Chris Brown's BET breakdown: the 'coulds' and 'shoulds' of forgiveness

One thing is certain: Chris Brown is an amazing dancer. The four minutes and thirty seconds that preceded his now-controversial weeping session at Sunday's BET Awards demonstrated the talent sidelined by his recent exile from the entertainment mainstream.

Paying tribute to Michael Jackson, to whom he has often been compared, the 21-year-old R&B star put his own firm stamp on the King of Pop's signature moves. MJ was lighter than air; CB firmly connected to the ground, his beefier frame making those foot stamps more territorial, the hip thrusts more blatantly virile, the arms reaching toward heaven more attitudinal. Brown pushed himself with this performance. The aggressiveness he radiated may not have been a conscious choice, but honestly, it worked.

Then Brown cried. His tears had a bitter tinge; he shook his head and pushed the weeping toward a shout. This breakdown, which prevented Brown from singing "Man in the Mirror," the song that ended the Jackson medley through which he'd otherwise only danced, has become Monday's most hotly debated media moment. (We need one a day, in the Twitter age.) Was Brown, attempting a comeback a year after pleading guilty to felonious assault of his former girlfriend, the singer Rihanna, faking remorse? Did the memory of Jackson and his own struggles with scandal overwhelm him? Or were the cheers from the crowd what set him off -- that taste of what his crime cost him?

Such questions intrigue those of us who habitually engage in the celebrity dramas of the 24-hour tabloid age. Yet the media response to Brown's onstage behavior, mostly focusing on the sincerity of his outburst, seems to me to miss an important point. The thorniest question isn't whether Brown is honestly seeking forgiveness, or whether he's forgiven himself. It's whether a route to redemption that still acknowledges reality can be found.

 

How can Brown, whose appeal is based on his relationship to women, regain his position without asking women to forget not only what he did but what that act symbolizes? That question turns the focus on the audience, and on the industry that frames Brown's return to the public eye.

Watching Brown's performance, I was intrigued by the cutaway shots of rapt fans, captured by the BET cameras. Those shown in close-up were mostly women of color, cheering, nearly crying themselves. One mouthed an exclamation that was like a prayer: oh my God.

The implication was that Brown's heavily female fan base is ready to cheer him past his period of probation, even if he hasn't fully completed his legal sentence. Brown went on to claim a fan-determined BET award, beating out 2010's darling Justin Bieber, among others. The message was firm: urban music fans want Chris Brown to flourish. So do artists like Mary J. Blige, who Tweeted "God is merciful" after his performance.

That's not really surprising. Pop stars of all kinds, not to mention actors, sports stars and even the occasional politician, are often quickly forgiven after engaging in morally questionable behavior. What makes Brown's case sticky, though, is that target audience, and the nature of his music and public persona.

Brown is a heartthrob, the kind of idol who teaches young girls what's appropriate in love. His hits, such as the yearning "With You" and his duet with his imaginary Juliet, Jordin Sparks, "No Air," have bottled the overflowing earnestness of beginner-level love. When he got racy with the full-grown and lecherous pop star T-Pain in the video for his "Kiss Kiss," Brown wore a schoolboy's outfit: He was a family kind of star. Even his rehabilitation after his crime against Rihanna began with the viral rise of a family video that showed a Midwestern couple dancing down the aisle to Brown's  swirling ballad "Forever."

Brown's image and the content of his music aim to soften people's hearts. He's not a pro athlete, required by his job to be physically confrontational; nor is he a "bad boy" rapper, hard rocker or country outlaw, with some edge of violence built into his image. That might be one reason (along with Rihanna's own fame) that his misdeed caused such a furor, while other cases of celebrity violence are more easily ignored and quickly forgotten. Brown's very real violation of Rihanna's trust was also a violation of our fantasies.

No one wants this kind of pop hero to sport a serious moral scar. R. Kelly, recently acquitted of child pornography charges, survived 6 1/2 years of that scandal partly because he's an outrageous personality; whether his fans fully believed in the innocence the court has now declared, his blatantly sexual music allowed for a way to absorb his questionable moral decisions. A similar case could be made about Bret Michaels or Gene Simmons, hard-rock rogues who flaunt their philandering and sexual objectification of women on reality television and emerge all the more lovable for it.

Sexuality is complicated, and pop music expresses its negatives as well as its healthy side. It's also a realm where individuals express their personalities directly through their music; a star's actions onstage can never fully be separated from his conduct offstage. Though violence can never be condoned, in some corners it's more easily contextualized. That's the only way I can explain how certain titans of heavy metal well known for abusing underage groupies never fell from grace, or why the journalist Elizabeth Mendez Berry received as much hate mail as praise for her groundbreaking 2005 Vibe magazine piece about domestic violence in rap.

Chris Brown's actions, however, shattered his image and destroyed the main function of his music. It's hard to imagine how he can move back into his role as a teen dream, now that he's admitted doing something no young woman would want done to her. (Not to mention the parents of girls who might have crushes on this handsome and smooth, if eager to reform, criminal.) The BET performance was problematic precisely because it felt like a bid to be washed clean, and because the audience members shown seemed ready with the baptismal water. Whatever Brown does, however sincerely remorseful he is, he can't go back. He will forever be in recovery.

To acknowledge this is not to condemn Brown as an artist. He has another choice: to not only admit to the darker impulses he unleashed against Rihanna that night in February 2009, but to make art from the soul-searching he's done since that confrontation. Brown needs to become a fully adult artist now, and to live publicly with the contradictions his actions exposed. His audience needs to ask that from him.

To that end, if you find Brown's performance on the Web somewhere, don't just watch the tears. Notice the intensity of that dance -- its anger as well as its precision. Realize that Chris Brown is a man who, like any man, must confront every aspect of the power he holds. Expect that from him. He should be up to the challenge.

-- Ann Powers

Top photo: Chris Brown at his arraignment on March 5, 2009. Credit: AP Photo/ Bob Chamberlin, Pool. Middle photo: Chris Brown at the BET Awards. Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Rod]

People will question his sincerity because it stirs controversy which helps with the media ratings and feeds the inquiring minds of those who only reason to live is to know what famous celebrities are doing when mind you, they don't even know these people.

Chris Brown perfomance was spectacular. There will never be another Michael Jackson from a dance perspective but Brown is sure damn close to it. His emotional outburst should have been expected considering what he has been through and considering the lyrics to "Man in the Mirror".

This is really much to do about nothing and it is time to move on from Chris Brown.

[MJ]

I feel that Chris Brown's actions on June 27th was a public expression of how he has felt since February 2009. People are so quick to crucify someone that makes a mistake, that reacts to a situation before they really think it through. How many of us have done something a person or (people) and you was forgiven? This young man has apologized to everyone that would listen, when he only need to apologize and be forgiven by three people: Rihanna, God and himself. We spend so much time looking up to athletes, entertainers, actors, etc. to be role models for our youth, when it should be parents, doctors, teachers, preachers, etc. being their role models. On June 27th, Chris Brown was caught in the emotion of paying tribute to someone that he looked up to and the fact that he is looking in the mirror at the things he has done and is trying to change. If someone as mighty as God can forgive, then why can't we?????

[Misha]

Chris Brown's performance was beautiful. His tears were real. We all fall off the
boat somtimes. Yes, what he did to Rihanna was wrong, but who are we to judge? We have no right to call him out of his name or anyone for that matter.
He's only human. And the only person he has to answer to is god. It is no ones business what happened to him. Rihanna is the one that took the beating and she is the only one who is being mature about it. Chris Brown is a good man.
And yes I said man, he just got into some trouble along the way to becoming one. I am proud to be called a Chris Brown fans. I am proud to be a Rihanna fan. And again, only god has the last word.

[Michael]

Coming from a family where my father abused my mother, I cannot condone, nor FORGIVE this piece of excrement and the sooner we stop writing about him and giving him publicity, the sooner he will just go away.

This guy gets ZERO sympathy, empathy or understanding from me and pretty much everybody I know or have asked about this subject. Men who hit women are the lowest form of life and make no mistake, this guy is "sorry" ONLY BECAUSE HE GOT CAUGHT, PERIOD.

Memo to Chris Brown: Shut up and go away. No one cares about your sorrow or your anguish. For those who do care, obviously they condone and probably even promote violence against women and I know of nothing more pathetic. Well, except for the woman-beating Chris Brown.

[May]

i hope it's shame that drove him to tears. When will our society stop worshipping wife beaters, paedophiles and pornographers?

[kbrumskill]

He didn’t make a mistake so let’s be very clear; he made a bad choice but all of us have made bad choices. None of us are free from sin. All of the holier than thou people who have done no wrong please let me know how you do it? Let me also say that you would be a liar because none of us are free from sin.

Chris was paying tribute to a person whom he admires and that person passed away and on top of that he has to sing “Man in the Mirror” which is a sad song and they showed part of the video. That would make anyone cry who has a heart.

[Larry]

Brilliant performance! The dancing and the crying. I was moved by the dancing.
However, hitting a woman is the act of a savage. He escaped jail - maybe a part of his redemption would be talking to men in prison who were not so fortunate to be just given community service and probation - for scarring another human being physically and emotionally. How about apologizing to his victim and not worrying about his "career."
Forget about people claiming its over, evidently those persons have never been victims of abuse. Its not over. Now Chris can take a real look at the "Man in the Mirror" and show by action, not crying, that he realizes the damage inflicted.
He does not require "our forgiveness" - he needs God's pardon.

[chianne]

Chris Brown is an incredible artist and performer. Most of the female fan base you speak of has moved on from what he did. We understand that his assault is not to be condoned, but that the whole story is not really out there, and that he was 19 when he did this. Most people have not paid any attention to what he's been doing the last 16 months; I have, and it all convinces me that he is a very decent young man. He is older, he can make those sexy songs now, but he can (and is), making the sweet ones too. I do not hold what he did against him. He may be "in recovery forever " - and he has done songs about his pain - but he should not be limited to "soul searching art." Upbeat is his forte. And this world will be so empty if CB ever stops dancing!

[MyWay]

I hate you ppl! CHRIS BROWN'S performance was EPIC! The Jackson family asked him to perform that dedication to Micheal Jackson his IDOL & the greatest influence on his career and ALL YOU PPL can take away from that beautiful performance was HE CRIED! He did much more than cry he put on a performance for the ages. He remined me what WE Have ALL LOSE with the passing of MJ and the continued EXILE of this YOUNG GREAT TALENT! EMINEM, who also performed BEAT his WIFE Kim Mathers and wrote songs about KILLING HER but no one says a word about him not having a career. Charlie Sheen savaged 4 women but just signed a 2 million dollar an episode contract and no one said a damn thing! Jerry Seinfeld @35 was sleeping with 17 yr old High School student Shoshana Loensten but no one said he should not have a career! Ben Roethlisberger has now RAPED 3 WOMEN but continues to be an NFL SUPERSTAR! Something fishy is going on here but we can all continue to pretend as if we are UNAWARE!

[MyWay]

Well let me post another thought because I know the media is not going to be happy with what I just stated! So, let me just say BRAVO KID your performance was EPIC! I am deeply offened that they would question your motives at 21 but found nothing wrong with 70 yr old DICK CLARK crying like a baby! That's okay we know what's really going on! Eminem beats his wife no one say a thing! Charlie Sheen beats 4 women no one says a thing. Yeah KID something strange is going on around her. 1fight with 1 person who per the nat'l Coalition For Men found that she actually started the physical altercation can cause you to be banned but no one else? INTERESTING!

[char char]

This boy has suffered and he is till paying for this.he has a ppologised ti rihana and all fans.what do you want him to do?he has even cried and told the world he is sorry.rihana has a new guy to show her smartness and beauty.why not give this child who is just 21 years aold a break

[M]

I will express my concerns on this written article on Chris Brown. Though it is written well. It seem a little racist.We have to ask ourselves one question. When Brown took the plea deal what did that meant. At first he felt it was self defense. One ask the question why. That night definitely told only one side, the pic of Rihanna face.There no way he could be innocent right. Well lets see. We should add up the history of these two individuals. Both have a history of some domestic abuse in their families. But we must look deeper in the victims life, right.It would only be fair seeing that Chris Brown to whom never had any domestic situation with women until that one night in a car with Rihanna. Lets go on,Rihanna parent both subject her to drug and domestic violence at a young age. Which resulted in her living with her Grandmother,violence towards other family member and even a ex before chris said she had violence issues, even to her interview on the incident that she even admitted that she was just as toxic to Mr.Brown as he was to her. Not to mention that she hasn't even gone to any domestic violence seminar or meeting to address the issues of domestic violence towards women. Clearly, maybe just maybe, that there was more to that night than whats been reported. Quote: from the interview If I hit him is it o.k for him to hit me. Now what do you think of that. America cannot fathom the idea that a woman can beat a man, Right.Especially a little girl with feather hands.I could only imagine want went on in that car. I'm a woman and if I caught my man cheating it wouldn't be nice.I think that goes for any woman no matter what color you are.But the question is can we forgive Mr. Brown.Of course and why not. It wasn't our relationship.We canot assume the responsiblilty for reforming Mr.Brown through our hatred of him.I remember the second black Supreme Court Judge Clarence Thomas said when he was put under the gun:This Seem like a Technical Lyching. Is this what we are doing to this young man, have we no forgiveness for others gone. Should we continue to hurt Mr. Brown forever for one act that he clearly doesn't have a history of.I will not be a part of this mob. forgiveness has already been establish when he admitted to his part in the incident and ask for forgiveness. Lets move on with healthy talks that will help people find the positve roads in their lives. which we should allow them to, especially Mr.Brown. If Mr.Brown is reading this, good luck young Man keep positve.The Lord shines on you with forgiveness and love.

[Chris]

I don't know why the writer of this article took numerous paragraphs to berate CB and cast doubt upon his sincerity, only to say that his redemption is possible in the end. The writer is stuck in time believing that CB's fans are still 16 year old girls. Be mindful that his 16 year-old fans then; are 18 year-old women now. The have had a set of experiences in that time that have taught and informed them about love and relationships. Contrary to the writers opinion, Chris Brown didn't shape their experiences, he only accentuated them.

[lady.k]

hi chris how u doin i hope fine the photo above is of the hook. i love it looks good i want ur e mail address please if u get this email address lol.

[David]

Shame on BET for giving this confessed woman beater a platform to resuscitate a failing career. Make no mistake, CB is an actor/performer/woman beater desperately trying to salvage a career that hangs in the balance. As such, he relies on the inevitably naive public to buy into his very carefully choreographed"show" of contrition. And of course, the public falls for it, hook line & sinker. Leave it to BET to provide the platform! Remember OJ Simpson.

[Racey]

YOU SOUND CRAZY "No one wants this kind of pop hero to sport a serious moral scar" then you mention RKelly? Since when is R.Kelly a POP STAR? You are simply trying to make BLACK MEN look bad! Listen if the world can forgive that dirty little DRUG ADDICT SIFE ABUSER Eminem then anything is truly possible! Mickey Rourke BEAT his wife Carrie Otis but he did get that 09 Golden Globe didn't he? Sean Penn RAPED & BEAT Madonna but he beat his way to the stage to get that 09 Oscar didn't he? How about Rob Lowe presenting an award after he was found in a hotel room having an ORGY with a 16 yr old girl? Of course Rob was presenting an award to the other ABUSER Alec Baldwin or the euphemis BLADWIN CLAN. Lets see Dainel Baldwin is a filthy CRACK USER who BEAT his PREGNANT wife. The other Baldwin DRUG ADDICT now want to be JESUS! CORNELL WEST was RIGHT "RACE ALWAYS MATTER" doesn't it! LOVE YOU CHRIS BROWN! I was not a support before but I will forever be a fan as long as you keep moving forward in a positive directions.

[Dladystarr]

We humans are complicated. the majority of us go through horrible errors and mistakes in judgement in private. Only a select few family and friends witness the bad things we have to done to others and ourselves. So we are allowed to learn, grow and heal from our bad judgements. I feel sorry for Chris Brown and Rihanna because they are not allowed to learn, grow and heal from their experience. It appears that they are both trying to heal and grow but the media keeps ripping the scab away and causing more damage. In time i believe that both of these special people will either cause harm to themselves or others. The media is making a martyr out of these kids because they can't sell enough newspapers or magazines. I defend Chris brown because he is just a kid. I remember my youth and i remember when i became an adult with responsible actions and thoughts. And it was not at the age of 19, 20, nor 21.

[tashia]

I agree with Dash and many others. I understand what this article is saying, but he is not branded for life as a woman beater. and at 21 why should we continue to see him as a Teen Idol? His music has changed, he has changed, he wants to grow both professionally and personally, it's us who want to keep him in the "teen idol" state and not forgive and forget. God forgave you for your sins and allowed you to grow and move forward, why can't we? I'm Team Breezy, been so ever since! I don't condone what he did, but he reaped what he sowed. now all he can do move forward. how many times does he need to apologize? what does he have to do, for you to forgive him? Anger in his dance? What?! Okay if there was anger, it was because he deserved the right to say, "Now, this is a tribute!" Rihanna has moved on, but ain't no one talking bout how sexual acting she has become, and how oh my she used to be this goodie two-shoes Teen chick, but she isn't anymore! Allow Chris to move on as well.

[The Truth]

Dear Ann Powers,

You are delusional! DON’T STOP, PLEASE READ ON! I find it so disturbing that people can predict a person's entire life and future actions from one incident. Your article suggests you must be delusional. A delusion is characterized by one holding a belief despite the absence of evidence to support that belief. Chris Brown has an 18 year history free of violence. Since the incident, he has been violence free. This is an isolated incident, which lasted only minutes. Yet, you hold the belief that this isolated incident of minutes is an accurate depiction of all future actions from him. You hold this belief and are trying to sell others on it despite the evidence that suggests the majority of Chris's life has been violence free. Most people with delusions actually suffer from some type of psychiatric disorder. However, I believe your delusion stems from hate and a cold, calculating, deceitful attempt to destroy this young black man. I am one reader that will not sit idly by and allow it to happen.

So consider your article and opinion countered!

I sincerely hope that the readers of this article simply ignore you. You could not be more wrong about your assumptions regarding the expectations of Chris's fans or the underlying reasons people forgive. Chris Brown is a young man! He is imperfect. He is incapable of being mistake free, and Ann, he absolutely deserves a second chance, TODAY! He does not have to publicly recite every opinionated writer's version of an apology or work their 12 step program. He has said he was sorry. He is making a genuine attempt to make things right. He has lost. He has suffered. Enough is enough. Let it go! It angers me when people such as yourself, take such rigid stands against our young black men. It angers me that you are always lurking around the corners to find fault and knock them down when they are trying to be a better person. Well, I have news for you. All the supporters and forgivers of Chris Brown acknowledge and do not minimize his actions. We are aware they were wrong, but they do place him beyond redemption. Our arms are open and despite your ignorance when trying to describe Chris's current mental state and potential psychological effects of youth that continue to admire him post his actions, we are ready to receive him and give him a much deserved second chance. What type of hope do we offer to people that make mistakes, if there is no route to redemption? You send the message that there is no reason to change your actions or try to make things right. What kind of world is that? You are one person, as I am. Your opinion and perceptions are yours. Your route to redemption is yours. At the end of the day, you were not there to share your master plan or 12 step recovery program, neither was I. But I acknowledge his attempts and efforts to make things right, not just for his career, or money, but for his life.

Chris Brown you are deserving of a happy life and prosperous career. You are human, and I believe you truly understand that actions, however brief, have consequences. Learn from your mistakes. Trust in GOD, and lean not to your own understanding. Or for this matter, the understanding of those that write you off. Famous people always say after they make it that you can do anything you put your mind to and don't let people kill your dreams. Chris, focus your mind on a comeback and leave the haters in the dust. No weapon against you shall prosper.

To Jay-Z and any other affiliate of him, check yourself. Unlike Chris Brown, your life has been plagued with violence and law breaking acts. Very early in your career, I remember you facing jail time for drugs, but you were given another chance. I remember you vowing to never go down that road again. You were much older than Chris, but you still did something dumb. I've even seen footage of you assaulting a female, but you continue to enjoy a good life as a result of you cleaning up that part of your life. Chris deserves the same opportunity, if not more. All I am saying is you don't have to be a supporter, just don't be a destroyer. True leaders use their influence are able to see that it's not all about them. But this requires strength, intelligence, sacrifice, and a good heart. Are you true leader or a phony?

To the affiliates of Jay-Z that support his views: Get a mind of your own. Don't be a follower all your life. It's ok to not agree. Individuality is a beautiful thing. Anyone that pushes you away because you have a difference of opinion is coward with insecurities. They are A Little Red Riding Hood camouflaging in wolf skin. Break away! You will never be respected by them. They seek to dominate and not befriend.

Posted by: The Truth |

[Lola Rage]

LolaRage
Jul. 2nd, 2010
at 8:03 am
Seems like everybody hates Chris are BET just doesn’t have anything exciting going on so they keep pushing up this issue. 1st Llyod push him up to do it now he put eye drops to make himself cry !?!?!?! Even if he did go through all the trouble of of fake crying BRAVO you got people talking and thats what its all about. Can’t wait to hear the new album Breezy I’m buying it cause your a great singer and a damn good dancer and thats what its really all about. Kisses http://WWW.LOLARAGE.COM

[Shawn100]

Great read... Here's another perspective on the performance.

http://www.freireproject.org/blogs/chris-brown’s-michael-jackson-tribute%3A-truth-and-forgiveness-black-america

[Nyisha]

To all CB fans all yall can do is support him, yall are like give him a break, most people are over it; however, they just won't support him. Yall get mad cuz the media spins it, they spin the story for a check, the same way they do for any celebrity in a negative situation. He has to win support back from the general population and that is by coming out with a solid hittttt...not that last album mixtape garbage...and yall can be real it was garbage. People are over it they just wont buy his music or go to his concerts and yall can't be made, people have a right to support and not support whomever they choose. Now I will agree that he has been on the unhealthy end of some extreme scrutiny but when he was on top he was on the healthy end of some extreme praise (people said he was the next MJ, he just surpassed Usher) so it comes with the territory gotta take the good with the bad. When he was rising and on top it was greater than his wildest dreams and imaginations but now that he has fallen it is worse than his most gruesome nightmare, but thats the life he chose. It cannot always be roses.

[lynette]

chris brown's performance was genuine, his movements were not angry but precise and fluidic!! i feel that chris became a MAN on that stage because it takes a MAN to show such raw emotions. at this point i wish him the best, i am a fan yesterday, today and tomorrow. LOL

[Muffy]

So, every other famous man or woman can get away with, but if your name Chris Brown, and you have never showed any of kind violent behavior, people care. Tommy Lee was there, but has anyone said anything about that? No! Every other famous Celebrity can do it, but Chris Brown and Rihanna cannot.

[ashley]

hi