Kelly Rowland has calmed the public turmoil after Chris Brown’s American Music Awards win was booed on Sunday.
The former Destiny’s Child member announced Brown as the winner of the Favorite Male R&B Artist category, noting that the 33-year-old was not there to receive the trophy – but that she would accept it on his behalf.
“Excuse me,” Rowland, 41, said amid boos from the crowd. “Relax.”
The “Dilemma” singer called Brown an “incredible performer” and continued to speak directly to her.
“Chris, thank you so much for making great R&B music,” the actress concluded. “I will take this price [and] bring it to you. I love you. Congratulations and congratulations to all the nominees in this category.
Social media users had mixed feelings about Rowland’s defense of Brown, who has been repeatedly accused of violence against women.
“Why was Kelly Rowland so hard on Chris Brown on that scene?” a spectator asked via Twitterwith another writing“What is Chris Brown still doing to win awards and why is Kelly Rowland up there really thanking her ass wtf.”
A third, however, shared their gratitudeadding, “Thank you Kelly Rowland for that heartfelt love you just showed Chris Brown on his win.”
The dancer claimed on Saturday that he was supposed to pay tribute to Michael Jackson at the 50th annual awards ceremony.
“ARE YOU SERIOUS ?” Brown told her Instagram followers over the weekend, sharing footage of what appeared to be a rehearsal. “It WOULD have been the ama performance but they canceled me for unknown reasons.”
The show’s producers have yet to address the seemingly sudden cancellation of the performance.
The songwriter has come under fire on multiple occasions since assaulting Rihanna in 2009, to being accused of punching a woman in 2021 – an investigation that was later dropped due to ” insufficient evidence” – of being prosecuted for allegedly drugging and raping a woman in 2020.
Brown denied both allegations against him, posting on Instagram during the 2020 accusation, “Every time I post music or projects, ‘THEY’ try to pull real bulls-t.”
Brown also made headlines for alleged altercations with his ex-girlfriend Karreuche Tran, who made an appearance as a presenter on the Sunday show.
The recurring couple dated from 2010 to 2015, with Tran claiming in 2017 that Brown punched her in the stomach and pushed her down a flight of stairs.
The actress later obtained a five-year injunction against her ex.
Brown denied her allegations at the time and said she “didn’t need a restraining order” and accused her of trying to “promote something”.
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