A few months ago, I talked about singer Chris Brown’s domestic violence case against his former girlfriend, Rihanna. Since the entertainers have settled the case last month, I want to look at the impact the situation had on their lives.
I previously wrote:
Two lives were drastically changed. Two careers affected. Although Chris and Rihanna once shared what seemed like an unbreakable bond, their love for each other may be what kills their careers for good.
Let me analyze the truth of this statement.
Two lives drastically changed: TRUE
Chris avoided jail time by entering a plea that will subject him to probation for the next five years and perform six months of community service. He is now a convicted felon.
Both endured intense media coverage. Rihanna had to recover emotionally and deal with seeing her bruised and battered face was posted on magazine covers.
Two careers affected: TRUE
Chris seems to have been shunned by some music artists, including rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West. Both rappers have business and personal relationships with Rihanna, as they are on the same music label. In some interviews, Kanye called Rihanna his “baby sis,” so it makes sense why they feel this way about Chris. However, there are artists who’ve embraced him, including P. Diddy, Bow Wow and Keri Hilson. Chris is using these relationships as support and help re-entering the entertainment world. Also, I have yet to see endorsement ads that once featured Chris, including Wrigley and “Got Milk?” reappear.
Since this case surfaced, Rihanna has been the topic of many entertainment blogs. Not because of her musical talent, but because of her hectic nightlife and iconic fashion sense. She’s become a paparazzi’s dream and is now considered more of a fashion guru than a singer. I even wonder “What is Rihanna going to wear next?” rather than “What will be her next hit song?” Since the case ended, Rihanna’s endorsement ads, specifically her Cover Girl campaign, have picked back up again after being at a standstill.
Chris and Rihanna once shared what seemed like an unbreakable bond: SOMEWHAT TRUE
When they were a couple, they looked happy. They introduced each other to their family and even got matching tattoos. However, when things went sour, a few insiders began explaining the relationship beyond what was seen by the public. They described the relationship as having moments of jealousy, distrust, possessiveness and intense arguments.
Careers after the altercation: UNKNOWN
Neither Chris nor Rihanna has released a song or record since the fight, and understandably so. Because of this, it’s hard to guess how they will be received by their fans and colleagues.
However, both are very young and talented, and to see their careers end would be tragic.
Although the legal case has not been discussed in detail by either party, I hope that they will eventually open up to both male and females who have been in the same situation as a support system and even to people who haven’t, as an example of how not to handle domestic arguments.
What do you think? What is your opinion of Chris? Do you view him different from Rihanna? Who’s to blame, the involved parties or parents?
Filed under: celebrity status, children's safety, entertainment PR | 11 Comments
Tags: Chrihanna, Chris Brown, domestic violence, entertainment PR, love, public apologies, Rihanna
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As far as my opinion changing on either one of them, it would really depend on how the two of them handle this situation (whether that be separate or together) now that the legalities of it are over (for the most part.) As you said, neither of them have spoken on the situation (other than the apology Chris released a week after the altercation and the infamous “I Ain’t a Monster” video,) so it seems like the media and the public have been trying to speak for them and put them in these boxes as “Victim” and “Abuser.” I feel like the media and the public will be surprised as to how Chris and Rihanna handle all of this, considering the limited information we know about the altercation and their relationship as a whole…
He deserved a heavier punishment then he got.He beat his girlfriend in a sports car aka she had no where to go and no way to defend herself. He should be shunned by people.Not just other “musicians” but the general public as well. We all need to show all the guys like this that its NOT ok and the law wont be the only place you get your ass handed to you.
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Also…
-I do believe that Jay-Z had something to do with Chris not performing at the BET Awards, however I don’t think Jay’s reasons had anything to do with Rihanna. That was the first time Jay-Z performed “Death of Autotune” on TV. He wanted to be the highlight of the show. Considering that Chris would’ve shut down the show by performing to one of Michael Jackson’s songs (like he’s done in the past,) Chris would’ve overshadowed him. Jay-Z would NOT have liked that, considering that he’s got a “big ego,” in the words of his wife and his god-like complex (the self-claiming “Hova.”)
-Kanye spoke about Chris during his VH1 Storytellers performance, saying that the media should leave him alone. And this was back in February. Now, if you frequent Kanye’s blog, you know that he is a big admirer of Rihanna. So, either he got over the situation very quickly or the situation is just now what it seems…
I agree with you Aniya. The situations is not what it appears. They had a short lived reconciliation, which i think end mostly b/c of the media and the effect of Rihanna’s career.
Of course we know Chris was wrong, men aren’t suppose to hit women. But at the end of the day, no one can turn the hand of time back. So I see it as a opportunity for them to speak out, and use this to help others.
Continuing to bash him, wishing him harm or worse doesn’t change the facts.
People can say what they would and wouldn’t do, but we we brought up in a house hold of violence like he was??
Does that make it right? No… But he obviously could of used counseling after his child hood, instead of being thrust into stardom.
I hope he has learned his lesson, also Rihanna if started hitting him first. However, i think it was only a matter of time b4 he was going to snap.
I pray they both get the help they need, and are surrounding by people who love them, and have there best interest at heart, not just dollar signs.
Thanks for the comments everyone.
I must admit that I really liked Chris and Rihanna. When I first heard about the altercation, I was crushed. I didn’t want to believe what people were saying or what the news stations were reporting. It was an argument that went wrong. Really wrong. And while Chris was wrong to do whatever he did, I don’t believe that he was the only aggressor. Although a man’s strength overpowers a woman’s, the fight was never explained to us. Once the media heard about it, they took it and ran, making Chris seem like a monster. If what their friends said was true, there many times when Rihanna would hit him, testing him to see how he would respond. This was not a healthy relationship, and for this reason, I wish it would’ve ended differently.
@ Aniya: I didn’t think about the BET Award Show “scandal” in that way. I’m guilty of assuming that Jay-Z didn’t want him to perform because of his relationship with Rihanna, but you may be right.
@smile4me: I also hope they use this experience as a lesson learned.
I love and pray for both Rihanna and Chris. People forget these guys are barely out of their teens. When you are their ages love/relationships are very emotional and passionate. It is unfortunate that they had to go through this but I think they will both be okay eventually. It will be easier for Rihanna than for Chris because he seems to have some kissing up to do. He may be too young to realize how important contrition is, but I hope this will teach him a lesson. I’m certain it has. Luckily he is young…possibly this has made him in to a better man than he would have been otherwise. God Bless Chris and Rihanna.
I for one didnt’ know who Rihanna was until she started dating Chris Brown. I was and am so impressed with Chris’s whole personna – his growing up in the trailer parks of VA, his desire to make it to the top, his humility, charisma, decency and love for his family. This one mistake will not stop me from supporting him. I don’t believe him seeing his step father hit his mother had anything to do with that night. I think 4 or 5 years of being denied the freedom of a normal pre-teen life and exhaustion from going on tour with Rihanna for 2 months(which I really believe was to help her finances as originally reported) and then doing another European tour after hers – left him completely exhausted. It didn’t help that she was obsessive and smothered him when he got more fame and acclaim. He always said he was not ready to commit or settle down. I don’t think she felt the same way. I also do NOT believe it’s fair to say a man shouldn’t hit a woman. That’s against everything women have fought for – you can’t ask for equal rights and then cry victim when you slap on or hit a man. I don’t think they need to air the details of that night, but I do hope Chris comes out and explains what got him to that point. And help us understand and believe that he will not go back to that again. His career will be fine because he is so multi-talented – he’s written #1 songs in the past and has about 4 songs written for big stars now, he had 2 #1 post office hit movies, with 1 more coming out in Jan 2010 and 2 more movie deals. He still has his hat endorsements with Lids and his dance machine endorsement with Hasbro. I think if the rest of the A-List celebs – Jack Nicholson,Charlie Sheen,Sean Penn, et al.,,can make it past their abusive behavior, it would be totally bias for Chris’s career not to survive the same type of behavior. Rihanna has GAINED tremendously from this incident. She has become ridiculoulous popular and photographed everywhere. Her next CD will sell regardless of what’s on it. But the reality is, her talent is not as far reaching as Chris’s. She’s not writing her own songs, she has never really had a major part in a movie, Chris has made his millions on his concerts which have always sold out in the US and abroad, She has never even head lined a tour in the U.S. So bottom line, Rihanna will get plenty of fame and accolades, but Chris Brown will continue to make millions and millions – that’s what usually happens with true talent. (p.s. – now if Ri crosses over totally to fasion, she’ll do well because that’s her strength). And it’s was terribly unfair of the media and her fans to DEMAND that she leave Chris alone in order to have a career – no other a-list celeb’s mate had to do that. And from all signs that I see – she is certainly not doing well emotionally with that break up. I expect to see her totally break down emotionally, whereas Chris is smothered by his loving mother , father and family and seems strong, but misses her.
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