Will Chris Brown's apology to Rihanna put him back in awards' good graces?
Chris Brown has apologized to his one-time girlfriend Rihanna in a two-minute video released by his record label Monday. At the start of the statement, Chris Brown says he was told by his lawyers to keep quiet until his legal case was settled. He goes on to say, "I've told Rihanna countless times and I'm telling you today, I'm truly, truly sorry that I wasn't able to handle the situation both differently and better."
On June 22, Chris Brown pled guilty to the charge of felony assault for an altercation in February which left Rihanna battered and bruised. Brown must complete six months of community service in his home state of Virginia. And he is serving five years on supervised probation with quarterly California court visits and must complete a domestic violence counseling program.
Addressing his fans, Brown says, "As many of you know, I grew up in a home where there was domestic
violence, and I saw first-hand what uncontrolled rage could do. I have
sought and I am continuing to seek help to ensure that what occurred in
February can never happen again."
Brown closes his video statement by saying, "I intend to live my life so that I am truly worthy of the term 'role model.' " With his admission in court last month, Brown tarnished his carefully cultivated image as a teen idol. His core fans were young girls who swooned over his boy-next-door good looks and charm.
Soon after the Feb. 8 incident, Brown was in contention for the third year in a row as favorite male singer at the Kids' Choice Awards. However, in the face of mounting negative attention, he eventually withdrew from the race. Brown won the award last year after losing to Justin Timberlake in 2007. This year he was nominated against 2006 winner Jesse McCartney, Kid Rock and T-Pain.
Brown and Rihanna were the top male and female pop singles artists in America last year and both were nominated for multiple Grammy Awards, even facing off for the second year in a row in a collaboration category. Their relationship ended just hours before the Grammys Awards ceremony.
The pair had spent the preceding evening together at the star-studded party thrown annually by recording executive Clive Davis. Then early Sunday morning, Brown assaulted Rihanna as they drove home. Brown canceled his appearance on that night's kudocast where he was scheduled to perform "Forever."
The Grammy Award – the music industry's highest honor – has eluded Brown. Last year, Rihanna and Jay-Z won the best rap/sung collaboration Grammy for "Umbrella" over, among others, Brown and T-Pain for "Kiss Kiss." This year, they competed against each other for the pop vocal collaboration Grammy. Brown and Jordin Sparks were nominated for "No Air" while Rihanna and Maroon 5 were up for "If I Never See Your Face Again." Both duos lost to the night's big winners Robert Plant and Allison Kraus for "Rich Woman."
Brown remains a Grammy loser despite five nominations. Besides those two collaboration defeats, he also lost R&B male vocal for "Take You Down" to Ne-Yo ("Miss Independent") this year while last year he also lost best contemporary R&B album for his self-titled debut to Ne-Yo ("Because of You") as well as best new artist to Carrie Underwood.
Now tinged by scandal, can Brown ever win with the Grammys? The recording academy represents the more conservative wing of the music industry. As such, it doesn't like to give awards to people who reflect poorly upon the profession. An antiestablishment spirit is tolerated in certain genres – such as rap and rock – and sometimes even celebrated, because edginess drives mass music sales.
But the Grammys remain wary of the more rebellious recording stars. The rap artists who win with the Grammys are of the Will Smith and Jay-Z variety (four Grammys each), rather than the likes of Snoop Dog or Notorious B.I.G. (none). When gangsta rappers do triumph, they tend to be of the establishment kind like Dr. Dre (four).
Just a few years ago, music critics widely hailed 50 Cent's "Get Rich or Die Trying" as the best disc of the year, but its music couldn't break into the top Grammy races. 50 Cent has been nominated for Grammys but only in second-tier slots. He's never won any of these bids. And when he was nominated for best new artist of 2004, he lost to Evanescence.
Photo: Zomba / Jive Records
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hey....dont talk about him like that!! he did his wrong,but he's not the only 1 who did something like this!! the men who did do wat Chris did was still loved and forgaved so hey, leave him alone and yall get a L.I.F.E. ok? i still love ya Chris Breezy!!!
Posted by: Mz. Terry | January 28, 2010 at 09:07 AM
i just wanna say that Chris is not the only celebrity that has done a wrong doing. Nobody's perfect! Doesn't excuse for what he did but everybody deserves a second chance. I still love his music and I still love him. We are all brothers and sisters in this world and we should treat everybody right even for their mistakes! He's crying out for a second chance so let's give it to him! Chris keep following yo dreams and don't fall because you made a mistake. U said yo sorry so move on and enjoy yo talented and happy life! Love U! Oh and yo getting sexier and sexier everyday! LOL Take care!
Posted by: Alex | August 06, 2009 at 05:15 PM
Ok, for all of you CB fans, I want you to watch this video while you have a picture of rihanna's beaten face next to the video. This is not something that "happened" to him, he did it himself. He beat the SH*T out of a girl, and its funny how some of the immature girls on this board actually can continue to be a fan of his. Did you know that most wives who are beaten to a pulp everyday by there husbands continue to love them and support them? The attitude some of you little girls here are portraying is the reason why this kind of attitude still exists. THAT is why people are no longer chris brown fans. Allowing someone to live the same life as they had before they beat an innocent girl to a pulp is supporting these relationships where the husband is forgiven after beating their wives for years. Yet these wives/girlfriends can never leave because they have your thinking, "hes a good guy, and he'll change, and i love him". As a guy, I feel sorry for you girls and what you are doing to yourselves. I guess it doesn't matter what I say, his career is not going to ever recover.
Posted by: Michael | August 06, 2009 at 10:36 AM
he's obviously doing this to get on the fans good side, I doubt he means it, but rihanna forgave him and that's all that matters....... But for someone whose trying to be a "gentleman", this definetley hurts his image
Posted by: PüP13 F0>< G1rł | July 31, 2009 at 11:04 PM
So quick to judge a woman beater. What's wrong with you people?? He only hit her a few times and bloodied her face...what's the big deal? She probably asked for it....Ladies, if you believe this trash, you need to get a life. Any man who hits a woman has a serious problem and a plea bargain and community service are not likely to solve it. He will do it again.
Posted by: Ellep | July 29, 2009 at 04:08 PM
I Forgave him.
Rihanna Forgave him.
Why SOME of y'all can't.
Nobodys A Perfect Celebrity [FOREAL]
LOL
Soo plus he young & not fully matured
we don't know how it happen between them.
[SOME HIGH SKOOL DRAMA ACT]
im a fan of him .
mj wasn't perfect & we forgave him.'
RIGHT !
Jay-z did tha same thinq !
we repping him
soo stop fussing bout ish.
it aint big a.z deal.
once u think about it.
EVRYONE BEEN MAD BEFORE AT SOMEBODY & u may had hit the person .
sooo. stop being mean .
he was being bold by his action. cb not a OUTSTANDING actor anyways. he is just sexy :)
;so he look sorry by his gesture in his eyebrows.
he should have won a grammy for his movie as best actor. sO YEAH THINK ABOUT IT.
PLUS.WHAT IF U WERE IN HIS POSITION ! WOULDNT U BE SORRY !
SOO REALLY I DNT know WHY IM WRITING ALL THIS LMAO .
bt EVRYONE HAS THERE OPINION.
-- come on. of course he would have 2 use cue cards. whoevr is working w/him think he needs
to improve vocabulary.
Posted by: ANONYMOUS | July 28, 2009 at 10:31 AM
I am so not interested in the media trying to sell papers. You on him because hes young and multi talented. If rihanna can forgive than how are we to be haters. and thats what you are because let me tell you there are other performers who have criminal charges on their head and you do nothing like they are too big to conquer so you get on chris and ride until the hogs come home. Look at some of the others that have been c harged with domestic violence are the women in these cases not worthy of your paper space or is rihanna so big that you dont give a damn about no boby else. D. Cornuelius was charged but when he came out at the BET awards they gave him a standing ovation, wife dont matter. winan singer, wife dont matter. terrance howard, wife dont matter. get a grip if rihanna isnt willing to fight for you believe, then leave him alone. period
Posted by: sedcgirl | July 27, 2009 at 12:24 PM
You idiots...
Freaking Barak Obama (the president of the USA) reads off of teleprompters and cards all the time...why can't Chris Brown? It sounded sincere to me, and if he asks for forgiveness, then so be it. The bible says we are all filthy as rags, so we sould not judge...haters, fall back, let the boy live his life and let Rihanna continue to club-up with married men.
C
Posted by: Twiggy | July 26, 2009 at 04:35 PM
CHRISBROWN I FORGIVE YOU HELP HIM PEOPLE
Posted by: HANNAH | July 25, 2009 at 02:52 PM
I LOVE CHRIS BROWN AND I PRETECTED YOU
Posted by: HANNAH | July 25, 2009 at 02:50 PM
1 thing for Chris Brown life goes on fuck the haters and remember about your fans even if it feels like you have lost too many you still have alot of fans so what if people dont want to buy your CD more for does who do and if they dont want to go to your concerts so what more space for us who do want to go to breath and jump and scream all we want the point is we still love you WELL SOME OF US.... BUT THAT SOME MAKES ALOT
Posted by: Ria | July 24, 2009 at 03:48 PM
it doesnt matter what other people think it matters that chris brown is changing everybody can change i mean come on everybody deserves a second chance
Posted by: caylyn | July 24, 2009 at 06:50 AM
IT'S SO FUNNY HOW PEOPLE CAN SIT UP HERE AND SAY AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED HIS CAREER IS OVER...THATS YOUR OPINION BUT ALL HATERS GONNA BE LOOKING STUPID..WHEN HIS NEXT ALBUMS START COMING OUT. AND HIS NEXT TOURS START BACK UP....YOU CANT SAY WHETHER OR NOT THIS YOUNG MAN'S CAREER IS OVER..THATS UP TO THE COURTS. AND SO FAR THEY HAVENT SAID HIS CAREER IS OVER!!! YALL TAKING THIS MESS TO FAR!!
Posted by: Ke-Ke | July 23, 2009 at 10:34 AM
IF THE APOLOGY WAS FAKE THATS HIS BUSINESS!! ALL WE WANTED WAS A PUBLIC APOLOGY NOW YALL WANNA SAY ITS FAKE..LET THAT BOY LIVE HIS LIFE HE AINT PUTTIN NO MONEY IN OUR POCKETS!! GET OFF CHRIS' D*** THE STORY IS OLD I MEAN OLD NEWS NOW!!! I SEE WHERE AMY WINEHOUSE PUNCHED ONE OF HER FANS IN THE FACE BECAUSE THEY WANTED AN AUTOGRAPH....THAT WONT RIGHT AT ALL! WONT YALL TALK ABOUT THAT... TIME FOR A NEW SUBJECT...BLAST AMY LIKE YALL DOING CHRIS...OR DO YALL DUMBA**** THINK THAT WAS RIGHT..SEE WOMEN DO MESS TO BUT YALL FAIL TO REALIZE THAT!!!!
Posted by: TINA | July 23, 2009 at 10:22 AM
I LOVE CHRIS BROWN BUT COME ON NOW PEOPLE WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES I NEVER LIKED RIHANNA BUT THIS IS BETWEEN HIM ND HER NOT US AS LONG AS HE DIDNT HIT US WHAT R WE WORRIED ABOUT SHE PRVOKED HIM ND I WLILL BUY HIS MUSIC I WILL GO TO HIS CONCERT NO MATTER WHAT!!!! CAUSE IF U WERE A TRUE FAN U WOULD STICK BY HIS SIDE NO MATTER WHAT IMMA RIDE OR DIE CHIC 4 HIM ND ALL U PPL SAYIN HE'S A JERK F U CAUSE U DNT KNO HIM U WERENT THERE WEN THAT HAPPENED OK SO SHUT UR MOUTHS CAUSE U TALKIN OUT THA SIDE OF YA NECK BE HATERS JEEZ TI HIT HIS WOMAN BUT WE STILL LOVE HIM U KNO RAPPERS THAT HAVE HIT WOMEN BUT WE 4GIVE THEM SO JUST LEAVE CHRIS ALONE BEFORE HE BEAT UR A** MUCH LOVE 2 HIS FAMILY AND FREINDS I STILL LOVE ND RESPECT HIM NO MATTER WHAT ND SO SHOULD U ND IM A FEMALE YEA IT WAS WRONG BUT OH WELL GET A LIFE U GUYS WRY BOUT UR SELF NOT HIM HE'S TRYIN 2 GET HELP AT LEASE HE APOLIGIZED SHOOT HE COULD WAITED TILL DECEMBER 4 ALL I CARE HE SAID SRY IF HE MEAN IT OR NOT GOT A PROBLEM EMAIL ME AT princessbraja@yahoo.com mah name is whitley LOVE U CHRIS I BACK U UP ALL THE WAY TILL DAH DAY I DIE♥!!♥♥♥
Posted by: whitley braja brown | July 23, 2009 at 07:31 AM
That was the fakest "apology" I have ever seen!!!
It's just a pathetically desperate PR attempt for damage-control and is "too little, too late" !!!
This jerk actually refers to his brutal assault of that young girl merely as "the incident" and as "those few moments" and as "what happened" and as "what occured" (as if HIS actions were some 'cosmic' incident over which he had no personal control).
Unbelieveable!!
And who cares that he spoke with his "mommy" and his "priest" (or whatever) about what he did or that he 'grew up in a home where he saw domestic violence'?!
Oh boo hoo for him.
Give me a break !!
What a jerk!!
He'd better make another video where he begs that other jerk P-Diddy to adopt him!!!
As far as I'm concerned -- this loser's career is over.
What a coward, a bully -- and a fool (if he thinks anyone believes this "apology" is real).
Posted by: NotBuyingIt | July 22, 2009 at 08:14 PM
He can't apologize until he has sought out real help for his mental instability!
Posted by: michelle | July 22, 2009 at 07:54 PM
I think Chris should be given a second chance... He has made 1 mistake.... And he is sorry for what happened.... Everyone should leave him be so he can get on with his life... Love u chris!!!!!! xxx
Posted by: Sheree | July 22, 2009 at 06:37 PM
chris has time apologizing all he has to do is forget about it and move on
Posted by: tj | July 22, 2009 at 12:43 PM
It is so crazy to see so many people trying to condemn Chris Brown. The young man made a mistake a matter of fact we all made mistakes that we are not proud off. The only thing to do is learn from our mistakes and move on. I hope he learn from this and make a positive effort to change. If he is only acting like he is changing then history is going to repeat it self again. My only message to you Chris Brown do not talk about it just be about it. Let your actions speaks for you:)
Posted by: TINA | July 22, 2009 at 12:30 PM
I don't no about you guyz, but i forgive him. everyone makes mistakes and no one should be treated different because of a mistake. im mean sure it was a bad mistake. but he learned his lesson if GOD can forgive him why can't we. were aren't perfect so stop making him seem like his a sireal killer damn give him a break. all im sayin iz Chris you know what you have done was wrong and since you seem like a true person just stick to watever you are told to do, and after you have done everything stay commited to GOD. and boy live your life. this could of have happen to anyone. you made a mistake ok just don't let it happen again, and countinue doing what you love and do best. you are human being just like eveyone else. so just countinue to stay faithful to your word, on trying to get better. and just be the wonderful Chris we all know and love. and if someone doen't forgive you. know that they are just not fair in judging and they don't have a good heart to understand no one is perfect. so keep doing your thing from your friend and fan Keisha Bien-aime....
Posted by: Keisha | July 22, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Chris Brown is a joke. It was obvious that he was reading what someone else wrote for him. If he was truly sorry, he should have kept his mouth shut when he was telling
His "fans" to “trust him” because it was not as bad as it looked. Well, it was worse than it looked and then he was photographed out having a good time rather than getting into therapy and finding the help that he needs. Chris pled guilty because he IS guilty. He could not manipulate his victim to stay quiet and he could not keep the photos of what he did to his victim out of the press (remember, he tried). Chris is only sorry that he got caught and that photos of what he really did are out in the world. It is too bad that his mother raised him to become the abuser that he is and always will be until he takes this serious gets long term counseling anger management and walks away for a while. Every time he opens is mouth he makes his situation worse. We all need time to see him do more than talk the talk. Chris, walk the walk, grow-up, act like a real man, and take care of business. Until then, he deserves to lose his career and his fans.
Posted by: Louise | July 22, 2009 at 10:40 AM
IF FEMALES OUT HERE STILL WANTS TO BE CHRIS BROWNS FAN THAT DONT MAKE THEM STUPID...CHRIS DIDNT DO ANYTHING TO US. THATS BETWEEN HIM AND RHIANNA..IN THAT CASE POEPLE STUPID IF THEY STILL WANT TO BE FANS OF JAY-Z LIL WAYNE, T.I.. R-KELLY AND MANY MORE...NO ONE IS STUPID ITS THEIR BUSINESS IF THEY STILL WANT TO BE HIS FAN OR ANYBODY ELSES FANS..AND THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT HOPE HE FAILS IS THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FAILED IN THEIR LIVES AND THEY HAVENT BEEN FORGIVIN!!!
Posted by: T.T | July 22, 2009 at 09:56 AM
I am so appalled at the condemnation that Chris is receiving. I was an abused and battered wife and I left. I have forgiven my abuser and people should forgive Chris. He is very young for one thing and she was the one who instigated the confrontation. Just how many men are going to allow someone to hit them and they just let it go. I never hit my abuser or tried to fight back but I still got beat up. If you don't want to buy his music, don't but let the man get on with his life. We all sin on a daily basis and want to be forgiven so just let it go.
Posted by: Marcia | July 22, 2009 at 09:42 AM
It's useless apologizing now,Your career is ruined now. I's no point apologizing.
I found an article worth reading
http://www.aircheese.com/article/apologies--chris-brown
Posted by: MA007 | July 22, 2009 at 09:37 AM