Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, is facing criticism online after she entered singer Chris Brown into the congressional record during a Saturday evening appearance with him on stage in Dallas.
“Now, y’all know I tend to get in trouble every once in a while. I’ma make this real quick. I need to know who run it! So is Dallas in the building?” Crockett said before adding, “Let’s give it up for Chris Brown,” to applause from the crowd.
Crockett’s member statement, a form of congressional recognition lawmakers can submit without a vote, credited “the artistry of Chris Brown and Usher Raymond.” On stage, she described the tribute as a celebration of two artists who helped shape contemporary R&B and pop music, particularly for the Black community.
“I know it’s almost Sunday, so I wanna be clear. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. And right now, we are experiencing Black joy to the highest level, and I wanted to make sure we document that in the Congressional Record,” Crockett said.
The tribute quickly drew scrutiny online because of Brown’s history of violence. He pleaded guilty in 2009 to felony assault after attacking his then-girlfriend, singer Rihanna, an incident that produced widely circulated images of her injuries and drew condemnation across the music industry. In 2013, he was involved in an altercation with singer Frank Ocean and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge. In 2017, another former girlfriend was granted a domestic violence restraining order against him after alleging physical abuse. More recently, Brown pleaded guilty to striking producer Abe Diaw twice in the head with a glass tequila bottle in July 2023, and he is expected to be sentenced in October on a separate charge of affray, a criminal offense under English law involving unlawfully threatening violence against another person.
Criticism From Across the Political Spectrum
Andrew Kerr, an investigative reporter with the Washington Free Beacon, wrote on X that Crockett “uses her congressional authority to honor Chris Brown, the rapper best known for beating ever-living sh– out of Rihanna in 2009.”
Democratic activist and commentator Shannon Watts also raised Brown’s history. “Chris Brown pled guilty to felony assault after brutally attacking Rihanna. Another ex, Karrueche Tran, later obtained a five-year restraining order after testifying that he abused and threatened her. He has also faced multiple allegations of violence and sexual assault against other women,” Watts wrote.
Democratic strategist Ameshia Cross called the moment a political misstep. “Chris Brown has a problem, and several folks beyond Rihanna have met his violent rage. It’s well-documented. This was a ridiculous move by Crockett,” she wrote on X, adding, “Also, when Black women suffer [domestic violence] at the highest rates and often fatally, this was tone deaf as hell.”
“Absolutely disgusting to see Jasmine Crockett platform and honor an abuser of women. Just completely vile,” wrote Eric Michael Garcia, D.C. bureau chief of the Independent.
Author Dan Winslow, describing the beating of Rihanna as “horrific and savage,” wrote, “Crockett thought he deserved to be honored. Absolutely disgusting behavior. I am glad she lost. I will never support her again.”
Brown Responds
Amid the backlash, Brown posted a statement to Instagram asking to be left alone. “Funny thing is… YALL CAME TO ME WITH THIS! NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. I was minding my own d-mn business. My shows in Dallas were already sold out. I ain’t asked to be honored because I knew some sh-t like this would happen… I have an idea how about y’all leave me the f— alone and let me focus on the fans that spent their money to actually see and support me,” he wrote.
Crockett gave up her House seat to run for the U.S. Senate in Texas but lost to James Talarico, the Democratic nominee, and will not return to Congress when the next term begins.
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