New Chris Brown Allegations Have Us Asking: How Does He STILL Have Fans?

He has 43.6 million fans on Instagram. His recent music video with Lil Dicky has amassed 301 million views in three months on YouTube. He just announced a star-studded new tour.

He was also been charged with bruising and battering Rihanna, been criminally charged with battery, and openly called himself a stalker.

To some (us included), it’s baffling that this collection of statements can coexist. But Chris Brown, famed R&B singer and known domestic violence offender, still has a fiercely loyal fan base—of both men AND women.

In his most recent controversy, Brown has been faced with yet another restraining order. (Former girlfriend’s Rihanna and Karrueche Tran also sought out these measures after fearing for their safety.)

A 24-year-old woman named Cassandra was granted a temporary restraining order this week, ordering Brown to keep at least 100 yards away. E! News obtained documents from a Los Angeles courtroom, where the woman alleged that she was “harassed” by the Grammy-winning singer. She also accused Brown of stalking her.

Brown’s attorney, Mark Geragos, responded to the news, shutting down the allegations. “This is sad because it’s obviously the disjointed ranting of someone Chris doesn’t know who has mental health issues,” he said in a statement to E! News. “This just creates celebrity meet and greets with deranged fans, and perhaps the court may want to engage their Mental Health Department.”

The woman in question claims she did not give notice to Brown about the restraining order because she feared she would be met with violent retaliation.

This news comes only a month after Brown was sued by a woman who says she was sexually assaulted by the singer in his home. Brown’s attorney once again denied the accusations.

The 29-year-old artist has a career peppered with accusations of violence. When Brown’s former boo Karrueche Tran filed a restraining order, it came with a disturbing list of assault allegations.

In a sworn court statement, Tran alleged that Brown “told a few people that he was going to kill me,” and claimed her ex-BF was physically abusive.

From TMZ:

She then says Chris told the friends if he can’t have her then no one else can, threatening he was going to “take me out” and “threatened to shoot me.” Karrueche also says several years ago Chris “punched me in my stomach twice,” and “pushed me down the stairs.”

Last year, the performer made headlines after posting a concerning tirade about his turbulent love life:

“Ladies y’all ever dealt with a n**** that’s just be like, blowing your s*** up? Hopping gates, stalking the f*** out of you, getting on your nerves? Well s***, I’m one of them n*****. If I love you b****, ain’t nobody gon’ have you. F*** that.”

Throughout the drama, Brown’s fans—who have dubbed themselves “Team Breezy”—have remained ferociously devoted to the singer.

In a 2013 National Post article, a “true fan” of Brown defended the singer: “He is only 23 years old. Who has never made a mistake when he was young? Nobody.”

We know now that this wasn’t a mistake; it’s a timeline of reappearing incidents that define Brown’s character. Domestic abuse doesn’t lend itself to the grit and authenticity of an artist—it’s wrong. Period.

Chris Brown has a lot of talent. He acts, dances, and releases hit after hit. But you can’t celebrate his artistry without also condoning his history of abuse. Sorry Team Breezy, but enough is enough.

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