Reactions: Chris Brown on Larry King
September 3rd, 2009
Chris Brown Talks to Larry King About Rihannagate
I wanna react and respond to Chris Brown on Larry King last night. I felt he seemed genuinely sorry for his actions. I also thought it was important that his mother stated REPEATEDLY that he had never had any prior incidents of violence in his entire life. Not having prior incidents was extremely important because it shows that he doesn’t have a history as a violent abuser. Many comments scrolled along the bottom of the TV screen during the show. Many people seemed to think he got off easy, some people think he’ll beat other women, etc. There were a few comments that mentioned forgiveness and giving him the opportunity to redeem himself. During the interview Chris Brown mentioned that people feed on “negativity.” I think that is absolutely true. I think many people are happy that this has happened to him. In their minds and hearts they say, “See you didn’t deserve to be a superstar. And so now, I’m not gonna forgive you or allow you to get pass it.”
I think people’s past histories should go a long way to determining if they are capable of being forgiven or moving forward. Many people have written Chris Brown off for an act he committed when he was 19 years old, that there is no prior incidents from school or other relationships. I think that is wrong. Chris grew up in a household in which he saw his mother abused and unfortunately in the interview, his mother didn’t take ANY RESPONSIBILITY of how that negative situation must have impacted him. Growing up in a household where people are physically abused does not give you the right to become an abuser, but it does explain a propensity for violence and/or one’s need to resolve conflict through violent means. Violence can be a learned behavior.
The sadness that I pulled from the interview is that Chris, like other kids, was obviously negatively impacted by violence in his life and the one person that he should have been able to go to for understanding to help him grow is clearly in denial. If I am his mother and I deny the impact that seeing me be beaten has had on him, how can I help him to nurture himself so that he does not violently abuse again? Denial helps no one.
As a final note I’d like to say 5 years of probation and hard labor for one incident of beating your girlfriend is not getting off easy. There are men out there who have beat their wives REPEATEDLY and had to stay in jail one night and cool off. Those one night offenders often went on to kill their wives. The fact that Chris Brown has to be watched and do hard labor for 5 years is no joke. If he even steps out the line, one time, he’ll be in jail. Look at Domestic Violence cases for first time offenders and you’ll see that he did not get off easy.
Furthermore, since this case has so many people riled up, I encourage you to donate your time as I have at Battered Women shelters throughout the country and learn something about domestic violence. In addition, talk to your congressmen about domestic violence laws and make sure that NOBODY gets off easy.
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:13 am
Yasmin, great observation.
My take on domestic violence is always fueled by my work in law enforcement and having to respond to domestic situations. One memory I will never forget was getting to a scene and seeing two very deshivaled people standing in a yard. The man was at parade rest (standing with his hands behind his back not moving – I was a cop in the military). As he stood there his wife was punching him in the face and yelling, “Hit me B***H!!! Hit me so they can take you to jail!!!!” I do not know what happened before we got there. I have not idea what this man did to get this woman this worked up. But when we began putting the cuffs on him (what used to happen in a domestic – men went to jail regardless of the situation) when we put the cuffs on him, she came after us!!!
There are three sides to every story – Your’s, Their’s and the Truth.
With that said, one bad decision by Chris Brown has messed his life up forever! Can he bounce back? The general public is rarely forgiving to celebrities. So it will depend on what he does to get his core audience back on his side.
No, what we do in our foolish youth should not be used against us for a lifetime. That’s when we’re learning. But the reality is we can mess up our lives with one dumb act and must take ownership to it. Maybe he needs to start reaching out to groups and volunteering to help domestic violence victims.
On another note, no one seems to have welcomed Rhianna back either. So whatever the full story is it has them both in a hold pattern.
September 3rd, 2009 at 7:05 pm
This all comes to late! He should have step up before! All the interview did was remind us of what happen than not to answer questions?! The point of doing an interview after you mess up is to clear the air he just left us with more questions!! His Mother is like so many Mothers I know who when their sons do something wrong don’t stand up and say “WHAT YOU DID WAS WRONG NO MEN SHOULD PUT THEIR HANDS ON ANY WOMEN” This is very sad and it happens too much these days, men and women jumping on each other. I believe that when you work in the spot light your personal life should remain personal and not effect your work but at the same time you must remember you are a role model to so many.
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:30 pm
I’m surprised at your position Yasmin. Not trying to be sexist, but this situation has rubbed many females the wrong way. I believe in second chances, and personally I don’t believe he’ll be in this position again, but I hope young people don’t look at this and think, ‘I can do it too and be ok.’ I wasn’t sold by his “I don’t remember” defense, but I understand legal implications. It’s unrealistic to expect someone to be perfect, but I hope he respects the faith people such as yourself have placed back in him. Great post Yasmin!