It’s always a very confusing thing when this topic around Chris Brown’s past comes up. On one hand people seem to champion and defend him.. and never seem to have a problem with all the male artists he’s continued to work with over the years. However, the moment any of these female artists work with him, they’re condemned more than people have done Chris in the first place.
If you’re like me, you have been waiting for the day that Chloe Bailey would finally storm through with her solo album. Finally, Chloe announced that her long-awaited debut, ‘In Pieces,’ will be released in March 2023.
Now, in true internet fashion of course the people have found something to be mad at. On Thursday (2/16), the “Have Mercy” singer announced the second single from her the pending album. The track, “How Does It Feel,” features none other than the controversial musician, Chris Brown who’s seen on the cover art holding Bailey in a tight embrace.
2ND PIECE. HOW DOES IT FEEL @chrisbrown. 2/24 🫀 pic.twitter.com/fjAjW6Sk6f
— Chlöe (@ChloeBailey) February 16, 2023
Both the image and the song’s title suggest that the collaboration—which will likely come alongside a music video—will be pretty steamy, if not sexually charged. Unfortunately for Bailey, her fans and others on Twitter were apparently less than excited to see her cozy up with Brown.
Before y'all start, Chloe had options.
PLENTY to choose from other than Chris Brown.
Here we go:
Luke James
Bryson Tiller
Lucky Daye
Khalid
Giveon
Berwyn
Samm Henshaw
Venna
Tay Iwar
Jvck James
Reggie Becton
Brent Faiyaz
PJ Morton
Leon BridgesThis was a choice. A CHOICE.
— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) February 16, 2023
Backlash aimed at artists who have either supported or worked with Brown is a recurring phenomenon online—mainly as celebrities work with and support him. Last year, Kelly Rowland was criticized for defending the “Run It” singer at the American Music Awards when she tried to shush the audience after they started booing him. Rowland later said regarding the incident, “We all need to be forgiven for anything that we could be doing—we all come up short in some sort of way. Grace is real, and we are humans, and everybody deserves grace, period.”
Earlier last year, former Fifth Harmony member Normani was dragged on Twitter for her cameo in Brown’s music video for the song “WE (Warm Embrace).” Lizzo faced similar scrutiny for calling Brown her “favorite person in the whole f***ing world” in a widely circulated video.
Defenders of Brown will often point to his highly publicized domestic abuse case with ex-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009 as his only discretion (only, as if it’s a minor one). But if you’ve followed Brown’s public antics over the past decade, you know that his list of controversies and abuse allegations actually surpass that.
But what’s interesting is that while Brown’s career was obviously stalled in growth a bit by the incidents, to an extent he’s still been able to thrive as one of the main faces for men in R&B over the years. So it’s a bit baffling when these conversations come up because it seems he’s very obviously still supported, but we’re only mad at artists that work with him? Take a look at some of the reactions and let us know your thoughts.
The Chris Brown backlash Chloe is getting isn’t even just about Rihanna? He literally mocked Kehlani after her 2016 suicide attempt?
— Ira (@iramadisonthree) February 16, 2023
Chloe bailey’s management has no idea who her target audience is and that’s why they make such poor decisions and have her all over the place. The ppl who like her do not like CB
— The Neighborhood Publicist (@nhoodpublicist) February 16, 2023
The Chr*s Brown industrial complex is working overtime because his music has been shit for years (on top of being an abuser with anger issues) and then women like Normani and Chloe are doing redemptive work for him whether they meant to or not.
— Moises Mendez II (@MoisesFenty) February 16, 2023
I really don’t understand why the R&B girls keep setting themselves up by working with Chris Brown. When has it ever worked out in their favor? It didn’t work for Tinashe, and it backfired for Normani and Zendaya. Like Chloe girl be serious…
— N ❣️ 1996 ✨ (@bunniv3) February 16, 2023
Did Beyoncé approve this…
— Miss Fiercalicious (@fiercalicious) February 16, 2023
The fact RIHANNA worked with him after that happen and y’all still trying to punish people for working with him is crazy to me but okay https://t.co/UahDkFsxBc
— And IT STILL WILL NEVER BE YOU (@_PhallonX0X0) February 16, 2023
The hold this man has on my sisters needs to be studied I truly ain’t understand – https://t.co/SDjTBPJlHy
— Zion Destiny ~ ⁷ (@zionnndestinyyy) February 16, 2023
watch people defend her collaborating w/ him while claiming that his history of violence against women was a one time thing that he grew from despite the fact that his track record goes back from 2009 to 2022
in 2019 & 2022 he was accused of sexual assault by 2 different women https://t.co/LmBsurLmoU
— fae | ﺫَﻛِﻴَّﺔ ⋆ *. ⋆ (@cooki3faun) February 16, 2023
Y’all pick & choose when y’all care about Chris Brown’s past. Same ones mad Chloe doing a song with him be singing “No Guidance” at the top of they lungs so I’m confused.
— Khalil (@kbyrd2_) February 16, 2023