Country star Miranda Lambert is the latest critic of Chris Brown's performances at Sunday's Grammy Awards, saying the R&B singer had no place at the ceremony on the third anniversary of his assault on ex-girlfriend Rihanna.
The ‘Kiss Kiss’ hitmaker and his then-partner Rihanna pulled out of planned appearances at the 2009 Grammys after he attacked her on the eve of music's big night. He was later arrested, charged with assault, sentenced to hard labour and ordered to stay away from the ‘Umbrella’ hitmaker.
The restraining order against his ex, who also performed at Sunday's Grammys, has since been relaxed, but Brown is still on probation for his attack.
The singer made a big return to the prestigious awards show on Sunday as he took to the stage to sing his new track ‘Turn Up The Music’ and take part in a dance tribute to late Soul Train creator Don Cornelius. He also won the night's Best R&B Album prize.
Neil Portnow, president of The Recording Academy which hosts the Grammys, insists Brown was asked to participate because of his recent career successes.
He says, "That's really where the judgment comes from: music professionals listening to the music of other professionals. Clearly, our voting membership rated highly Chris' musical work this past year.
"If we're going to get in trying to personally evaluate artists in terms of their personal lives, that's a slippery slope that we wouldn't want to get into."
Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich has also offered his support to the embattled Kiss Kiss star, admitting he was "kind of rooting" for Brown's comeback.
Ehrlich tells CBS This Morning, "I just believe people deserve a second chance. The year he had this year really brought him back into the public. He really deserved a second chance."
In a series of Twitter.com posts, Lambert wrote, "Chris Brown twice? I don't get it. He beat on a girl... Not cool that we act like that didn't happen."
Lambert, whose parents ran a shelter for abused women when she was growing up, even suggested Brown listen to her country song about a woman preparing to murder her abusive husband upon his release from jail - to put him "back in his place" after his night at the Grammys.
She later appeared to backtrack on her outrage, posting, "As for my tweets 'it's just one clowns (sic) opinion'. I love music and that's what it's all about."
WENN.com