Chris Brown has meltdown after 'Good Morning America' asks about Rihanna

Chris Brown got a little more than he bargained for during a promotional stop Tuesday for his new album. During a sit-down on ABC's "Good Morning America," Robin Roberts pressed the singer about the legal troubles stemming from his 2009 altercation on a Los Angeles street with then-girlfriend Rihanna. Brown was accused of savagely beating the pop star and eventually pled guilty to felony assault and was placed on five years probation.

Roberts began the interview by noting that Brown's restraining order against Rihanna had been relaxed and wondering whether the two still saw each other.

"I mean, not really," he said. "It's not really a big deal to me now as far as that situation. I think I'm past that in my life. I think today's the album day, so that's what I'm focused on. Everybody go get that album."

The exchange went downhill from there, as Roberts made perfunctory mention of the album and then sidled back to the Rihanna incident as Brown grew visibly upset:

 

But that wasn't all. After performing his new song "Yeah 3x," Brown stormed off the set and back to his dressing room, according to ABC. The show's staff heard loud noises coming from the room and called security. When Brown and his entourage departed a short time later, the staff discovered that a window in the dressing room had been smashed.

An ABC spokeswoman said that the network did not plan to press charges against Brown over the damage, which might have affected his probation if police had gotten involved.

Show Trackers, what do you think of Brown's latest incident? Is he entitled to move on, or has the Rihanna altercation forever marred his career? 

Related:

Album review: Chris Brown's 'F.A.M.E.'

-- Scott Collins (Twitter: @scottcollinsLAT)

Photo: Chris Brown interviewed by Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America." Credit: Ida Mae Astute / Associated Press

Comments

[Anonymous]

I think it's insensitive for the media to still badger Chris Brown about past incidents. At this point, they are merely antagonizing him. He has apologized and seems to be genuinely sorry. People make mistakes. Stop picking on his.

[czechmate]

It is amazing to me that this poses as news with all the more pressing matters going on right now.

[Sternwood Dumbaum]

That interview was so stressful for him that it turned his hair white.

[Josh]

Beating a woman in the face is not a mistake but a deliberate act. If asking him about his past results in the uncontrollable smashing of objects around him, clearly he is mentally and emotionally unstable. He was very lucky all he got was probation. I have zero sympathy for this creep. The only reason people support him is because he can sing. Big effing deal...

[J. Galt]

Anything for ratings, at any price, at anyone's expense. I suppose even Fame has an ongoing price, no free lunch here.

[D.E.D]

It's typical for the media to stress issues that is a nonissue at this point. He has great talent and was caught off guard at the wrong moment for which many of us out there can admit doing plenty of wrongs but are incognito because of non celebrity status. Enjoy his Album world.

[Jan]

Agree with anonymous. The weren't trying to promote his album, they had him there to bait him for some cheap sound bites.

[w]

Dude obviously has anger issues. He could have apologized again, talked about how he's a better man and let it all go. Instead he chose a different route, implying no self-improvement at all. I have no sympathy for him and others that batter women.

[alex s.]

i think that he made his own bed and now must sleep in it. if he maturely handles the questions about rihanna, the media will eventually move on. since he apparently can't, he should probably avoid unscripted interviews.

[Monarch]

These days with the media everything seems to be designed to create
a buzz or publicity. Both Brown and Good Morning America are getting free
publicity over this. When was the last time anyone even mentioned
Good Morning America?
Frankly At least he is an artist and a performer not some want-to-be
"Celebrity" the media keeps shoving down our throats.

[annie]

Anonymous: part of the process of taking responsibility for something in your past is dealing with it in the present and future. While it is his personal business he's a public figure and people are going to ask. He needs to figure out a way to express his true feelings and answer the question quietly and move on. If someone antagonizes you over it you have to learn how to deal with it. It's out there. There's really no way to get people to stop asking when it's something involving violence, etc.

[Laduende]

You do something as atrocious as what he did, you need to be paying the price and repeated questions about his brutality is a consequence of what he did. It's obvious he still has anger management issues and needs to work on it. Time doesn't make what he did disappear. He needs to suck it up. What he did on the show is a guarantee that his past will resurface.

[Aestrik 4 Real]

who cares if Chris Brown sees Rhinna or not? Why does ABC care? Leave the man alone. If you are living in a glass house, why throw stones. He who is without sin let him cast the first stone. That's why I am keeping my mouth shut.

[NotOnFacebook]

Brown is a moron and the reporter is a moron. Yet they both have jobs. Too funny for words.

[Kathryn Guidry]

I think Chris Brown needs to grow up, period. These temper tantrums are out of control.

[elah]

THANK YOU .... YOU ARE RIGHT !!!!!! It is harrassment and sickening attempts to bull doze his move forward with his life. Chris, we're with you. The interview was horrible...I saw it. And she did push him and they did set him up. Roberts could have chosen not to do what she did, but she intentionally chose to do it. He tried to redirect the conversation but she kept coming back to it. As an older African American grandmother and professional counselor, I was angry with Roberts not Chris. He did his best to make it through the interview AND he performed perfectly.

[AndreaU8]

"He has apologized and seems to be genuinely sorry. People make mistakes. Stop picking on his."

- He still RAGES. He is an abuser, who will do it again. He isn't sorry and this is not the type of mistake that any woman in the world should have to accept.

[Jrwkilleen]

Who cares? He's just another loser.

[jacque]

insensitive?

uh...he's a famous guy who beat the tar out of his famous girlfriend. he can expect that to dog him for the rest of his life, and it's no one's fault but his own...and it's a bit generous to call that merely a 'mistake'.

when new developments in the case happen (like the recently eased restrictions on the restraining order), he will be asked about them. if he doesn't want to talk about it, then he shouldn't be on TV giving interviews. there are plenty of other ways to promote an album.

his actions afterward clearly demonstrate that he hasn't grown up, changed much, or learned to manage his anger.

if i were rihanna, i think i'd be re-upping that restraining order to be as strong as possible.

[Kristina]

I think he needs to be reminded of "that incident" for a really long time. No man has any right to conduct themselves in such a foul, disgusting manner and yes, it's something that fans will remember, and we'll be remembering this "little detail" for a very very long time.