Chris Brown’s fans are baffled as to why he hasn’t been cleared of his previous conviction for problematic behavior while other celebrities with a history of similar offenses continue to be celebrated.
Brown’s supporters denounced Hollywood’s ability to look the other way, appearing en masse in the comments of posts criticizing Dr. Congratulated Dre on being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 19th. The mega producer is the 2,775th. Mensch received recognition for his music career, which has spanned three decades, as well as his business ventures such as Beats by Dre.
He was praised as “the greatest partner, friend and ally you could have” by business partner and music executive Jimmy Iovine, who spoke at the event alongside Snoop Dogg.
In a press release, Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, said Dre “left an indelible mark on popular culture…It is with great pride that we honor his incredible career and extraordinary influence by awarding him a star on the Walk.” of fame.”
But for those keeping score, he also left his mark on women in hip-hop. Singer Michel’le, with whom the Compton native has a son named Marcel Young, has spoken openly about the abusive six-year relationship they had in the late ’80s and early ’90s. During a “Breakfast Club” interview in 2015, she claimed his violent outbursts left her with a broken nose, black eyes and five broken ribs.
Michel’le WAS dragged through all the MUD. She told her story several times to Dr. Dre has STILL not apologized for hitting her. It’s been over 30 years and the music industry still overlooks the fact that he is a wife beater behind closed doors https://t.co/D2DbxAbIci pic.twitter.com/4ecwQv8XTC
– July 19 (@212Lexus) April 18, 2023
Furthermore, in an Elle interview the following year, in 2016, Michel’le said: “The beating, the beating was so normal for me. The abuse was just routine. “I didn’t wake up the next day and say, ‘Dre, why did you hit me?’ We never talked about it the next day.” She even noted that they cried together after the first incident, which she said was a moment when he felt remorse for his actions. However, the guilt was short-lived as she claimed there were further beatings.
That same year, the “Turn Off the Lights” singer shared her story of her romantic relationship with him in the Lifetime film “Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel’le” and became a name for herself as a songwriter and artist. She also has a daughter, Bailei Knight, with the co-founder of Death Row Records. According to Michel’le, the NWA founding member had not apologized for the abuse at the time.
Accusations that Dre physically harmed women include veteran journalist Dee Barnes. Her memory of being mistreated by him at a party in Hollywood in 1991 was due to his ego being activated by an episode of “Pump It Up,” which featured back-to-back interviews with him and Ice Cube, with whom he was dating argued were airing at the time.
Barnes said she tried to defuse Dre’s anger by explaining that she had no say in how the segments were presented.
“He grabbed me by the hair and ear and slammed my face and body against the wall…Next thing I’m on the floor and he’s kicking me in the ribs and stomach and stomping on my fingers,” she allegedly said. She tried to take refuge in the women’s room, but the barrier wasn’t strong enough. “He burst through the door and started punching me in the back of the head.” He was given a two-year suspended sentence after pleading no contest to assault and battery.
The iconic West Coast hip-hop star made some effort to make amends and reshape the narrative surrounding his presence in the industry when he issued a public apology in the New York Times in 2015. He didn’t mention his ex or Barnes by name.
He said he was a young man who was overwhelmed, had no structure and drank too much. “However, none of this is an excuse for what I did,” Dre said. “I am doing everything I can to ensure that I never resemble that man again. I apologize to the women I hurt. I deeply regret what I did and know it has forever affected all of our lives.”
Here, @DawnRichard uses mine @Rolling Stone Interview with hip-hop journalist Dee Barnes as a starting point for her own moving conversation about the unequal treatment of mercy towards Dr. Dre and Dee after the famous rapper and producer attacked them. pic.twitter.com/PqVbhpWFXK
– Mankaprr (@Mankaprr) August 3, 2023
At the time, Dre was married to his wife Nicole Young and Straight Out of Compton, the biographical account of NWA history, had just been released. The film makes no mention of Michel’le, even though she was an active part of his life at this stage of his career.
In 2021, he and Young’s messy divorce, in which she claimed he was abusive and twice held a gun to her head, ended in a $100 million settlement. They share two children, a son named Truice and a daughter named Truly. He also has six other children from previous relationships.
The transgressions have done little, if any, damage to his reputation, as he is a celebrated pillar of the entertainment industry. In 2023, the Recording Academy presented him with a prestigious award, the Global Impact Award, named in his honor. He became an Emmy winner in 2022 along with Snoop, 50 Cent, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar for their performance in the Super Bowl halftime show.
They won’t let Chris Brown perform at the Super Bowl SMH pic.twitter.com/DTJF7gltMk
– JAY GLO (@Treajon_Jc) February 13, 2023
And in 2013, Dre and Iovine founded the Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation on the University of Southern California campus with a $70 million endowment. All of these accomplishments portray him as a changed and influential man whose abusive past is only a distant memory.
This blatant double standard has seemingly prevented Brown from restoring his image and is all too obvious to his fans. “DR. “Dre really beat up Dee Barnes and other women and everyone seems to forget it but Chris Brown will forever be reminded of what he did and lost opportunities because of it,” one supporter tweeted.
But Chris Brown can’t even compete in a celebrity game cause that nigga Dr. Dre made several women cheer https://t.co/VFSUjlZt5T
— T Ray (@T1Ray0) March 20, 2024
The “Sensational” artist has opened up about feeling like he’s constantly paying for the domestic violence incident he and Rihanna were involved in on Grammy night in 2009.
“If you still hate me for a mistake I made as a 17-year-old, please kiss me with all your heart,” he said in an Instagram Story post in February. Both parties clashed, with the singer sustaining the most visible injuries.
Brown was sentenced to five years probation and 1,400 hours of community service for the assault conviction. In his public apology, he stated: “What I did was inexcusable… I have told Rihanna countless times and I tell you today that I am truly very sorry that I was unable to deal with the situation differently and deal better.” .”
Another X user said“DR. Dre really killed women and no one cared. He received an honorary Grammy Award and a 2023/2024 Walk of Fame star. Chris Brown is still considered a bad person and has the pick with Hollywood thwarted.”
While Dre continued to move seamlessly through his colleagues’ rooms, Brown hasn’t made a Grammy appearance since 2012. And in 2022, his tribute to Michael Jackson was pulled from the American Music Awards at the last minute. Dick Clark Productions later said that they “were unable to adapt to the performance, which is no fault of Chris Brown.”
A third person commented: “But Chris Brown can’t even compete in a celebrity game so n-ga.” Dr. Dre has cheered on several women.” Last month, he claimed an invitation to the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was rescinded because sponsors had concerns about his bad boy image. “At this point I’m tired of people harassing me and I’m tired of living in the damn past,” he wrote in a since-deleted post.
It’s crazy to be angry at the NBA but not at Chris Brown for his actions. Y’all act like it was just the Rihanna incident. Karrueche was granted a full restraining order. Using MLK to defend a colorist, homophobic and abusive man is insane. Y’all are pathetic😂😂 pic.twitter.com/ILzjYN4GSJ https://t.co/WhRyGJvMG5
— BRVKFASTCLUB (@BreakfastClubCM) February 18, 2024
Additionally, critics have also raised issues with his past, in which he allegedly abused, harassed and stalked his ex-girlfriend Karruche Tran, smashed his mother’s windshield after an argument in 2013, and committed various other incidents of aggression.
Most recently, the 34-year-old father of three suffered further reputational damage when rumors surfaced that he or a member of his crew hit Usher at a party before their performances at the “Lovers & Friends Festival” in May 2023. The “Good Good” singer downplayed the speculation in an interview after his Super Bowl performance.
While Usher explained that they weren’t at odds, he also admitted that “that man” wasn’t one of the big names he invited to join him on stage. The two share the huge hit “New Flame”. Regardless of any perceived insults, Brown remains focused on his craft and the unwavering support of his fans.
