I’ve had this post sitting in my head for a long time now—since the night of The Grammy Awards when Chris Brown performed twice at the very show he had to miss just 3 short years earlier because of the fact that he beat the shit out of his girlfriend. Since Rihanna released two new tracks this week that she collaborated with her attacker on. I have tried to reconcile what it was that bothered me the most about his performance and his subsequent duet with Rihanna —and while the fact that he used Rihanna as a punching bag makes me sick to my stomach, the fact that he doesn’t even seem sorry bothers me more.
Chris Brown was a very young man when he beat up his then girlfriend, Rihanna, on the eve of The Grammy Awards in 2009. He was 19 years old. A child, some of us would say. And I point this out because I think all of us can remember being stupid and doing stupid things as a teenager. Maybe not to the point of felony assault, but stupid nonetheless. And we did it out of the public eye with a chance to redeem ourselves out of the public eye. My point here isn’t to excuse his behaviour at all, my point is when—and if—do we afford him another chance? I think we can all agree that many celebrities have done the same, if not worse, and still managed to salvage their careers and redeem themselves. Or at the very least move on from the incident. The difference, I think, is remorse.
I am disgusted by Chris Brown, not simply because of what he did to Rihanna, but because of how he has behaved since. Because here’s the thing—I think that if he did what he did, but at the very least recognized what he did was terrible and inexcusable and sought treatment and help and made amends and volunteered at a woman’s shelter and honestly and truly seemed ashamed and remorseful—I think that the public would have given him another chance. After all, like I said before, he was 19. He was 19 and rich and famous and had a beautiful and rich and famous girlfriend.
But instead, just 3 weeks after the incident, he chose to go jet skiing at Diddy’s house where he was photographed having the time of his life and flexing his muscles for the cameras. While his ex-girlfriend was trying to heal her face. Clearly the image of a man who hated himself for his actions. Yeah, right.
Then, two years later while appearing on Good Morning America, the singer smashed a plate glass window and stormed out of the building because the host, Robin Roberts asked him about the assault. Clearly this is a man who has no rage issues. Yeah, right.
Not to mention the countless twitter wars he’s started with anyone who he thinks he can bully.
But it was after his Grammy performances and wins—when he took to his twitter account once again—that really sealed the deal that this is a man who hasn’t changed at all.
After The Grammy Awards Chris tweeted;
"HATE ALL U WANT BECUZ I GOT A GRAMMY Now! That's the ultimate F**** OFF!"
Chris deleted that comment – possibly because his publicist had a heart attack, but then followed up with this comment.
"IM BACK SO WATCH MY BaCK as I walk away from all this negativity #teambreezygrammy."
Forgiveness and redemption aren’t qualities that have a statute of limitations. You don’t get to ask people to move past an incident just because it’s been long enough. I'm not saying that hitting a woman is ever excusable, but I do think that Chris could have redeemed himself if he actually felt sorry for actions. Forgiveness and redemption are earned. The only thing Chris Brown has managed to earn from me is my disgust.
Scene and Heard
Confessions of a Pop Culture Mummy
Alright, let’s get this out there, I did not love the Madonna Half Time Show at the Superbowl. I didn’t hate it, but I definitely didn’t love it. And I wanted to love it, because it’s Madonna after all, and if Madonna can’t give us the best damn half time show in all of Superbowls then I’m not sure who can.
Maybe it was the hype—because it’s a big show and there’s as much talk surrounding the half time show as there are the teams who are playing. Maybe it was because Madonna kept giving interviews talking about how nervous she was and how it was going to be the best 12 minutes we’ve ever seen. Maybe it’s because unlike Springsteen or The Who or Paul McCartney—all who performed recently at Superbowls, I am a huge Madonna fan so I just assumed that I would love her performance. But I didn’t and here’s why.
Madonna started by being carried out on the field by gladiators as she sat on a throne wearing some kind of Cleopatra style head piece before launching into Vogue. Really? She kicked off her set with Vogue—wouldn’t have been my choice. Then there were the backup dancers who were great but very distracting because they were dancing very close to Madonna and it was a lot going on for the frame of the television. I was also a little confused by the Egyptian theme.
Madonna then segued into Music and this was one of the parts of her performance I actually enjoyed because she looked like she was really having fun! Because she didn’t look like she was having fun before—she looked like she was trying to make sure it was perfect. But perfect is boring and I found her performance just kind of boring. Then she joined the boys of LMFAO on stage to sing Party Rockin’ and Sexy and I Know It and all I could think of was that Justin Bieber did the same thing, first, at the American Music Awards.
And this is essentially what bothered me the most about the half time show. I love me some Madonna, but I love Madonna because she’s a badass bitch that blazes trails and shows the young kids how it’s done. That Madonna didn’t show up to the Superbowl. This Madonna seemed like she was trying to hold on to what she once had because she hasn’t figured out what she needs to be next.
The Nicki Minaj and M.I.A bit was all too familiar, no? Because she’s done this already with Britney and Christina and it was better the first time around. In fact I would rather have seen Britney and Christina come out and sing with her than Nicki and M.I.A.
And let’s talk about the pompoms for a minute, ok?
Look, Madonna is in her '50s and looks a.maze.ing. No doubt. But I don’t want to see Madonna jumping up and down on bleachers with pompoms. I want Nicki Minaj and M.I.A with the pompoms and Madonna being their queen! And I’m tired of hearing people complain that I’m being catty and that she’s a strong woman and that I should support and not tear down and that just because a woman is in her 50s doesn’t mean she has to just go away. What I’m saying is that I don’t want to see 50-year-old Madonna doing the same shit 30-year-old Madonna was doing. She is better than that! Understand that the parking for the Superbowl was running at over three hundred dollars. THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS for parking!! The average ticket price was $1900! Sorry but that kind of scratch means you get to be critical.
To me the show was just a little too much, a little too try-hard. I didn’t think it was terrible by any means, but Madonna didn’t look like she was having a great time and I want to watch someone who’s really enjoying what they’re doing. And I expected more. And I think we're allowed to expect more from Madonna dammit.
And the whole ‘World Peace’ thing at the end. Whatever.
So tell me—agree or disagree? And watch it below in case you missed it.
Scene and Heard
Confessions of a Pop Culture Mummy
It’s that time of year again—that time when everywhere you look you are surrounded by a sea of red hearts. Chocolates come shaped as hearts, candy comes shaped as hearts, lingerie is sold that is decorated in hearts, and flower shops start to advertise their many rose specials ensuring that there’s not a man around who can actually forget that February 14th is quickly approaching.
Valentine’s Day may just be one of the most marketed holidays next to Christmas, and while I know that there’s a lot of you out there who dismiss the holiday as superficial and unnecessary, I say bring it on! I especially love seeing how the stars celebrate because love is often fleeting in Hollywood so it’s always fun to see who can manage to stay together for more than one Valentine’s Day.
Although we’ve seen our fair share of shocking splits lately, let’s celebrate this upcoming day of love looking at some of my favourite Hollywood couples and how I think they’d celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth
I think I have a girl crush on Reese Witherspoon—and I’ve just realized this. Maybe it’s because she’s a mother of two and can look like a regular mom when out with the kids but then rock the red carpet during awards season or maybe it’s just because she’s managed to date some of Hollywood’s hottest men. But I also think it’s because she seems just so normal, doesn’t she? Reese married her agent boyfriend Jim Toth last April making this their first Valentine’s Day as a married couple. I guarantee you there will be chocolate and flowers for this couple.
Beyonce and Jay-Z
Hip-hop’s royal couple will celebrate their first Valentine’s Day as parents and if you thought Bey’s push presents were excessive I can only imagine what Jay has in mind for Valentine’s Day! I’m imagining matching diamond baubles for his main girls, aren’t you?
Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux
This new couple have been keeping a pretty low profile lately, making me think that Jen just might have a bun in the oven and that she’s waiting for just the right time to debut it. Either way this is also the first Valentine’s Day for the couple who recently purchased a new home together. Jen seems like the type who would be just as impressed with a romantic dinner as she would with jewellery, but I have a feeling Justin might surprise her with both.
George Clooney and Stacey Keibler
I know a lot of you really like this couple but all I see when they’re together is a dirty old man trying to hold on to a trophy. That being said I think she’s also clinging to him for exposure, so I have a feeling she’d be the one going all out for Valentine’s Day. I see these two skipping the romantic stuff and heading right to the bedroom!
Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck
Honestly one of my favourite Hollywood couples even if there are constant rumours about his infidelities. I love Jennifer because she seems like such a hands-on mother who loves her family but also knows how to make time for herself. If recent pictures are an indication Jen and Ben might just be welcoming their very own Valentine very soon with Jen due with the couple’s third child anyday. Either way I see Ben as the type to deliver roses and breakfast in bed along with homemade Valentine’s from the couple’s two girls, Violet and Seraphina. Awwwwww.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
I know how crazy a house with 4 kids is so I can’t even begin to imagine how busy having 6 might be—even with full-time nannies! But everyone knows that kids love Valentine’s Day—so even if Brad and Angie were too busy promoting movies and fending off tabloid rumours I’m pretty sure the kids insist on celebrating. Maybe Angie makes them heart shaped pancakes!
David and Victoria Beckham
By far my favourite Hollywood couple—simply just because they’re so damn hot together! Seriously, in my imagination there’s a hotel room, champagne, lacy lingerie and a lot of steam! Just like the picture! Clearly Victoria would never indulge in a piece of chocolate so we know that’s out of the question. Honestly though—how hot are they?!
I’d like to celebrate Valentine’s Day a little like Beyonce and Jay-Z combined with a little David and Victoria Beckham, but truth be told my day will probably be more like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie—minus the Oscar nomination and tabloid rumours of course! So how about you—what celebrity couple is most like how you would like to celebrate Valentine’s Day?
Scene and Heard
Confessions of a Pop Culture Mummy
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