Despite being treated like a blight on humanity and relegated to the outer fringes of popular culture,crooner Chris Brown has maintained a vast and loyal fanbase. His 145 million Instagram followers are but one illustration of this.
Many Breezy fans are slinging arrows at the entertainment industry, which just immortalized Dr. Dre by bestowing him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, yet chased Brown into a seemingly permanent exile.
Accusing the mainstream of having selective outrage, many Breezy backers are loudly questioning how Dre is continuously adulated in light of his past penchant for putting his hands on women. It is heavily documented, Brown fans point out, that Dre famously and brutally beat multiple women in his life, including singer Michel’le, his ex-wife, and a female hip-hop journalist.
Michel’le BEEN dragged thru the entire MUD. She told her story multiple times, Dr Dre STILL haven’t apologized for beating her. It’s been over 30+yrs & the music industry still overlook he’s a woman beater behind closed doors https://t.co/D2DbxAbIci pic.twitter.com/4ecwQv8XTC
— July 19 (@212Lexus) April 18, 2023
Here, @DawnRichard uses my @RollingStone interview with hip-hop journalist Dee Barnes as a starting point in their own moving conversation about the uneven applications of grace towards Dr. Dre and Dee after the famed rapper and producer attacked her. pic.twitter.com/PqVbhpWFXK
— Mankaprr (@Mankaprr) August 3, 2023
Fans point out the flagrant hypocrisy.
“Dr. Dre really beat up Dee Barnes and other women and everyone seem to forget that but Chris Brown will forever be reminded of what he did and lose opportunities because of it,” tweeted one supporter.
Another person exclaimed, “Dr. Dre really beat the s— out of women & nobody cared. He got a honorary Grammy Award & Walk of Fame star in 2023/2024. Chris Brown is still considered A bad person & Blackballed … the picking & choosing with Hollywood.”
Both Chris Brown and Dr. Dre have apologized for beating women
To be sure, both men have since offered mea culpas for their transgressions, with Dre admitting that he was imploding from the outside societal pressures of becoming a music megastar.
“However, none of this is an excuse for what I did,” Dre told the New York Times in 2015. “I’m doing everything I can so I never resemble that man again. I apologize to the women I’ve hurt. I deeply regret what I did and know that it has forever impacted all of our lives.”
Brown, who has been maligned and ostracized since he beat Rihanna on the eve of the Grammy Awards in 2009, also repented for striking his famous ex-girlfriend.
“What I did was inexcusable…I have told Rihanna countless times, and I’m telling you today, that I am truly, truly sorry that I wasn’t able to handle the situation differently and better,” Brown said in 2009, according to TMZ.
Breezy, however, has grown weary of being blacklisted for a crime he committed 15 years ago. Taking to Instagram in February 2024, Brown unleashed on those who want him to suffer indefinitely.
“If y’all still hate me for a mistake I made as a 19-year-old please kiss my whole entire a–,” the 34-year-old said in a February Instagram Story post after he was invited, then disinvited, to play in the 2024 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in Indianapolis.
Brown’s fans share his sentiment in multiple X posts:
They won't let chris brown perform at the super bowl smh pic.twitter.com/DTJF7gltMk
— JAY GLO (@Treajon_Jc) February 13, 2023
One fan summed up the sentiments of many when she admonished the fans of the “Ain’t Loyal” singer for pointing accusatory fingers at the wrong entity:
Being mad at the NBA but not Chris Brown for his actions is crazy. Y’all act like it was just the Rihanna incident Karrueche was granted a whole restraining order. Using MLK to defend a colorist, homophobic & abusive man is l insane. Y’all are pathetic😂😂 pic.twitter.com/ILzjYN4GSJ https://t.co/WhRyGJvMG5
— BRVKFASTCLUB (@BreakfastClubCM) February 18, 2024
