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)

Monday 28 June

By Ray

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He did go to jail. Don't you read ?

By luis rasteiro

tommy lee the drummer for the show was the only real musician there

By mscjo

PEOPLE, WHAT EVER YOU THINK ABOUT CHRIS BROWN. THAT YOUNG MAN DID A GREAT JOB... WE ALL MISS MJ AND SO HE CRIED. SO WHAT. YOU NEVER CRIED, OR DID SOMETHING YOU ARE ASHAME OF.. YOU NOT GOD. NONE OF YOU ARE. THAT'S WHAT WRONGE WITH THE WORLD... YOU ONLY SEE HATEEEEEEEEEEE. SOME OF YOU HATE OBAMMMMA BECAUSE HE IS BLACK. YOU DON'T SEE BEYOND THAT. LET STOP THE HATE STOP....AND LOOK IN THE MIRROW AND MAKE A CHANGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

By John

Micheal Jackson is DEAD--let it go.

By andrea

you let it go and get off this line

By nay

you need to get a life

By mo

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Some people should really get the full story before they judge. If I recall she put her hands on him too. That makes them both just as guilty as the other. I am a woman and even I know that you cannnot put your hands on someone without them hitting back. Kick a dog around enough and it will bite. Everyone needs to let it go and move on with their lives just like Rhianna has done. He is not the first man to abuse a woman and he will not be the last. I don't see anyone making such a big deal about women that are abused everyday. Why is that?

By kcdgenius

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No only was his blubbering fake, it was lipsynched! He cried more tears in the rehersal.

By phyllis

Chris has done his time in the court of public humiliation. I was battered. His life has only gotten better.
Chris should be doing better by now, mentally. It will not happen if people continue to nail him to the cross. He who has not sin. Cast the first stone.
You should all be ashame for having an opinion on this private matter.

By Victor

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He was crying because the best sex he ever had was with MJ and now he's gone. Boo f'n Hoo!

By ldbubkas

2 words. PUBLICITY STUNT. It was all rehearsed. If Chris Brown was the star of the show, it could not been much of a show.

He wasn't but this is what tabloids focused on. You obviosly didn't watch the show. You must also be very young not understanding how media tabloids work. They gravitate to controversay. Chris Brown's Idol is MJ. He was about to sing MAN IN THE MIRROR. A song about someone changing his ways. And it was his first major performance since this happened. Oh yes I forgot to mention. HE was a teenager when he hit her. She admitted to physically abusing Brown on numerous times. After drinking at the Awards she hit him again and snapped. That doesn't justify it. He should've dumped her before he hit her.

By Lori

I like Chris Brown, what he did was very wrong but people do make mistakes, its over and done with, he is a great entertainer and can dance.

By carol

He lives in Virginia close to us. Have been to his house. He is a big faker.

By mommy2cj

ok help me to understand...because you been to his house that makes him a faker? What the hell does that have to do with anything?

I meant since I have been to his house and met him I know how he IS!! Understand now???

By Frances

Let's not forget last year he was not able to give a tribute due to his court issues. This year everyone was waiting for him to give a tribute to the KING and it was the best tribute to Michael I have ever seen and as far as his emotions during "Man In The Mirror" I think those were some strong words in the song that related to his changes over the past few years as well as his idol not being here with us. So thumbs up for Chris Brown. He truely redeemed himself. What he did to Rihanna was horrible but I believe he is truely sorry. I was one of the ones that was very hard on him. But he has been officially forgiven.

By hogrides

noone gives a damn about the type of 'entertainment'.

By Waldo

What a PUSS.

Tuesday 29 June

By jmvb

I am lucky enough to have never had to listen to the crap these creatures call music. If they had to get a real job, they would have starved to death long ago. Hip hop and rap is music only a monkey could love. Blues and jazz, listen to some and get educated.

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