Don't call it a comeback

If there’s one thing America loves even more than watching a celebrity crash and burn, it’s a good comeback story. Robert Downey Jr., Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and the late Amy Winehouse are just a few examples of people we’ve watched rise and fall through the years.

Nothing gets us going more than a flux in the lives of the privileged, except perhaps toddler beauty pageants and octo-moms.

Chris Brown’s fall from grace was notable, however, in its remarkably different treatment. He didn’t enter rehab for drug abuse or have a public feud with Kanye West. Three years ago, the night before the 2009 Grammys, Chris Brown, 19 years old at the time, sent his then-girlfriend, Rihanna, to the hospital.

Brown pleaded guilty to a felony assault and was blacklisted from the awards ceremony for the following two years. Shockingly, after such an undeniable black mark on someone’s record as a very public conviction of assault, Brown’s “triumphant” return to the Grammy stage this year was that of a prodigal son.

The Grammy stage welcomed Brown with open arms and three nominations, as well as one win for best R&B album. 

Twitter was buzzing with activity on the night of the awards show, as well, with much commentary centered around Brown. Most of it was positive, if disturbingly misguided, support for the singer. While some criticized his place on the Grammy stage at all, other Twitter users jumped to Brown’s defense, trending #teambreezy.

The “adversity” Brown had seemingly “overcome,” however, was not like the struggles of our other comeback kids.

Brown’s violent behavior cannot be excused and forgiven the same way we absolve other celebrities of addictions, weight gain and bad albums.

Take the late singer Amy Winehouse. Struggling to cope with her rapid rise to fame, Winehouse repeatedly succumbed to alcoholism, substance abuse and depression. Winehouse embodied an honest, precarious talent, but her deteriorating mental and physical health led to her death at 27 years old.

The public didn’t hesitate to criticize Winehouse. Her actions were not excused or defended but rather mocked and ridiculed. Following her death, people posted online live videos of her final performances when crowds in Serbia booed her offstage.

So, why do we, as a culture, seem to regard our female celebrities in a much harsher light?

The return of male entertainers such as Brown and Eminem, another performer who has openly grappled with anger management problems and domestic violence, have been welcomed to the spotlight free of charge.

On Tuesday, MTV announced that Rihanna and Chris Brown had collaborated on a remix of her single “Birthday Cake.” Following the absurd hook of the word “cake” repeated ad infinitum, Brown lends his vocals to a sexually explicit, sadly problematic verse. 

A finely calculated publicity stunt, the collaboration felt almost inevitable. What would get the public’s attention faster than exploiting a violent relationship? I hope I am not alone in refusing to so readily accept Brown’s exoneration.

­— alliston@indiana.edu