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| How Do You Solve a Problem Like Chris Brown? |
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"DEAR MEDIA.. Ur plan is not working.. I'm not going anywhere so get used to me," Chris Brown warned in a twitter rampage that was later deleted. In other news, the sky is blue and water is wet. Honestly, which media is he addressing? The one who let him perform multiple times at the Grammys only three years after he assaulted his girlfriend so severely she was hospitalized? The media that sent him home with an award? The media that allowed his newest record to hit #1 on the Billboard chart, touting him as some great comeback story? The media that had him dressed in all white, soaring through the air as a Christ-figure during the 2011 VMAs?
On Monday morning Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy, which gives out the Grammys, defended the decision to allow Brown to perform because he made a popular album. “Clearly, our voting membership rated highly Chris’s musical work this past year,” Mr. Portnow told The Associated Press. "If we're going to get in trying to personally evaluate artists in terms of their personal lives, that's a slippery slope that we wouldn't want to get into." But when the popular artist in question has a felony assault conviction, I can't help but feel like the Recording Academy values record sales and revenue over the message they're sending. I don't know what's more depressing: the latest rumors that Rihanna and Chris Brown have reconciled or the public's reaction to these rumors. Right now it's unconfirmed gossip, but I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to have elements of truth. And if you know anything about the tragic cycle of abuse, you shouldn't be either. Rihanna is a talented young woman and the victim of a really awful crime, but we have to remember she never asked to be the poster girl for domestic violence. She is not the first person to ever go back to an abusive partner. Does that make it okay? Of course not. Does it devalue her in any way? No. But in a society that seems to want to forgive and forget what happened three years ago, is this recent development that shocking? Chris Brown raises some interesting questions regarding the infallibility of celebrity in our nation. Personally, I could never support him as an artist after what he's done (not that I was even remotely a fan to begin with), but it seems like that's not how the majority feels. Should the Recording Academy, Billboard, MTV and other tastemakers blacklist him (or any celebrity who is found guilty of an especially heinous crime)? Is it really that slippery of a slope? Image source Press Association Images Trackback(0)
Comments (9)
  written by NCLawyer, February 23, 2012
I don't know, should the many rappers who've committed felonies be allowed to perform? Should anyone with a drug conviction or tax problems be allowed to perform? Do we really want to ban Willie Nelson or Snoop Dogg from performing at the Grammys? It's a very slippery slope. Or perhaps some would want an artist banned because she'd had an abortion?
Yes, these questions are rhetorical. Brown got his punishment. You may think it wasn't severe enough, he may still be an asshole, but you aren't required to like it. Sometimes assholes are still culturally relevant, and sometimes us well-meaning liberals need to take a look at our own puritanical tendencies.
written by Viola, February 23, 2012
No woman should be watching Two and a Half Men, nor even look Arnold Schwarzenegger or Bobby Brown in the face. We have to be careful judging the relationships of other people. What is inside a woman that makes her go back to men who have behaved very, very badly and/or have been abusive - who knows. . . can't figure that out!
written by yerbagirl, February 23, 2012
hell yes it's a slippery slope. like savvysav said, should we ban all of these other musicians for their less than stellar personal choices? he's an giant douchebag, no doubt. but come on, this is mainstream pop culture! they don't give a crap how awful a person you are. they just care about your sales. screw the grammys anyway. so many of the mainstream musicians suck (not all, but sooooo many).
written by Jessica Banana, February 23, 2012
Personally I haven't wanted to jump back on the Chris Brown bandwagon, but that's because I was never really on it. I'd barely even heard of him before the business with Rihanna. However, I'm definitely guilty of continuing to like the music (and art and movies) of creative types that may be legitimately bad people. Examples: Mystikal, Snoop Dog, Woody Allen. The list could go on. There are good reasons to not like or support these artists. But I liked their art before even knowing much about them. I can understand not wanting to throw money at someone who is continuing to live in ways that are abhorrent. But, one) not believing that people have the ability to change would be really depressing, and two) we can't probably ever know what is truly going on with Rihanna and C.B. (or anyone else) so it's not really our business to judge. This article by Nikki Lynette gives an interesting alternative perspective. http://www.chicagonow.com/beco...the-world/
written by NJ, February 23, 2012
People's dollars will decide whether or not the artist remains in the spotlight. I don't care for Chris Brown once it was revealed how violent he was so I don't buy any of music or concert tix. If the parents of his younger fans are so concerned about this image, then they should stop financially supporting him. Unfortunately, the generation of parents to his young fans seem to take no responsibility for how their own children are being raised. They tend to blame everyone else for their kids' problems. So, I don't expect Chris Brown's star to fade anytime soon.
And we do we keep throwing Snoop Dogg and Willie Nelson in the same bucket? For smoking and supporting weed? Really? How is beating women and smoking weed even on the same level?
written by Keeley, February 23, 2012
His overall cocky attitude just angers me. Christ? Really? Kayne West and him need to jump off a bridge. Oh well I don't care for the VMAs nor most of the music. I think it's horrible how we glorify celebrities with violent charges (not Kayne that I'm aware anyway) but like Vick. But atleast he's not making an ass of himself.
written by Tori, February 23, 2012
While I agree that it is annoying how all of these celebrities are excused for their bad behaviors just for being popular, I also think that people have the ability to change, especially when they are as young as Chris Brown was at the time of the assault. Although it isn't an excuse, Chris Brown was only 19 at the time, and most men aren't very mature at that age. He supposedly also witnessed domestic violence in his home while growing up, making him pre-disposed to violent reactions. Many people have to work through the things that they're indoctrinated with as children, and unfortunately this also applies to abuse. People at that age tend to react mostly with their emotions since the "logic" part of the brain usually isn't fully developed. If someone has witnessed violence themselves, they are likely to react in this way since it comes naturally to them. And yes, I know that many people come from violent homes and don't abuse others, but it is still usually something they have to work through.
From what I've read, it doesn't seem that Chris Brown has been a repeat offender, so hopefully he was able to get the help he obviously needed. Also, I'm not even a fan of Chris Brown's music.
written by Célèste B, March 07, 2012
I don't really know what the correct thing for the Grammys, etc. to do is. All I know is that I'm disgusted that he could BE so successful with the public after what he did. Of course, after the public forgave Michael Jackson for molesting children, I can't say I'm that surprised. Apparently you can commit any heinous crime you want and, as long as you can also moonwalk, the public will still love you.
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