In Defense of Chris Brown

It's never a good idea, as a man or in general, to defend a guy who beat a woman. But fuck it, I'm gonna do it.

The Grammy's were on tonight, and the internet was abuzz over the fact that they allowed Chris Brown to perform. There were many angry tweets about it, and more specifically, there was this article about how we all should be furious that Chris Brown was at the Grammys.

This is basically the Michael Vick argument all over again. One side says that Michael Vick should not be allowed to play football in the NFL. The other side says he went to jail and paid his price and should be allowed to make a living. I think Chris Brown should be allowed to make a living.

The author of that article writes:

"A man who hits a woman in anger deserves to be reported to the authorities and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, regardless of who might be inconvenienced in the process."

He was. He was given 5 years of probation and 180 hours of community service.

"A man who hits a woman in anger may eventually be permitted to go on with his own life...but he is not permitted back in my life, even if it’s been three whole years."

How does "your life" include the Grammys? Is that in the Constitution - life, liberty, and watching a dumb awards show?

And I didn't hear her complain when he performed on the BET awards. What kind of racist shit is that? I guess the BET awards aren't involved in her life, maybe she should keep everyone notified of her TV viewing habits.

She also brings up the "what if it was your sister?" question. Well, I have 2 sisters. And if one of them were punched by a multi-platinum singer, as awful as that would be, I don't think I'd be surprised to see him on a show about singers.

Just as if one of them were punched by a dock worker (do people still work at the docks? is it all automated now? i don't know), I wouldn't be shocked to see the guy working the docks.

But none of this is my real point. Here are the 2 things:

1) Chris Brown's album WAS the best r&b album of the year. And I say that as probably one of the only people who still buys full length r&b albums, and as a staunch R. Kelly fan. I can't help it, it was the best album. He earned the award.

It's just like OJ Simpson - no matter how many people he murders, it can't change the fact that the dude could run with the ball extremely well. Chris Brown made a great album. Sorry.

2) Chris Brown and Rihanna are going out again.

Now, this second point is a tough one. I mean, holy shit, they're going out again? And it's not like she just went back with him immediately after, like she was still under his spell. No, she got away from him, for multiple years, went out with other guys, and she chose to get back into a relationship again. This tells me that:

Rihanna is less angry at Chris Brown than the people who didn't want him to be on the Grammys.

This doesn't make him any less of an asshole. He's definitely an asshole and a bad guy, but I don't think I should be more angry than Rihanna. She was there, I wasn't. And if she's cool enough with him to go back and suck his wiener, then I think I can be fine with watching him on a very trivial awards show. After all, he did do the time, and this is his job.