Chris Brown: Is His Career Over?

There is an ongoing debate raging online, on radio stations, on television, in the papers, in the beauty parlors and around the water coolers: Does Chris Brown still have a career or is it over for the R&B singer? There are even little mini-polls on websites like Popeater.com that ask that very question.

On the heels of the news that there were witnesses to the violent altercation between Chris Brown and pop singer Rihanna in the early hours of Sunday morning, one of Brown's major sponsors, Wrigley (makers of Doublemint gum), suspended their endorsement contract until the matter has been resolved. Brown also canceled appearances he had scheduled that centered around the NBA All-Star Game.

But Chris Brown is alleged to have committed an act of domestic violence. In the prevailing social order, any form of domestic violence is looked upon harshly. Depending upon the manner in which Brown's case is treated by the press, by various organizations associated with him, and by the Los Angeles Police Department, matters could become very dark for the 19-year-old singer. If Rihanna continues to cooperate with the police investigation into the matter and the charge of felony criminal threats becomes just one of multiple charges against him, Brown could be looking at some severe legal and public relations problems.

But is Chris Brown's career over?

Is R. Kelly's career over? Not to be flippant, but the allegations and legal battles concerning R&B singing legend R. Kelly were dire, serious, and looked as if he might go to prison for some time. Accused of various types of sexual impropriety with several minors, including videotaping certain objectionable acts (he was charged with 21 counts of child pornography-related offenses just from one case, according to Billboard), the legal cases against R. Kelly were ultimately dismissed (some, but not all) but not before the singer was vilified by the press, by fans, and by child activist groups. But most of his fans remained stalwart and supportive. He continued to produce hit albums and singles even while his lawyers dragged the cases laboriously through court. From 2002 (when the first scandal broke about R. Kelly having sex with a 14-year-old girl) to the present, every album he released either placed at No. 1 or No. 2. on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

So, is the career of Chris Brown over?

Doubtful, and extremely so. Three factors work heavily in Chris Brown's favor in this matter: his age, the belief of the redemptive qualities of human nature, and the ability of some to deny or excuse. Even given the social stigma branded those who engage in domestic violence, Chris Brown's career can take a public relations hit of this magnitude and withstand it.

Chris Brown is only 19 years old. No matter how badly this incident turns out for the young singer, he has decades ahead of him to put it behind him. As long as he never enters into another such occurrence or related activity in the future, the incident with Rihanna will become an ugly footnote in what looks to be potentially a very successful career.

Chris Brown can redeem himself. People in general believe in the power of forgiveness and the power of individuals to redeem themselves. And people are more willing to forgive an indiscretion or reprehensible act if the perpetrator offers up apologies, acts of contrition, and/or produces some form of good deed to make amends. People in general believe that acts of goodness and kindness can ameliorate a transgressive act. And many believe in giving others a second chance. It usually begins with a public apology, therapeutic treatment, and public acts of contrition (such as making Public Service Announcements for a battered women's group).

Some people and some Chris Brown fans will simply not believe he is capable of the act or will find an excuse for the behavior. Some will defend him vehemently, ignoring the police reports, the eye-witness accounts. There are those who still cling to the idea that O. J. Simpson was innocent and that Elvis and Tupac are still alive. Some will defend Chris Brown through excusing his behavior, such as the hundreds of blogs that are proposing without evidence that Rihanna gave Chris Brown an STD (which somehow excuses his violence against her person).

There is actually a fourth factor working in Chris Brown's favor: There are those who will not care that he might or might not have assaulted Rihanna and choose to differentiate between the person Chris Brown and the singing and performing artist Chris Brown. Related to that contingent, except for the obvious callousness involved, would also be those who know absolutely nothing about the alleged assault, which would include those not attuned to current events and those who might become a fan of Chris Brown's music in years to come, blissfully ignorant of the artist's personal and/or legal problems.

So, can Chris Brown's career survive?

The answer to that is ultimately up to the public. But there is little reason to suspect that his very public display of domestic violence will account for more than a career-slowing inconvenience.

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Sources:

Billboard.com

Popeater.com