The highly-anticipated Verzuz battle between R&B singers Omarion and Mario got underway Thursday in Los Angeles, and it was a night filled with jokes, watermelon eating, B2K taunts, and a warm-up event that seemed to never end.
Before the main talent took the stage, there was a battle featuring Ray J and Bobby V against Pleasure P and Sammie. It went on and on, and featured host DeRay Davis rapping, dancing, trying to control the drama, and telling Ray J to get off the stage and “go home ni–a.”
Related Story: Diddy Squashes Jermaine Dupri Verzuz Challenge: ‘You ‘Ain’t Got Enough Hits’
Finally! After over two and a half hours, it was time for Omarion and Mario to battle it out.
Omarion brought out Jeremih, Tank, his brother and a clown – yes a clown. Mario brought out B2K impersonators and said “Imma let y’all fix this little sh-t y’all got going on.”
Omarion tried to insult Mario for not being on the Millenium Tour, but Mario fired back “I didn’t wanna be on that raggedy sh-t.”
And in a bizarre stunt, Omarion suggestively ate a slice of watermelon on stage.
Fans inside The Novo appeared to be having a good time, but the people watching from home — who made Verzuz a top trending topic on Twitter — branded the battle a “hot mess.” And they overwhelming declared Mario the winner.
Read some of the reactions below.
This verzuz is a hot mess. I want it on dvd
— Bottom Belly (@MalikaNgozi) June 24, 2022
Mario telling Omarion that HE NEEDED B2K ain’t a lie tho.
This battle proves that ?#Verzuz pic.twitter.com/eoGbttPMHT
— MBali ? (@TheJessieWoo) June 24, 2022
Listen, Mario ate that when he pretended like he brought Omarion’s former B2K group members out! Omarion was SHOOK, until he seen it wasn’t them for real! ? #Verzuz pic.twitter.com/HjxKEYO9IB
— Jerome Trammel (@MrJeromeTrammel) June 24, 2022
Mario called Omarion a dancing lil nigga, a terrible singer, and called his tour “raggedy shit”. Then skipped away hitting a high note…
and no swings were swung #verzuz
— Dvrryl (@Dvrryl2times) June 24, 2022
Omarion done came out singing TOUCH, did some freaky shit to the mic, DANCED, switch outfits, ATE OUT a watermelon and resorted to calling Mario FAT…….. and HE STILL LOST??? #Verzuz
— Alexia? (@Rehmancash_) June 24, 2022
