Over the weekend, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Texas State Rep. Venton Jones took steps to honor two of R&B’s icons, Usher and Chris Brown. The singers are currently on a joint tour that’s scheduled to conclude in December. During their performance at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Crockett and Jones presented the artists with Congressional Record recognitions for their contributions to music and culture. After videos of the moment circulated online, social media users engaged in a heated, divided debate! Crockett, in particular, faced criticism for being a woman honoring Brown, despite his documented violent past and legal issues.
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Jasmine Crockett & Venton Jones Team Up To Recognize Usher & Chris Brown
Jasmine Crockett walked on stage with Venton Jones in Arlington, wearing a tied shirt, black pants, and a shimmery bralette. The Texas State representative donned a striped suit jacket and slacks. Crockett engaged with the crowd on the mic while Jones remained a few steps away. She spoke of the audience “experiencing Black Joy at the highest level.” At one point, she quoted Yung Miami, referred to Breezy as a “real one,” and hugged him before exiting the stage.
Social Media Tears Into Crockett For Honoring Chris Brown
After the video of Jasmine Crockett and Venton Jones spread online, social media users criticized Jasmine Crockett. Despite Jones also being present, the backlash has primarily focused on Crockett. She has yet to clarify her reasoning behind the congressional recognitions. Nonetheless, that hasn’t stopped the internet from writing think pieces about the exchange.
Meanwhile, Venton Jones, Chris Brown, and Usher have also not responded to the pointed backlash. Keep scrolling to see some of what’s being said.
Why Is The Internet In Shambles Over The Recognition?
The backlash stems from Chris Brown’s legal issues, which are part of why social media is reacting strongly to the congressional recognition from Jasmine Crockett and Venton Jones. The most notable incident is his domestic violence case involving Rihanna in 2009. A photo following the altercation showed Rihanna’s badly bruised and swollen face with a busted lip. Ultimately, he pled guilty to felony assault and received five years of probation, community service, and domestic violence counseling, according to PEOPLE. That probation ended in 2015. Although they reportedly rekindled their relationship by January 2013, it ended again months later.
Since that incident, Chris Brown has been arrested multiple times for various offenses. There were two separate assault incidents between 2013 and 2016—one led to charges while he was arrested but not charged in another case. In addition, in 2017, his ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran obtained a five-year restraining order against him after testifying in court about physical abuse and threats to her life. He was not criminally convicted, and his probation concluded in March of that year.
Breezy has also faced multiple sexual assault and rape allegations that did not result in convictions. Earlier this year, he pled guilty to an affray charge related to an assault on a music producer in a London nightclub and is scheduled for sentencing next month.
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What Do You Think Roomies?
