Chris Brown vs. The People
Submitted by Elina on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 12:30
Of course, everyone has heard about the Rihanna and Chris Brown debacle. Whether or not we cared for them as artists, many people weighed in on the situation in blogs, tweets, and YouTube videos because of its social importance. Close to two weeks ago, both stars released public interviews about the assault—a first for Rihanna, while Chris has been vocal about his apologies via TV appearances, tweets, and other means.
Watching Brown’s interview with Sway of MTV was a painful and embarrassing experience for me. I was ashamed for him, things he said, and Chris’ utter lack of emotional depth. While Sway made several attempts to bring the seriousness of Chris’ actions to the forefront of the interview, the insouciant 20-year-old put his foot in his mouth quite a few times. When asked about his public perception, Chris replied that “with my fans, they still love me, they support me, but definitely you have those people who don’t support you, so it’s kind of 50/50 to me.”
It was frustrating not to be able talk back to my computer screen. No one supports you Chris! That’s all I wanted to say. It’s unbelievable that he would think that he has “supporters.” There are definitely people who are strategically placed around him to advise and aid in his psychological reform and anger management, but I’m pretty sure that everyone is on the same side of the court, when it comes to the assault. I don’t think anyone in their right mind would call themselves a supporter of Chris Brown at this point.
He actually goes so far as to call it “ignorance” that people are still angry about his actions. In another, similarly enlightened, Chris Brown admission about his reputation since the beating, he says, “It hurts. I’m still a young dude, so I haven’t got past this stage of being able to take people’s negative comments and things and be like, 'oh, I’m not worried about that.'” Someone should really tell him that worry is something he needs a little bit of in his life. It’s his lack of concern for his actions that got him here in the first place. I hate to harp on this stuff, but the interview reveals such a shallow and one-dimensional person who, while he may be trying to atone for what he did, may never truly understand it—a pitiful fact of reality as he witnessed domestic abuse in his own home. Honestly, how much more candid does it get?
It’s very common for those who experience domestic violence to grow up and enact it on their own families. When it happens in the public eye like this, it’s like that’s the way it should be every time—to shame those who do it and prevent their escape into anonymity. Brown actually sequesters his critics (the entire world, essentially) into a category of “haters.” If “haters” are people who do not condone relationship violence, I shudder to think of the alternative.
-Elina is a blogger for The Daily Vine. Check out her bio to see where her view comes from.
Related Links
Video: Chris Brown Interview with Sway Talking About Rihanna, worldstarhiphop.com.
Video: Rihanna Interview w/ Diane Sawyer, urbanmusicdirect.com.
- Elina's blog
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Comments
As a fan of both artists, or
As a fan of both artists, or rather ex-fan of Brown, I was totally shocked and dissapointed when this happened. After watching interview after interview of Brown, especially the Larry King one a few months back, I found myself disgusted with him as well as myself. How could I have ever supported an artist who was so naive, inarticulate and wreckless? Dancing around and singing his songs for months, I didn't take the time to really understand who I was supporting so zealously.
Fortunately, Rihanna's 20/20 special with Diane Sawyer was a great surprise. I tuned in and was pleased to see a bright, strong woman who was setting a powerful example to anyone else in her situation. It was great to hear how she wants to help girls in her situation. Understandably so, it took Rihanna a long time to muster up the courage to talk about the ordeal so publicly but it was well worth the wait. I definitely gained A LOT of respect for her.
The media should stop giving Brown and platform to embarass himself and focus on Rihanna's message-- especially MTV where so many impressionably girls are watching.
what's most appalling to me
what's most appalling to me (that i wasn't aware of before) is that this guy is only 20 years old.
it's fantastic that this message is being put out that you can smack around your girlfriend and still be successful in the real world.i am so disgusted.
polanski and chris brown
I hate to admit this, but I love Polanski as a director, but I do hate him as a person. And, I'm not suprised that Chris Brown's song is gaining momentum on the charts, you can like a person's art and still hate them as a person. Unfortunately, by liking his art, you're supporting him and putting money in his pocket. I say, download it for free ( ok, illegally..whatever) and don't put a penny into these abusers, rapists, pedophiles hands.
Seriously, its sad to think that there were no reprucussions and people are still padding his pockets.
word
same feelings about polanski!
but i personally never thought chris brown was any good really, i think his work is as shallow and empty as he is, and frankly boring, its catchy but so is most of whats on the charts and at least some o them are interesting.. (tho i get why others might like it, it is catchy and easy to dance to) i think if you like it pirate it for sure but dont further validate his delusion that he has any support after what he did! it makes me crazy that he thinks people who think bad of his actions are just haters, if being against relationship violence makes me a hater, ill be sippin the haterade all day long.
You beat me to the punch!
You beat me to the punch! I agree that if you like someone's art but don't necessarily like them, then you shouldn't support them by paying for their work. Download it for free or have a friend w/ the CD burn it for you!
Most people hate Chris, not everybody
Nice article Elina, I agree that a great deal of the public has turned it's back on Chris Brown, but not all. For one thing, his single, "I Can Transform Ya" has reached #23 on the Hot 100 charts. Now, the fact this isn't anywhere near the success of "Kiss Kiss" or "Run It" shows that the incident has hurt his career a bit, but I don't think he'll be gone for good. The thing is, our society loves to forgive people. If we didn't, Michael Vick wouldn't currently be playing in the NFL. the thing is, we desperately want to give everyone a second chance. We hate the idea that anyone, now matter how horribe of a crime they committed could ever just permanently a scumbag. they have to have their chance at redemption. In all honesty, I myself believe this to a certain extent. The problem is, it's all coming far to soon, and without any major reprecussions for his actions. The incident was only 9 months ago, Brown received no jail time, and has done very little to show remorse besides wearing a bowtie on Larry King, and singing the I'm Very Sorry song (his failed single "Changed Man"). If it was up to me, Brown would have do a lot more to show me that he's truly sorry and that he's turning his life around. Right now, if it turned out Brown was hitting whoever he's dating now, it wouldnt surprise me at all. The fact that someone can beat another person so severely and then instantly regain their credinility as an entertainer is more than a bit frightening, but not really surprising.
I wish you were right but
I wish you were right but there are legions of Chris Brown fans who think Rihanna staged this as some kind of publicity stunt. I remember after her interview, she was trending on Twitter and people were really terrible and callous. Makes me want to throw up in my mouth a little. Ugh.
Unfortunately we live in a society that is all too tolerant of violence against women... Polanski garnering support, Chris Brown, and the gang rape you wrote about earlier. It's disgusting.
gross
i didnt know anyone had suggested that she staged it... i think that's just gross, that sounds like the kind of thing people say to make themselves feel better about liking his music in spite of what he did. its ok to like art done by someone who is a bad person, i like lots of art done by bad people, but i think there should be real serious legal action taken and a much better show of remorse and comprehension of how wrong it really was.
sad
Chris Brown is young, stupid, and really needs a better pr team handling his interviews. I agree, his lack of understanding about it really makes it that much worse. His comment about "ignorant" people is ridiculous, what makes these so called haters ignorant? the fact that they cant step inside the shoes of an abuser and see it from his side? The truth is tho, this probably wont hurt his sales too badly, people will forget or wont care or still support him for whatever delusional reasons.