, “We waited an hour, but honestly, it was worth it. These two queens delivered!”

However, not everyone was forgiving. Some users criticized the production quality and the lack of preparation, with one user tweeting, “Who is distracting Ashanti? Who is messing up Keyshia’s sound? We waited too long for this chaos!”

A Celebration of R&B Excellence Despite the hiccups, the Verzuz battle between Ashanti and Keyshia Cole was ultimately a celebration of their incredible contributions to R&B music. Their powerful voices, emotional lyrics, and undeniable stage presence reminded fans of the timeless appeal of early 2000s R&B.

As the dust settles, one thing remains clear: both Ashanti and Keyshia Cole have cemented their legacies, and their Verzuz battle will be remembered as a night of soulful music, passionate performances, and, of course, plenty of online chatter. Fans may have had to wait, but in the end, the music made it all worthwhile.