Chris Brown Cries at BET Awards

[Pam De Beaufort]

New York Times

With fallen stars from Tiger Woods (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/w/tiger_woods/index.html?inline=nyt-per) to Eliot Spitzer (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/eliot_l_spitzer/index.html?inline=nyt-per) taking their turns on the comeback trail these days, could the moment be right for a second coming of Chris Brown (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/chris_brown/index.html?inline=nyt-per)? The BET Awards on Sunday night certainly gave Mr. Brown, above, the tarnished R&B singer, a prominent platform to demonstrate as emotionally — and, at times, theatrically — as possible that he’s ready for the forgiveness of his audience. Last summer Mr. Brown was sentenced to six months of community labor and five years of probation after pleading guilty to felonious assault on the pop star Rihanna (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/r/rihanna/index.html?inline=nyt-per), an incident that seemed to leave his career in tatters. But at the BET Awards, which were held in Los Angeles, Mr. Brown took center stage as part of a tribute to Michael Jackson (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/j/michael_jackson/index.html?inline=nyt-per). During his performance of “Man in the Mirror” Mr. Brown frequently became choked up and at one point fell to his knees. Though many viewers accused Mr. Brown of usurping what was supposed to be an honor for Mr. Jackson, Mr. Brown had the last word when he was announced as the surprise winner of BET’s Fandemonium award, a prize determined by fan votes. “I let you all down before, but I won’t do it again,” Mr. Brown said in his acceptance speech. “I promise you.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgFeO2ur0Ac&feature=popt00us00

While admit he did a great job with his dance tribute to MJ, I think the whole crying thing was a ploy to get sympathy and acceptance back into the industry. It just looked fake as shit to me. But whatever. *shrug*

[Rampage]

19-20 year old men are many things...subtle clever actors is not one of them.

Perhaps it was a ploy...but I can't help but think that he could be my son in 10 years, fucking up and hoping to just get a chance to be forgiven.

I am personally inclined to give him a chance. With the spotlight on him, we will know soon enough if it is BS.

[Jill Monroe]

"clever actor", perhaps not...but willing to do anything to retain his career? MORE THAN LIKELY.

how do you go from choking and punching a girl in her face screaming "i'm going to kill you" to giving the best performance since "gone with the wind" on the BET awards and claiming how truly sorry you are? i dont buy it. I take a hard line stance against batterers and abusers and if he did it once...he'll do it again and itll be EASIER the next time.

at anyrate, the entertainment industry has harbored batterers before (Ryan O'neal, Ike Turner, etc) so im sure he'll find his way back regardless as to what I or anyone else says. :rolleyes:

and yes...even I will admit the MJ tribute (minus the crying) was well done.

[Dark Lady]

"clever actor", perhaps not...but willing to do anything to retain his career? MORE THAN LIKELY.

how do you go from choking and punching a girl in her face screaming "i'm going to kill you" to giving the best performance since "gone with the wind" on the BET awards and claiming how truly sorry you are? i dont buy it. I take a hard line stance against batterers and abusers and if he did it once...he'll do it again and itll be EASIER the next time.

at anyrate, the entertainment industry has harbored batterers before (Ryan O'neal, Ike Turner, etc) so im sure he'll find his way back regardless as to what I or anyone else says. :rolleyes:

and yes...even I will admit the MJ tribute (minus the crying) was well done.

I agree, and it won't let me karma you again! I think it's obvious that it was a publicity stunt seeing as he's trying to get away his bad boy image.

[MandaMeena]

Puhlease, somebody call the Whaaaaaaaaambulance... Whatever, I have an extreme dislike for abusers.

[Rampage]

Puhlease, somebody call the Whaaaaaaaaambulance... Whatever, I have an extreme dislike for abusers.

I agree, but a 19-year-old untreated kid who grew up in an abusive home is really a victim perpetuating the cycle as much as he is a perpetrator. I hope he gets some help to break this cycle. He lost love and millions, but it won't mean anything if he doesn't fix his issues for real.

[MandaMeena]

I've come from a family where abuse passed down from generation to generation, and you know what, my dad never abused me in any way. It's all totally up to the individual I think. You shouldn't have to hurt somebody and then become an outcast in order to be a better person than your own abusers.

[Rampage]

I've come from a family where abuse passed down from generation to generation, and you know what, my dad never abused me in any way. It's all totally up to the individual I think. You shouldn't have to hurt somebody and then become an outcast in order to be a better person than your own abusers.


Your own unique situation, while I an glad for it does not prove the rule. Abused children have an increased chance to abuse and while one can always say that the individual had a choice to make, and I agree with that, would you at least concede that it is possible that his upbringing gave him inappropriate options in his own mind?

It is not so much him being an outcast as much as getting help that will make him better hopefully.

I understand that he has earned your scorn and why. and he deserves it if that is how you feel, it is certainly a reasonable reaction. But in my view, it is hard as a father to dismiss this kid for life at 19, not for this incident and considering his circumstances.