Members of the pop music industry should be ashamed with themselves after last night’s Grammy Awards celebration.
During the ceremonies, fans and artists alike celebrated and cheered for the return of singer/dancer Chris Brown.
They screamed during his psychedelic dance performance. They hollered when he received a Grammy. They gushed when he again performed later in the show.
All of it was despicable.
Only three years ago, Brown beat up then-girlfriend and fellow recording artist Rihanna before the Grammys. He left her face black and blue and swollen. He was arrested, charged and found guilty for the beating, which, according to the police reports, was done with fists and not open hands. Police also reported that they found bite marks on Rihanna.
Brown already skated by once, in 2009, when a Superior Court judge sentenced him to five years of probation and 180 days of community labor for the assault.
Now he appears to be skating by again without any criticism of his assault.
Sunday night’s Grammys demonstrated an alarming leniency toward men who beat women. When Brown accepted his award, artist Common hugged him tightly and smiled widely.
Cameras caught Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas clapping enthusiastically with a wide smile. The cheers for Brown were loud.
It’s disturbing to think that a man convicted of domestic assault three years ago would be treated with so much love and respect today.
In Brown’s defense, he did attend court-ordered domestic violence classes. Still, that should not change the public’s or his colleagues’ perception of him.
Domestic violence should not be taken lightly, as it is a serious crime.
Too often, it seems that our society mostly looks the other way when dealing with such crimes. Too often, we consider it taboo of which to speak. Too often, we don’t step up and do the right thing to stop it from happening.
According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, about 4.8 million intimate partner-related physical assaults and rapes happen every year.
According to statistics published by the National Organization for Women, 1,181 women in 2005 were murdered by an intimate partner. That’s nearly three women per day.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that the cost of domestic violence totals more than $8.3 billion annually. This cost includes medical care, mental health services and lost productivity, according to the National Organization for Women.
This is a serious epidemic that plagues more people than we can truly understand. It breaks up families, destroys children’s lives and rips at the fabric of our society. Domestic violence should not be tolerated and the men who commit it should be continually scrutinized. As a people, we must not allow domestic violence to become an inherent problem that receives minimum criticism.
Brown, whether we like it or not, is also a role model to many youth. Not holding him accountable and treating him with feverish-like respect, sends the wrong message. It tells these kids, especially young men, that they, too, can beat a woman and that society will soon forget, so don’t worry about it.
The artists at the Grammys had a great chance to take a stand against domestic violence on Sunday night. They had a chance to show the world that men who beat women will not be tolerated in this society. Instead, they failed miserably, as they embraced Brown’s return to the Grammys stage with open arms, never shuddering at the thought of what he made Rihanna’s face look like out of anger only three years ago.
We understand that the Grammys are a celebration of music and artistry, so one might say it’s not the place or time to speak out about issues, but these artists are known for often taking stands against egregious acts.
In the early 2000s, Cee Lo Green protested then-President George Bush and the Iraq war at the Grammys when he performed his hit song “Does That Make Me Crazy” with a monotone harmony that wasn’t similar to his usual over-the-top performances.
Celebrities such as George Clooney have also taken stances against political forces and their disapproval of war during awards shows.
Why then, didn’t any of the celebrities on “music’s biggest night” take a stance against Brown and domestic violence? It could be because he is one of their own and to make such a proclamation would cause dysfunction among the music elite’s inner circle. It could be that the artists in attendance didn’t feel the assault against Rihanna warranted any type of action.
Celebrities, unfortunately, have a history of turning a blind eye toward domestic violence. No one talks about Sean Penn’s abuse towards Madonna in the 1980s. The music world loves Eminem even though it was discovered that he beat his former wife, Kim. Sadly, both of these men are treated like heroes instead of domestic abusers, which is how they should actually be known.
Shame on those who sweep domestic violence under the rug and shame on the Grammys for glamorizing Brown.
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Today’s editorial was written by Sports Editor Al Edwards on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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