Blubbering Chris Brown Steals Show at BET Awards

By PopEater Staff Posted Jun 28th 2010 06:01AM

Awards shmawards -- it was all about comebacks and crying at the BET Awards on Sunday night, with Kanye West and Chris Brown leading the charge. For West, it was a triumphant return to the stage after a self-imposed exile since dissing Taylor Swift at last year's MTV Video Music Awards.

But the standout moment of the night came when Brown broke down and blubbered his way through a tribute to his idol, Michael Jackson. Watch Brown starting at the :45 mark:

Brown has been laying low since being sentenced to community service for assaulting ex-girlfriend Rihanna in early 2009, and recently was denied entry into Great Britain to play a series of concerts there because of his criminal record.

Jermaine Jackson introduced Brown, who came out wearing a fedora and glove and moonwalked his way through 'Billie Jean' without missing a step. Then, as he grabbed a microphone to sing 'Man in the Mirror,' he broke down in tears. His voice cracked, he couldn't sing, and at one point he crumpled to the stage in apparent agony.

Later, he apologized to fans, but for more than messing up the night's performance. "I let you all down before, but I won't do it again. I promise you," Brown said.

But was it for real? As the first tear welled in his eyes, it became impossible not to wonder whether Brown was showing genuine grief over the death of Jackson or whether he was trying to drum up sympathy as he struggles to regain control of his career.

He performed the dance moves to 'Billie Jean' flawlessly and it was only when the slow ballad of 'Man in the Mirror' arrived that he showed any emotion. An LA Times snap poll asked fans what they thought, with 20% saying he was faking. A healthy 39% believed he was sincere. A commenter on MTV News aptly asked, "Was it for real, or was he trying to get attention for being softer? I'm sure he feels bad about Michael's death, but is he just trying to get away from the bad boy image with the crying thing?"

West opened the show with a performance of his new single, 'Power.' Looking defiant in a red suit, shades and a ridiculously big chain around his neck, the rapper powered through the aggressive song while standing atop an erupting volcano set piece.

It was a triumphant comeback for the star, who like Brown has been avoiding the spotlight.

Other highlights included Usher performing 'There Goes My Baby,' Eminem and a choir doing his new single, 'Not Afraid,' and the return of 1980s hitmaker El DeBarge, who blazed back onto the stage to play old hits and the title track from his first new album in 16 years.

Prince received BET's lifetime achievement award. "I'm just so thankful to be a part of this world of music," he said. "Thanks for a wonderful night. I'll never forget it as long as I live."

The BET Awards honor the year's best in music, sports and film in 19 categories. Winners are selected by a voting academy comprised of industry insiders and executives, music journalists and a group of fans randomly selected by BET.com.

► For a full rundown of performances and winners, go to Black Voices.

Tags: BET Awards, Chris Brown

Comments

(655)

Saturday 14 August

By David

Vote down Vote up Report this

Oh please.....Chris Brown is street trash....To change that character will take decades.

Thank God England had enough sense to reject him. No European tour for that loser.

Monday 28 June

By Anthony

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I think it is time to leave Chris Brown alone. I admit his actions were wrong,however, he who is without sin let him or her cast the first stone. We all have messed up!!

By CindyLou

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I agree with Anthony! Just because he violently beat the ship out of some poor innocent girl, and then tried to rape her arse doesnt mean hes a bad guy. There are a lot of good people on death row!

By sparklzz

This is a reply to asking if white ppl were allowed in the BET awards...Eminem performed n I saw what looked like a lot of white people in the audience.

By felisia21

The bible also says do not stand in judgement of others!!!!!!!!!

By Pat

The bible also says "He who raises his hand to a woman is not truly worthy of reading the bible " and the bible also says "He who hits a woman is a heretic and a pig and is not worthy of touching the bible."

By Clyde

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

It's less the Bible and more Jesus. There are huge swaths of the Old Testament dedicated to moral laws and what to do to people who break them.

Plus, aren't you sort of judging the people who are judging Chris Brown?

Saturday 03 September

By eve

EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKE BEACUSE CHRIS BROWN IS A CELEBRITY ITS BEEN MADE A HUGE MESS. I LOVE CHRIS BROWN HE IS YOUNG & VERY TALENTED! RIHANNA ON THE OTHER HAND I CANT STAND .. SHE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT HER HAIR STYLE.. SHES A CLOWN

Tuesday 29 June

By goldfish101

Chris Brown was very sincere. Rhianna hit him first and he responded. I wish people would just let it go. I'm glad he's back. I like as a person. Did you see when Rhianna won that award, she didn't get up to recieve it. When you do someone wrong you get it back ten fold and she is definitely guilty. Even when she dated Drake, he came out and said Rhianna hit him. I think she's is the abusive kitty.

By LaShawn

So you are saying that rhianna is innocent in this whole thing? I think not she pushed him to it, she isn't a angel. she is just as much guilty as he was but she didnt have half of the backlash he had. Please give it a rest. So when are peolple gonna stop dogging him out? He made a mistake which most of us has made. Keep it real how many relatinships have been throught that? It doesnt make it right but he knows what he did faced it and is trying to move on but dummies like yourself wont let it go. Get a grip.

By Tiana Joi

I think your right. People make mistakes. They both made a mistake being abusive towards each other. I truly think everyone was harder on Chris Brown just because he had a good boy image but nobody could stay a good boy their whole life. He made a mistake and I really think he changed. I think those tears were true because why would someone make themself try to cry on stage. I think those words just meant a lot to him and thats why he started crying. The words to the song applied to what he was going through. So everybody needs to leave him alone. It was a year ago people could change. Geez .

What chris Brown did to whats her name was wrong on all levels. No one should allow someone to take them to that level of anger and violence. With that said, everyone deserves a second chance. Many of those standing in judgement have done some terrible things in life and made terrible choices, but because you are not in the limelight your not crucified the way he has been. Let's not forget we are all human and we all make mistakes. His sincerety is between him and God. But I will say, his performance as a tribute to Micheal Jackson is the BEST that I have seen since Micheal died!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By andrea louis

i agree totally is was terrific.

By jovie2477

Chris Brown did his thing and know one can take that from him. I'm proud of him and it's o.k. to leave negative energy at home. If the person that witnessed the incident had not have seen the incident we would not have known what was going on. God is a forgiving God and every one in the peanut gallery needs to mind there own peanuts. Every one has a secret...What's yours?

By William

His so called thing was beating a woman like she was a dog, that was his thing

NO...his thing was at the awards show and the other thing is in the past and people need to learn forgive and let go...OHHHHH I forgot your not the higher power so forget what you and I think and let's move on. If you never have hit a woman that's cool but I'm sure you wanted to and that is not right either.

By NATALIE

ONLYN SOMEONE AS RETARDED AS YOU HATERS WOULD THINK CHRIS SHOWING TRU EMOTIONS AS WEAK OR PHONY. UR THE ONES WHO ARE DISGUSTING ALWAYS WAGING UR TONGES IN FECES BEFORE SPEAKING UR UGLY UNTRUTHS. CHRIS U GET NOTHIN BUT LOVE AND SUPPORT FROM A FAN LIKE ME FROM WHEN U WERE 16 AND A LADY LIKE ME HAD TO WAIT TIL I COULD LOOK AT YOU FOR THE MAN YOU ARE GOING TO BE A GOOD ONE.

By Alba

If we do no forgive someone of their our sins our sins will not be forgiven. Yes he made a hugh mistake but it has been a year and a half since this has happen. He is heading in the right direction so far. Leave him alone. There are so many other stars that have done worst than CB and they are not berated like he is. They are still allow to work at their craft. As for the haters, out of the heart abundance the mouth speaks. It shows what is in your heart.

By andrea.louis

you said a mouth full thats right amen!

By Geri

This was like watching a drunk fool doing karaoke in a dive bar.
Worse than the Jamie Foxx tribute last year.
There was and always will be just one MJ and if they want to pay tibute to him,the best tribute would be getting a performer who isn't actually an A-HOLE to do it!

Page 2 of 33