Besides the media's admonishment, Chris Brown, alleged abuser of (ex?)girlfriend Rihanna, has taken plenty of heat from his fellow celebrities. Rap mogul Jay-Z reportedly wants Brown "dead," and on Tuesday, MTV reported that Usher called photos of a seemingly remorseless Brown playing in the ocean in Miami "disappointing": "'I'm a little disappointed in this photo,' Usher said. 'Come on Chris, have a little bit of remorse man. …The man's on jet skis? Like, just relaxing in Miami?'" (Usher has since apologized and qualified his original statement, saying, "The comments made during a recent recording session amongst friends were taken out of context and blown out of proportion … The intentions were not to pass judgment and we meant no harm.") As Chris Brown, former pop golden boy, can attest, the world's a lonely place when you're accused of hitting a woman. But should it be? UPDATE: The L.A. District Attorney just charged Brown with two felonies (assault and making criminal threats).
We'll be the first to admit that the picture of a battered Rihanna was disturbing and depressing, and absolutely somebody (probably Chris Brown) should be prosecuted for assaulting her. Nevertheless, let's take a look at the facts:
1. We live in a nation that says defendants are innocent until proven guilty.
2. Chris Brown has not been proven guilty.
That's the plain and simple (and bitter) truth. Yes, all the evidence paints Chris Brown as a violent prick who hit his defenseless girlfriend. But it's important to remember that, so far, said evidence hasn't been vetted in a real court of law, but instead disseminated through various media outlets like a virus. If society truly believes in American justice, it shouldn't give a shit what Chris Brown's doing in his free time, because – currently, at least – he's innocent.
Belying this point, of course, is Brown's penitent behavior. If he's not guilty, then why is he making public apologies and attending anger management classes? Good question. The answer is: he probably is guilty, and it's going to help his case a lot if he appears contrite. There's a chance some of it is even due to actual remorse. But that's not our point.
The problem is that lots and lots of "news" anymore is very often just pure speculation. It's not, "Chris Brown has confessed to beating Rihanna in a rage," it's, "Chris Brown is attending anger management classes, which means he probably attacked Rihanna, possibly because she threw his car keys out the window. Or maybe it was because she gave him an STD." Like it does with reasonable oil prices, speculation can also destroy reputations. Yet everyone is so eager for information that they'll take whatever story's flung their way, regardless of who's left drowning in the wake. Consume it if you'd like, but god forbid you ever end up on a Jet Ski at the wrong time.
Photo: Splash
Pirates Come Back for Second Round of Whoop-Ass (21)
· weezy says: “Gays and blacks like Obama, that’s pretty much it. Military LOVES Rush, and... »
· Rhonda says: They don’t always respect command, ever heard of the F U salute, soldiers hated... »
· bam-a-lam says: @Rhonda: The military always respects the President, no matter who he/she is. The... »
Bald A-Hole Joe the “Plumber” Now Stealing from Ignorant Poor People (39)
· weezy says: “Obama said, well I’m going to tax your earnings and give it to losers who... »
· Rhonda says: Bam, No one picked “Joe the Plumber” he asked Obama a guestion, Obama blew... »
· bam-a-lam says: “Joe the Plumber” really is a pretty bad spokesman. He’s not a... »
Obama Puppy Now Fielding Your Questions (67)
· whitney says: I didn’t have enough patience to read all of the pages of comments. PETA is... »
The Bigoted, Illiterate Tea Party Goons Gallery (106)
· weezy says: i hope all of those people protesting make 250K and above and will not take any stimulus... »
Despite Glenn Beck’s Support, Texas Will Never Secede (38)
· weezy says: @bam-a-lam: #18 brilliant post!!! #26 getreal: i agree. i think we should all get... »
GretaWire Wire (14)
· Rhonda says: Obama continues on his America Sucks 09 apology tour. Chavez and Obama looked pretty... »
Come on, this article had better be tongue-in-cheek. There's "innocent until proven guilty" and there's guilty without denial, awaiting confirmation. This guy deserves everything he's getting and more.
Innocent until proven guilty is for court. Unless Rihanna beat herself senseless, or a passerby did it, Chris Brown is guilty. I don't think we have to restrain ourselves from acknowledging that Chris Brown beat the hell out of Rihanna, and naturally, his main concern right now is his image, career, and himself. Because he's a prick.
It's like this: from what news reports state, this has happened before. She took him back. She took him back now. In my book, dumb bitch is a crime too. Who knows, maybe she gets off on it. Prosecute him when she ends up in a body bag, which will (if she stays with him) happen.
Agreed. Is there reasonable doubt that Rhianna beat him, and he was defending himself in that car? Ummm, I don't believe so, or he would have not disappeared, with his unmarked, rage filled face, like a complete coward. He is the worst kind of a weakling.
The Court of public opinion has already spoken, and this guy better crawl back under the rock from whence he came, UNLESS!…Dr. Phil has a one-on-one cry fest with him and Chris admits he is an asshole, then all will be forgiven. We are a nation that still loves a good old fashion public hanging and that's just what we will get. Of course we can sprinkle some "Octomom" in the mix and there you have the nightly news. Tada!
Oh, for hell's sake, cord, you are really reaching on this one. Jossip is now a court of law? Sheesh. We all know what the law provides, but we can still see what's in fornt of our eyes and talk about it.
I'm sure neither Chris Brown nor Bernie Madoff are guilty of anything.
He's been proven guilty now.
Oh COME ON. we're worrying more about thinking mean thoughts about accused criminals than about a society that blames women as a group for violence routinely perpetrated against them? Shame on you for publishing this horse-sh*t.
Was Judas ever technically found guilty for crucifying Christ?
I think not!
Was the staff of Jossip ever found guilty of being complete idiots for mindlessly defending the chimp cartoon and Chris Brown?
YES! In the court of public opinion.
Whenever I feel bad about myself I come on this site to see how the staff of Jossip are complete absolute idiots by comparison to me. Is this site run out of Rikers or Bellevue or something?
Amen, Cord.
Don't forget about going to law school!
Brown formally charged today. Details are horrifying.
Um, he apoligized…..sounds like an admission of guilt to me.
(ahem)…that's 'apologized'
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Chris Brown has been charged with two felonies stemming from what a police detective describes as a brutal argument between the singer and his girlfriend, Rihanna, provoked by her discovery of a text message from another woman.
Brown is expected to be arraigned Thursday afternoon on charges of assault likely to cause great bodily injury and making criminal threats. The 19-year-old R&B singer remains free on $50,000 bail.
The felony complaint handed down in court Thursday morning identifies Brown's alleged victim only as "Robyn F." Rihanna's real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty.
If convicted, the possible sentence ranges anywhere from probation to four years and eight months in state prison, said district attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons.
Yeah, between the chimp cartoon defense and this ridiculous "Ooh, should we all be mad at poor little Chris Brown?" article, I am probably off the Jossip train for good. I mean, there's Liberal, and then there's spouting off self-righteous crap to make yourself look so much more evolved than other people. Read the details of the warrant, you morons, then get off your soapbox — you're only embarassing yourselves and this once-good blog. This article was a complete JOKE! Adios, Jossip!
I don't believe he is innocent,but I do believe His actions were totally justified. Provocation = Justification whether it's male on female abuse or female on male abuse. Women want equal rights but are still a protected class by law. I think once a female is 18 she should no longer be a protected class, and should have to deal with getting the crap kicked out of her if she provokes some one she knows she can't beat. Thirty percent of women are beat by their husbands or boyfriends, which just means thirty percent of women should learn how to fight or just shut the f**k up. I'm sick of this women being the victim sh!t. "Pissed off 30yr old female."
Chris Brown beat Rihanna to a pulp. No court of law is needed to know that. It wasn't the first time, she said so herself. This is putting the victim in a hard place, and that's not necessary. In fact, it's cruel. I'm a liberal by definition, but not a liberal fanatic. Don't lump all liberals in with the crazy ones. We aren't all like that.
the police report was leaked online–horrifying. that poor girl.
What has happened to Jossip? Cord, you have a strange sense of justice. In the article abput the man who beheaded his wife, you said there were "only" 5000 honor killings a year. Now, with a charge of two felonies and a police record that details terrible abuse ( Brown BIT his girlfriend and put her in a headlock until she almost passed out ! ) you defend him as an innocent until proven guilty? The readers of Jossip ( ex reader here ) are not idiots. It is apparent what happened. Can Brown weasel his way out? Probably. Are you saying the police lied? Ha! Jossip has gone to seed since David moved to California. Better come back soon David and watch over Cord! I used to like this site a lot . I am so over the world of suck it has become. Bye!
@pissed off 30yr old female:
I completely concur. Yes, he was a bit extensive. But really, if you think you can get by in society by pissing people off to a breaking point and then running behind a court of law looking for special protection then you're the real coward.
If you want to pick a fight with someone, you better be sure as hell you have a way to defend yourself. Either that or don't go running off and crying about it.
Equal rights does NOT mean that a woman should be able to take a punch. Good Lord.
He needs help so that he doesn't do that again.
She needs help to figure out why she would date a man who would beat her.
BTW, "Well, HE/SHE started it!" is a child's excuse. And hitting back is a childish reaction.
Or a messed up adult's reaction.
HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!! THEY JUST RELEASED THE POLICE REPORT!!!!!!!!!
THAT MUTHERFUCKER IS GOING DOWN!!!! IM CANT EVEN TELL YOU HOW BAD IT IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://perezhilton.com/2009-03-05-a-must-read-2
like all have said 'defendants are innocent until proven guilty.' but there is always another word! 'YET!' maybe the ski was just part of the anger management course! who knows!
Wow! Jeff and Pissed Off 30 yr. old female should DEFINITELY go out on a date! Sounds like they're made for each other! Hope you can take a punch, Pissed Off!
Oh, and Pissed Off 30 yr. old female, you've just let all of us see clearly into the ways your relationships work. Either you are too uneducated to realize how completely STUPID your post is ("Thirty percent of women are beat by their husbands or boyfriends, which just means thirty percent of women should learn how to fight or just shut the f**k up") or you're still blaming yourself for that last time your boyfriend (or girlfriend) beat the shit out of you. Either way you are pathetic. What are you, in a GANG or something, Tough Girl?? Fucking moron. Let us all know how that date with Jeff goes, okay dear? Can't wait!
30 year old female is an idiot.
Obviously this is not the first time he's kicked Rihannas tail. This is just the first time he got caught doing it. Although, what he did was horrible shes hanging out with him in Miami so at this point I no longer care about this situation. Im pretty sure she will make up some lame excuse about it being her fault then he will get off the hook. Eventually his rage will escalate into something more violent and by then it will be too late for her.
Poor girl
I feel like you guys have already accepted the imminent closure of Jossip and are now just posting insane shit to see what happens. There's no other explanation for some of the articles lately.
this is why we have a cycle of abuse. everyone blames the victim!
Screw Rhianna……… if she gets beat it is HER fault for staying with that looser. Hopefully he does worse next time so they can send him to fucking jail for life. I pray she is smarter.
If that dude ever lays a hand on Beyoncé again, he will have me to answer to!
I hope you're kidding. Presumed innocent? Well, yes, in a legal, technical sense. But there's no question that he beat her up, then jet-skiied in Miami with a big grin on his face. He's giving a pretty good immitation of a clueless moron and a violent punk. So many people have rushed to his defense, dismissed the seriousness of the beating, or blamed Rihanna for 'provoking' him that it is absolutely no wonder that domestic violence is still so prevalent.
i totally agree with this article. nobody knows what exactly happened whether you like it or not. you just think you do because the fucking news people are saying all kinds of shiit thats probably not true. yeah, he probably did hit her. but he wouldnt have just done it randomlyy. it musta been a good reason of why he either did or didnt. so stop saying "oh i know everythingg" before you startt stating facts, you need to gett some facts.
@bam-a-lam: uhhhm. rihanna never saiid anything about chris brown beating her up beforee.? once againn, GET SOME FACTSSSSSSS before you start statingg "facts" that arent true. :]
chriiis, i still supportt you. no matter what anyone says
Man, 4real thruogh. To keep it 100, yall need to leave Chris Brown alone, because yall actin like yall aint never done wrong, i mean everybody fuck up at times. NO BODY'S PERFECT, SO LEAVE IT ALONG!!!!!
riiiiiiight…the Easter Bunny still come to your house?
Everybody can say all they want to say about Chris Brown, but you will be held accountable by God for every word that proceeds out of your mouth against this young man. They did this to Michael Jackson, R Kelly, and others. Chris Brown will not be convicted on 2 felony charges because it doesn't constitute a felony charge. It does constitute an assult misdeaminor charge. Look at the picture again and the affidavit again without passing judgement. Experts are going to demonstrat what happened in that car. They will come back with a not guilty verdict. The jury is going to see through this case the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Pictures are not always what they seem to be people it is going to help Chris Brown just like that video helped R Kelly.
And another thing Chris Brown and Rihanna Fenty dont live together and are not married so stop comparing them to Domestic Violence because this is a plain old Assult Case. It is so funny how we put people in catergories that they dont even belong to.Ignorant……just plain ignorant.
@Rindy: Michael Jackson fiddled with little boys, R. Kelly fiddled with little girls, and Cris Brown beat up big girls. Nice bunch of scum you admire.
@ FANOFGRENDEL: I bet you still listen to their music. I never said I admire them at all. Im just stating a fact that you dont like.THEY WERE FOUND NOT GUILTY BUT YOU STILL JUDGE THEM.
@Rindy: OJ was found NOT GUILTY too, and yes everyone still judged him. Because he was guilty. Innocent people get sent to prison and guilty people get off every day. Nothing new there.
@Rindy: You would win that bet.
@BAM-A-LAM: Not everyone judged OJ. Maybe you did.Not all guilty people get off everyday and not all innocent people get sent to prison. HOPEFULLY YOU DONT LEAVE THIS EARTH WITH HATRED IN YOUR HEART FOR NO ONE BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE YOUR TICKET TO HELL. IT SEEMS TO ME WHEN PEOPLE DONT LIKE YOUR COMMENTS,THEY TEND TO HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY TO YOU.
@Rindy: to much of the CAPS! Calm down, you hurt our ears.
Yeah, I judged OJ. And no, not all guilty people get off. A lot of them do. A lot of innocent people don't. Judging isn't the same as hating. You're so sweet to be concerned about what's in my heart and my eternal salvation, but I generally take it up with the Spirit in the Sky Guy.
Goodnight I wont hurt your ears anymore. Bye Bye
Have you all forqotten these are CELEBRITY'S we are talkinq about? Have none of you air heads stopped to think that maybe Chris Brown "apologized" for public image? What good would it do denying it when the world is on the womens side 99.9% of the time? All his ads and promotions have been suspended and his fan base is depleting. Who knows what the heck happened to Rihanna, but she is a dumb b*tch regardless. Who says she is not lying on that bit about it not being the first time? Women, expecially mad vindictive women, lie all the time. The media is spreading all this bullshyt on how Chris Brown is so bad when he hasnt been proven guilty, yet. Maybe he is taking anqer management to control himself NOW, because god knows any other man would beat her ass NOW, expecially if what she is saying IS a lie. Or maybe again, it is to repair his public image, which quilty or not, has been damaged by this women.
I don't know about you guys, but I have consitered many posibilites. MAYBE Rihanna got her ass beat by Chris Brown's OTHER girl? And got so mad that he was cheating on her, she went ahead and blamed her beatings on him? MAYBE Chris Brown was defending himself against HER. Not all men have the amount of controll not to flip out when a women is beating on them. Explains the anger management huh?
Or maybe, just maybe, he DID beat her to a pulp when he found out that dumb b*tch gave him Herpes? I mean, wouldnt you? I know I would. So can you really judge? Whos the enemy then?
You guys have to stop being so narrow minded and start thinking of ALL the posibilities, not just the ones the media is puttinq out there for thier own qain, which is more publicity which is eqivilant to MORE MONEY for them.
I dont like Rihanna, but Im not sitting here trying to convince you if he is guilty or not. Just look at the FACTS before you take OPINION and consiter ALL of the posibilities. Thats all.
We don't know untill the final word from the court has been said, and they both give thier story where it matters, on the STAND. Most of what the media is feeding you is assumptions, false claims of money hungtry people, and made up stories to make more money, to buy thier magazines and to watch thier talkshows and news broadcast.
Don't Be a FOOL.