I remember staunchly defending Rih during that time. Even when she went jet-skiing with Chris (and it's crazy or learn that Diddy? I think? Organized that meeting. The industry is so ****ed up. Higher-ups trying to make her get over it in order to save Chris and his career...) because that's textbook behavior re: abuse. My friends really didn't care though. They literally said "he didn't hit me, so "
Like, I was the only one besides the adult women I knew who would turn the radio when Chris came on or generally not deal with him. I was so blown by everyone's reactions back then.
And remember when it was Usher, I think, who said something about how Chris should act more remorseful for what happened and the media forced him to APOLOGIZE? And Jay-Z was really the only celebrity who really spoke up and defended Rih. Everyone else was just like "Ehhhhhh we don't really know what happened so uhhh I wish them both well," and it was just like??? Sis there are police reports?? He plead GUILTY??
2009 was a crazy year.
And then when the executive producer of the Grammys said that they were the "REAL VICTIMS" of what happened that night because they had to cancel the Chris/Rihanna performance......
People did her so wrong during that whole incident, I still get a little angry thinking about it.
And remember when it was Usher, I think, who said something about how Chris should act more remorseful for what happened and the media forced him to APOLOGIZE? And Jay-Z was really the only celebrity who really spoke up and defended Rih. Everyone else was just like "Ehhhhhh we don't really know what happened so uhhh I wish them both well," and it was just like??? Sis there are police reports?? He plead GUILTY??
2009 was a crazy year.
And then when the executive producer of the Grammys said that they were the "REAL VICTIMS" of what happened that night because they had to cancel the Chris/Rihanna performance......
People did her so wrong during that whole incident, I still get a little angry thinking about it.
Kanye was really mad about what did happen to her, too.
Plus, I think Jay-z is still HATES Chris.
And remember when it was Usher, I think, who said something about how Chris should act more remorseful for what happened and the media forced him to APOLOGIZE? And Jay-Z was really the only celebrity who really spoke up and defended Rih. Everyone else was just like "Ehhhhhh we don't really know what happened so uhhh I wish them both well," and it was just like??? Sis there are police reports?? He plead GUILTY??
2009 was a crazy year.
And then when the executive producer of the Grammys said that they were the "REAL VICTIMS" of what happened that night because they had to cancel the Chris/Rihanna performance......
People did her so wrong during that whole incident, I still get a little angry thinking about it.
Mainly because Rih was the foreign girl from abroad and Chris was the african-american with a true following in the black american community.
And remember when it was Usher, I think, who said something about how Chris should act more remorseful for what happened and the media forced him to APOLOGIZE? And Jay-Z was really the only celebrity who really spoke up and defended Rih. Everyone else was just like "Ehhhhhh we don't really know what happened so uhhh I wish them both well," and it was just like??? Sis there are police reports?? He plead GUILTY??
2009 was a crazy year.
And then when the executive producer of the Grammys said that they were the "REAL VICTIMS" of what happened that night because they had to cancel the Chris/Rihanna performance......
People did her so wrong during that whole incident, I still get a little angry thinking about it.
You know what's interesting? I never heard the details of the police report until maybe two years ago. For all the talk about the media destroying Chris, no one acknowledges how the actual events of that night are pretty hush-hush. And I suppose part of that is a way of protecting Rih, but if people knew that she literally rolled out of the car and into a random yard... was unconscious at the hospital... most people don't know how horrific it was. They really don't.
At the same time idk if it would matter. Chris was a true hearrthrob back then. That combined with the black community's ability to coddle/defend any man accused of wrongdoing made it virtually impossible for anyone to really care about Rih. The white media vilified Chris but at the same time gave no ****s about Rih's wellbeing. They were fake as hell. When I look back at the Diane Sawyer interview, or the people that asked her personal questions in a desperate attempt for gossip, I can't believe how the media acted. In today's world of social justice revival and think pieces, they never would have gotten away with it. People love to drag that type of thing but when you think of the decades (centuries!) worth of women who were silenced and belittled, I would much rather live with this alternative. She really didn't have a true voice and people did not want to see her as anything besides a pop star. Smh.
Y'all tend to forget that Chris was the Taylor Swift of the black community, a true nation's sweetheart
They didn't want to believe it
Maybe not the Taylor Swift, but he was definitely the next Usher/MJ. He was beloved by the girls at least.
There is some truth to that last statement as well. I remember when it first happened and one of their teams put out a story saying that they got into a car accident. The naive Chris fans at school were all running with that story. The girls was like, "He didn't beat her! She slapped him and then he slapped her and then they crashed!111!"
It made it really difficult not to feel like everyone around me was an idiot at the time.
Kanye was really mad about what did happen to her, too.
Plus, I think Jay-z is still HATES Chris.
I've never seen this. Kanye was so sweet back then.
Quote:
Originally posted by Eóghan
Mainly because Rih was the foreign girl from abroad and Chris was the african-american with a true following in the black american community.
Quote:
Originally posted by Eóghan
Y'all tend to forget that Chris was the Taylor Swift of the black community, a true nation's sweetheart
They didn't want to believe it
I wouldn't even necessarily say it's a black thing because I went to an all-white school and kids were saying every day that Chris beat her because "she gave him herpes" and all other kinds of nasty things. A lot of people across all demographics had those same victim-blaming mindsets, and because Chris is an urban artist and had such a loyal following this allowed his career to stay afloat. If Chris was white I think he would have been just as coddled by the public, if not more so.
Because I mean, there are plenty of white male entertainers and celebrities who have abused women and children over the years. Sean Penn sexually assaulted Madonna and beat her with a baseball bat but went on to receive multiple Oscar nominations. If anything Chris gets it inordinately WORSE than they do because it's something still very much associated with his image (and maybe rightfully so according to who you ask), but that's a whole other discussion...
No he wasn't. Like Shaliydah said, he was supposed to be this generation's Usher/MJ. But he was still at the phase where he was basically a ~teen hottie~ with potential. He was not that big yet.
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