6 Reasons Why We Should Forgive Chris Brown

Chris Brown was found guilty of domestic violence after he beat his then girlfriend singer Rihanna, on the night of the Grammy Awards in February 2009. Rihanna “suffered visible injuries” after the beating, and photos of her bruised face swiftly became available on the internet. Now, almost two years on, are we ready to forgive Chris Brown for what he did wrong? Here are 6 reasons why we should.

1. He turned himself in

Brown didn’t cover up his actions, but instead turned himself in to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Wilshire station on February 8, 2009, where he was immediately put under investigation for domestic violence charges.

2. He said sorry and has admitted he was wrong

Brown made several appearances directly after the incident, each time taking responsibility for his actions and apologizing to his fans. On one occasion, he stated:

“I really wanted to apologize [to] the people that I let down and show people that I am wrong for what I’ve done, but I want people to learn from it and see that I’m really apologetic.”

3.  He’s been given a glowing probation report

A judge told Brown “no one has ever done a better or more consistent job than you have” during his last progress report. As part of his probation, he is required to complete tasks such as grafitti removal and roadside cleanup, as well as attend domestic violence counseling. The judge also commended him for taking responsibility:

“I really want to commend you for taking responsibility and for actually working diligently to complete all the things the court has required of you.”

4. He’s doing his bit for charity

Brown helped to organize “Virginia Stand Up! A Call to Action” a charity concert in which he was the headlining act, and also the host. The concert took place on the 15th May 2010.  He regularly works with a charity named ‘ Best Buddies’ which he says:

“A lot of the proceeds from my concerts goes to that organization that deals with disabilities and kids with autism. I’ve been working with them for more than a year and a half. It’s been great.”

He also took to the catwalk back in February to model for Naomi Campbell’s Fashion for Relief fashion show in aid of Haiti, and was a part of the BET’s Haiti telethon, as well as helping various other charities.

5. He’s talented

Brown is clearly a talented artist. Discovered at the age of 13, he rocketed to fame, signing to Jive Records in 2004. He co-wrote 5 of the songs on his first album, stating at the time that he wanted to address what it feels like to be 16: “I write about the things that 16 year olds go through every day.” Brown’s debut album ‘Chris Brown‘ sold two million copies in the USA, and reached no.2 in the U.S. Billboard 200.

In the past,  Brown has cited Michael Jackson as his idol, which might explain his emotional  tribute to MJ, in which he broke down in tears at BET Awards – this was highly criticized at the time, with many claiming Brown was pulling a publicity stunt to win back his fans. Others agreed it was a performance to remember:

“It was one of the best performances of the night, everybody stopped what they were doing and watched, and you kept hearing over and over again [from his fellow performers] ‘Chris Brown is back’ and ‘Let’s give him a chance.”

6. He grew up in an violent household

After Brown’s parents divorced, his mother’s boyfriend reportedly ‘terrified’ Brown, as he was violent towards his mother on a regular basis. After Brown hit the big time, he spoke about how this family history has changed him. He said that watching his mother endure such abuse “was an influence in me about how to treat a woman.” He said about his step-father “I used to always feel the hate for anybody that disrespected a lady. Or called a lady the B-word … or just disrespected her.”

Should we forgive Chris Brown, or is he simply unforgivable?