Russell Simmons: 'Chris Brown Is Suffering'

By Zach Dionne Posted Mar 24th 2011 12:12PM

Chris Brown has gotten more buzz for his new album, 'F.A.M.E.,' than he might have ever anticipated. Unfortunately a lot of that buzz came from an outburst this week after an appearance on 'Good Morning America' -- Brown smashed a window, ripped off his shirt and left the premises.

Now hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons is jumping to Brown's defense in a long essay at GlobalGrind.com.

"Chris is suffering from the same thing as almost every young star has gone through, including the Disney kids. And, having lost control, some of these young artists, sometimes, do an unspeakable thing at a moment of time. And they pay the price," Simmons writes. "What's not fair is artists paying the price of the sins in their young lives for the rest of their lives."

"For over 25 years, I have had the privilege to watch some of the greatest living artists create the most powerful cultural movement that America has ever seen," Simmons writes, going on to name-drop Run-D.M.C., Kanye West, LL Cool J and the Beastie Boys by way of introducing Brown. His article continues:

"On Tuesday night, I sat with Chris Brown, one of the greatest performing artists of his time, during his celebration dinner for the release of his new album, 'F.A.M.E.' I know that this young man's dancing, singing and art are his prayers. Without them, he's left to deal with a cluttered world in a way that is far too complicated than he imagined when he was a 13-year-old kid with a dream of being famous. I am troubled by the people, critics and members of the media who drag Chris away from his art. His freedom is deeply rooted in his artistic expression. It is during those seconds of stillness when you're dancing that the Christ/Buddha/Allah/Moses inside of you is awakened and comes to power. This is the freedom Chris knew as a child, but as he rose to fame, finding freedom became a lot more complicated. Coming back home is a very difficult thing. Coming back to being normal, coming back to that pure place of artistry. But, when fame snatches your freedom, the ability to control your own life becomes much more difficult."

The essay goes into a deep meditation on fame. Simmons opines that the many facets of fame detract from artistic and personal freedoms. "You are being pulled away and you lose the perspective that the inside is all happiness, because the outside pulls you to work on the album's marketing and promotion, the business deals, the corporate dinners, the groupies, the rest of the world."

Simmons argues that endless shaming -- even for an act as heavy as Brown's battering of Rihanna -- is not fair. "If we insisted on that there would be no art. There would be only shame; there would be no learning, no redemption, there would be no road for millions of fans to travel the journey of the artist to enlightenment. It would negate the very purpose of art itself which is to reconcile, through a redeeming journey, the intractable contradictions in life and society. This is something I have fought for all my life."

For those keeping score, Brown apologized for his post-'GMA' outburst, speaking with BET's '106 and Park.' "I took it very, very hard," he said of his reaction. "I kept my composure throughout the whole interview ... And when I got back I just let off steam in the back. I didn't physically hurt anyone. I just wanted to release the anger inside me. I got very emotional." He added his frustration came from all the hard work he put into his album.

Simmons closes his piece with a simple plea: "I'm just saying, give this man a break. I spoke to him last night for a long time and I know how good of a young man he is."

Read the full essay at GlobalGrind >>

Russell Simmons chats with PopEater:

Tags: Chris Brown, Russell Simmons

Comments

(77)

Thursday 24 March

By aka1997

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Screw that!!! Chris Brown is a woman beating POS! He has these juvenile outbursts and then he justifies it! He should be in an institution, not on stage! AND GUESS WHAT!? I AM A BLACK FEMALE!

By tony

i agree aka,hes a woman beater and there is no excuse for him,go girl!

By doneldathomas

You Go girl..No man should ever hit a woman.. he is acting like a child.

By GTFOOHere!!

If that's the case, just about everyone in America needs to be in an institution for anger issues. Imagine that! What he did was wrong, without a doubt. He hit a woman who was just as wrong for hitting him. I guess that makes Rihanna a man beater. All these "wholier than thou" people are sickening. If you don't want to get hit, keep your hands to yourself, both Men & Woman!!!

By robral61

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Only a Black Racist would Stand up for this Peice of Crap. Go on Russell keep on keeping it Black. Why haven't you spoken up for Lindsey? or other troubled White star?

By me

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aka 1997, I totally agree with you! This young man has entitlement issues. He feels as if he is entitled to address issues any damn way he pleases.

Friday 25 March

By Kathy

I agree. And anyway, reading those words, I don't hear an apology. He is just annoyed that people think beating up a girl is a big deal.

Monday 28 March

By Lovelyone

I dont condone a man beating on a women neither a woman hitting on a man. Like LUKE 6:31 says "Just as YOU want men to do to YOU, do the same way to them." But it is no ones place to judge anyone. That is Gods job. So stop judging so that you may not be judged.(MATTHEW 7:1) And for all those who is saying "he's getting what he deserve", everyone makes mistakes, including yourselves. How can you ask God to forgive you of your mistakes when you dont know how to forgive others. (MATTHEW 6:14,15) I'm quite sure you people have your own problems that You need to work on than to be speaking about other people. FOOD FOR THOUGHT!!

By joanmarie1640

Russell Simmons says "Chris Brown is suffering" he should be and who cares.

By cwashingtont

Chris Brown you are an awesome entertainer and before you do something that lands him in jail or worse I am begging you to go and get some help. If you have anger issues go and speak with someone that can help you work it out. Please get help. Please dye your hair back to it's natural color. I am a hugh fan, 40+ at that. It's not too late to get help. A fan from brooklyn.

By Gail E. Cooper

I couldn't agree more! If he really wants to move his career forward; he has to conquer his personal demons that are persistently "derailing" his career.

By GV

No he is not hurting, he is THROWING A TEMPER TANTRUM, because he feels that since he is 'over it' we all should. I guarantee if a woman had been in that room and had said 'you should have answered the question like a big boy', he would have hit her.
He's a jerk and always will be.

By law638

He made his bed & he does'nt like lying in it. He's getting what he deserves. There are consequences for your actions. This should be a heads up to Charlie Sheen.

By msdrtmover

Chris Brown is an idiot, and he will NEVER, EVER change. Men with these issues usually don't.

By Chrmcd2

Yo, Chris!......WAAAAHHHHH.....you made your bed, now lie in it
POS!

By OMG

@doneldathomas - Sweetheart you forgot, no woman should hit a man either. Remember, that's what kicked this off in the first place.

By Dr. M

Please. Give me a break. WHO CARES???? The guy is just a slug. That's it. Forget him - forever.

By Larry Lopez

Give me a break Russell Simmons, this guys lived a priveliged life as he sought fame and fortune, so enough with the crap, he did a horrible unforgiveable thing and expects everyone to just forgive and forget. He must know that those questions will arise and well that's part of his payback for what he did!

Then he goes on and shows the world that he hasn't changed one frickin bit and well he's back in the headlines again....for the wrong thing!

By Mike

The entire interview screams desperation! Russell Simmons is trying to protect his OWN bank account! "Letting off steam?" By throwing a chair into a window? That window could have shattered and killed people below! Lastly, Chris Brown is NOT "one of the greatest performing artists of his time." Chris Brown needs to be dismissed.

By Jasmine

What Chris Brown did to Rihanna was wrong. He paid the price for it. What Chris Brown did after the GMA interview was wrong. He can't throw fits, he's an adult. But c'mon people... can he live?

I just find it so crazy that Charlie Sheen can shoot a woman, beat a coed, strangle his wife and threaten other women and we think he's hilarious. Two and Half Men continues to perform exceedingly well. And became the biggest show with one of the highest paid tv actors in history. Why is he any differnt from CB?

Just sayin...

Also I'm a black woman... Why that matters -- I have no idea.

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