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February 10, 2009
It's been just four years since singer Chris Brown released his debut record, and already he's found a way to majorly sabotage his own career. This weekend, the 19-year-old pop star physically assaulted his celebrity girlfriend Rihanna in the middle of the street, a scumbag activity generally undertaken by assholes much older than himself. After fleeing the scene of the crime and later turning himself in, Brown paid $50,000 bail and now awaits his court hearing.
Wrigley's gum, with whom Brown has a lucrative endorsement deal, has suspended all ads featuring the singer until "due process" can prove him guilty.
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Which may be soon: Rihanna is now said to be working with LA police to build a case against her (we'll assume former) boyfriend.
Short of "I am young, entitled as shit and MAD," we'll not try and guess what Brown was thinking. The question now is whether the kid can survive this error? And what's up with everyone fucking up so royally these days?
Mike Paul, president of MGP & Associates PR, suggests that this isn't necessarily the end for Chris Brown. "He needs to get on the truth train for this one," says Paul, "and he needs to go to anger management and honestly admit to himself and everyone else that what he did was wrong." Paul adds, "And if he doesn't know what he did was wrong, he needs to go to therapy and make sure he gets it; you don't want to spin something like this, because it can only get worse." As is the case with many domestic abusers, Brown grew up in a violent household in which his stepfather would sometimes beat his mother's face bloody, so there is a root to his problem.
Paul also notes that this incident now leaves Brown forever susceptible to allegations of abuse, be they real or not. It no longer matters if Brown is convicted in a court of law, the damage to his reputation is done.
It's unfortunate Brown didn't learn from the mistakes of his elders, a few of whom have already suffered some weighty self-inflicted damage to their careers this year.
Christian Bale
What he did wrong: Raged after a director of photography on the set of Terminator Salvation walked into his line of sight during filming. The Welsh actor exploded in a four-minute, expletive-laden tirade that humiliates both himself and the DP.
The fallout: No doubt at the behest of his "people," Bale released a weak apology explaining that, as a true "actor," he still doesn't understand how to work in the confusing world of "movie stars."
What Brown could learn from him: Get some help. This isn't the first time Bale's been accused of having a problem temper, and unless he gets some therapy, it won't be the last. |
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Nip anger issues in the screaming, red-faced bud before they ruin your life.
Michael Phelps
What he did wrong: It's not that he puffed on a bong at a South Carolina college – even CIA agents can have smoked some weed these days – it's that he was stupid enough to do it out in the open, where people could snap photos at will.
The fallout: Kellogg's canned the swimmer, USA Swimming suspended him for three months and Subway says his 2009 ad campaign is being "delayed." Midwestern parents are "disappointed."
What Brown could learn from him: Keep your life yours. Now that you're a celebrity, you've got to constantly be aware of the consequences of public lapses in judgment. This means no toking weed while in the presence of jackasses with digital cameras who would like to make a profit off your downfall. |
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Prince Harry
What he did wrong: Used the terms "Paki" and "raghead" in a home video he later left to be found by jackasses who wanted to profit off his downfall.
The fallout: He's the prince of England, what's anyone gonna do but admonish him a lot in the papers?
What Brown could learn from him: Don't be stupid. Slurring your friends on video – joking or not – and then letting it disappear is stupid.
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Beating your girlfriend up is even worse. These are things accountants from Minnesota could be taken through the ringer for, let alone celebrities. Nobody's saying you shouldn't ever be crass or get angry, but don't let it go overboard. Falling from such great heights hurts.
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