At Sunday’s Grammy Awards, the recording industry’s dysfunctional family dynamics were also on display in the splashy reception given to hip-hop musician Chris Brown. Brown, who pleaded guilty in 2009 to felony assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna, wasn’t just allowed into the Staples Center for Sunday’s ceremony; he was asked to perform two songs, making him a highly conspicuous part of the show. It was jarring to see him and Rihanna performing in close succession.
Brown has the right to earn a living, and to repair his reputation over time. But the Grammy producers shouldn’t be assisting that effort. If anything, they cynically exploited the buzz his appearance created. And if Brown was grateful for being welcomed back so warmly, it didn’t show. Sounding more defiant and self-aggrandizing than contrite, he posted a Twitter message declaring, “People who make mistakes and learn from them are ROLE MODELS too.’’ The tweet was later taken down, but the lesson remains: The music industry, like other families, sometimes closes ranks around the wrong member.
