As written in ‘Fixated Part 1’, Chris Brown has been under heavy scrutiny and attack since his alleged incident with Rihanna just before the Grammy Awards Sunday. Everyone from popular bloggers Perez Hilton and Love B. Scott to radio stations in Florida, New York, Nevada, Ohio and Pennsylvania have put the former âTake You Downâ singer on a âbed of hot coalsâ …. but we have yet to see the charges … Fellow recording stars, like American Idol alum Carrie Underwood hope that everyone will back off and wait until the LAPD comes forward with its completed investigation. At this point though, it seems like Brownâs hit song âTake You Downâ is becoming reality… except heâs the subject going down. In just six days both fans, radio personalities, bloggers, industry insiders and even PR specialists have said Chris Brownâs career is done – or – at least his âsqueaky cleanâ image is done. Yes, the first opinion that the singerâs career is over is a little harsh, however, the second opinion that Brownâs âboy next doorâ image is toast is true. In fact, radical parents are likely pulling Brownâs posters from their childrenâs bedroom walls as youâre reading this. Unlike other child-stars, mainly actors whoâve had bouts with the law, Chris Brownâs rise to the top of Pop Culture, not just the R&B scene, was quick, celebrated and rivaled that of Michael Jackson. In fact, Brown had been donned the ânew Michael Jacksonâ on many occasions and had even warmed up to movie buffs whoâd seen him in âStomp The Yardâ and âThis Christmas,â the latter a role that fit his âgood boy next doorâ image. With that said Brownâs image was so well put together that his 2007 Giant Magazine interview, in which he discusses an abusive step-father, was virtually ignored in favor of hyping up his role in âStomp The Yardâ. Today there seems to be a fixation on taking the singer down like Michael Jackson who was donned âWacko-Jackoâ after his bouts with the court on âchild molestation chargesâ and has since had a difficult time keeping his âKing of Popâ status (Jackson will always be iconic though). Without official âbatteryâ charges or photographs, Brown has already been booted from radio, television, and previously held endorsement deals while at the same time has celebrity friends distancing themselves from the situation (on camera) entirely. Much like T.I. and Terrence Howard, who spoke out in interviews and later retracted those very statements, it seems no one but relatives and die hard fans are loyal to the American Music Award winning Artist of the Year (2008). Fixated On The Fall ? Like the rise and fall of Milli Vanilli in 1990, who had a Best New Artist Grammy Award snatched due their highly publicized ‘vocal theft’, Chris Brownâs situation is turning into a prime time special. In fact, MTV is airing a âWhere Did He Go Wrongâ type series where fans and industry insiders will come together to discuss the fate of Brown and Rihanna. In a prepared release Friday, MTV titled the show “Chris Brown & Rihanna: Love In Trouble” stating it has “gathered journalists, industry professionals and other experts â as well as an in-studio audience of young fans â to provide insight and commentary about what the incident means for both artists’ careers and lives, and society in general.” ‘..Love In Trouble’ will air Monday, Feb. 16 at 6pm ET. But is all this premature ? In similar cases, which automatically cause you to think of R. Kelly and Michael Jackson, the backlash was hard to call. For R. Kelly, the charges and coverage surrounding them nearly worked in his favor in terms of record sales and charting singles. In fact some may say R. Kelly was at his peak during the several year legal battle which ended in July of 2008. For Brown, his case is up in the air. It is however, the court of public opinion, that has already weighed in with some counting the singer out and others waiting on the actual charges, investigation and whatever comes next. Silence… Not Golden After a week, Chris Brown spoke via statement issuing an âapologyâ of sorts. To some it was an acceptable statement, to others it lacked âpunchâ… in others words a straight up apology and presentation of the facts. In the weekâs leading up to Brownâs official court date it is likely weâll learn more about what transpired that night. For now, at least we know Chris Brown and Rihanna are âokayâ. *Views expressed in this article are not intended to glorify violence or sensationalism of such a traumatic and unfortunate event. If the allegations in this much discussed case prove to be true I wish both parties the best and hope that they are able to move forward stronger and wiser.*
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