Beat the Beat Up, by Arthur Tebbel – Pop Art #167

February 14, 2012 Arthur Tebbel 0 Comments

Dear Art,

I caused quite a stir at the Grammys this weekend.  Just over three years removed from my arrest for battering my then girlfriend Rihanna I was back in a prominent position on the Grammy telecast.  In addition to winning the award for Best R&B Album I performed twice.  This caused quite an uproar on the Internet where social networks exploded with people outraged at my inclusion.  Haven’t I served my time?  Shouldn’t people get over this?  If people are buying my albums isn’t it a kind of implicit proof that the general public has gotten over my transgressions?

Chris Brown

Chris,

I’m honestly of two minds about this.  On one hand you’re right, you surrendered yourself to the mercy of the judicial system and were sentenced to probation and community service.  As far as I know you’ve fulfilled the terms of your sentence and while there’s still a few years left on your probation there’s no reason to believe you’re not on the straight and narrow.  On the other hand you’re kind of a scumbag.  Domestic violence is very serious and I have no idea how much your celebrity got you out of this mess.  Seriously, if anyone out there knows if five years probation and community service is in line for a first conviction domestic violence conviction please tell me.  I wouldn’t spend money on your music, but then again I didn’t before either so maybe this is a bad standard

Now that I’ve established that you’re a contemptible human being I think I have to let you off the hook here.  You didn’t book yourself on this show.  I’m sure there’s a ton of data about how many units you can move by being on the Grammys.  It’s hopelessly naïve to expect you to turn down that kind of money for a sense of propriety that the supposedly responsible people at the Academy don’t have themselves.  You as an artist, someone with a predisposition for performing and getting attention, should not be expected to turn down this kind of work.  It’s preposterous.

There is something I do have to take issue with you on.  In rumors being reported as fact there’s talk that the reason Jay-Z and Kanye West boycotted last night’s ceremony because of your inclusion.  That’s just wrong.  I was deprived of a performance I would much rather have seen because of your foolishness.  Assuming that this story is true.  It’s probably more likely that Jay skipped the show because he has a newborn baby.  I have long given up trying to guess why Kanye does things but I think it’s just as likely to be for another reason.  Also I didn’t watch the show and probably wouldn’t have anyway.  But you deprived me of a potentially good YouTube clip.  How dare you.

That brings me to my real point.  My Twitter feed was packed with people complaining about your inclusion on the Grammys.  Then they complained that you won an award and gave a speech they didn’t approve of accepting it.  Then they complained that you performed a second time.  At no time did these people turn their damn televisions off.  The Grammys are a business.  If millions Americans decided they hated Chris Brown enough to not watch that message would get through loud and clear.  You wouldn’t be able to get a gig as a seat filler at their awards show ever again.  People decided this idiot pageantry was worth more than their outrage; than their outrage over the disrespect of women.  You didn’t make them make that choice either.  I can’t tell you how much it pains me to be on your side but you’re only the third worst person here.