Kelly Rowland is sticking firmly in her support of Chris Brown. The 41-year-old has been facing backlash after sharing loving words for the singer during Sunday’s 2022 American Music Awards, but is doubling down on her .
“I believe that grace is very real,” Rowland explained when approached by a TMZ reporter on Monday. “And we all need a dose of it. And before we point fingers at anybody, we should realize how grateful we are for every moment that we get. Even our own things that we have. I just think it’s important to remember to be human. We are humans.”
When asked if Brown should be “forgiven” for his troubled past, including his domestic violence toward ex-girlfriend Rihanna which came to light in February 2009, the Fantasy Football actress said, “We all need to be forgiven for anything that we could be doing. Anything that we’re thinking. We all come up short in some kind of way. And grace is real. We are humans. And everybody deserves grace.”
Rowland was tasked with presenting the award for Favorite Male R&B Artist, where Brown was up against Brent Faiyaz, GIV?ON, Lucky Daye, and The Weeknd. After reading off the “Go Crazy” singer’s name, Rowland’s announcement was met with boos from the audience, and the Destiny’s Child alum was not here for it.
“Chris Brown is not here tonight, so I’m accepting this award on his behalf,” Rowland began before quieting the crowd. “Excuse me, chill out.”
She continued, “But I want to tell Chris, thank you so much for making great R&B music, and I want to tell him thank you for being an incredible performer. I’ll take this award, bring it to you. I love you. Congratulations, and congratulations to all the nominees in this category.”
Rowland’s praise was met with derision on social media, with many Twitter users citing Brown’s multiple arrests for assault, and allegations of domestic violence and rape as reasons not to lend the singer “grace.”
After he was sentenced to five years probation for assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna, he made headlines in 2011 after breaking a window and leaving the Good Morning Americaset when Robin Roberts asked him about the domestic violence.
In 2013, he allegedly got into a physical altercation with singer Frank Ocean, reportedly calling him gay slurs and threatening to shoot the people he was with. Soon after that, Brown was arrested and charged with felony assault after getting into an argument with a man in front of the W Hotel and allegedly punching the man in the face.
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