Two accusers have opted to remain anonymous, one of whom has tested positive for the virus. A third, 21-year-old Quantasia Sharpton, spoke at a news conference in New York.

Sharpton claims she met Usher before one of his concerts when celebrating her nineteenth birthday, and the pair later met up and "engaged in sexual contact".

She says that although she has since tested negative for herpes, she felt violated when hearing reports that Usher allegedly has the virus. "I would never have consented if I had known," Sharpton said.

The lawsuit contains accusations of sexual battery, fraud, negligence and infliction of emotional distress.

The accusations came up after leaked court documents from 2012 indicated that the singer, whose given name is Usher Raymond IV, tested positive for herpres in 2009 or 2010. The documents are allegedly from a lawsuit in which a woman claimed she contracted the virus from Usher. He settled the case for $1.1 million.

The R&B singer has yet to make a public response to the accusations.