" I remember when I first stumbled on Chris Brown at 6 years old when I turned on MTV Base and fell on his song ‘run it.’ It took that one video for him to steal my heart."
We have all heard the saying, we should be able to separate an artist from their art. Appreciating the talent they have. We all remember the case where R&B star Chris Brown caught a domestic violence case against R&B princess Rihanna. The incident divided the industry into two. Some people believed that we should remove the individual from his music and enjoy their craft. Ever since the incident with Rihanna, Chris Brown’s career and reputation spiralled out of control. It was very hard for me as a fan of Chris Brown when it came to cancelling his music. I mean the man is very talented; he is a triple threat. Singing, dancing and rapping. I remember when I first stumbled on Chris Brown at 6 years old when I turned on MTV Base and fell on his song ‘run it.’ It took that one video for him to steal my heart. Now lets fast forward to 4 years later at the age of 10 when the scandal broke out. At such a young age I had to face the fact that my favourite R&B artist was involved in domestic violence. I didn’t understand the seriousness until I became a teenager. Everyone’s opinion became my own opinion. I then found it hard to remove him from his talent.
Celebrities and public figures have to understand that they are a brand. They represent not only themselves but their sponsors, fans and any person or company that is attached to them. Everything they do is public relations. Then again I also believe that we ‘ordinary people,’ tend to forget that celebrities are also ordinary people, who also make mistakes. We hold them on a peddle stall and expect them to be perfect all the time. The only difference between them and us it that they have a bigger platform than us.
Dutchaveli and his sister Stefflon London who is a UK Female Rapper
We live in a generation where a cancel culture has taken over. For example, UK rapper Dutcahveli was exposed for talking to a 14-year-old girl. The whole UK social media especially Twitter went into a frenzy. Calling for everyone to boycott his music. Even going to the extreme as to comment under his sister Stefflon London’s social media posts. The difference between Dutchaveli and Chris Brown is that Dutcahveli was exposed in a time where social media plays both judge and jury. Dutchaveli hasn’t been in the industry for long and his career is already hanging by a string. Social media has become a new way for people to express their opinion’s. it also becomes a place where peer pressure is evident. So if someone says one person is cancelled and should no longer be entertained then that’s what accurse. When being judge and jury we tend to forget that we or the people around us that we call family and friends have done some horrendous things in our lives; the only difference is that we are not famous, therefore our lives are not on the internet. Our atrocities are not being put in front of a judge and jury to be sentenced and banished from the careers we have worked years to obtain.
should we remove the individual from their artistic craft?
The statement that people should be judged on their merits and not on their past endeavours has sparked a discussion over the last couple of years. Take for example Micheal Jackson who we still consider the King of Pop. Micheal Jackson opened doors for so many young people in the black community. He donated a lot of money to charities across the world. He was the voice of the voiceless. BUT! He did have a dark side to him. He has been exposed as a child molester. Channel 4 did a documentary called ‘ Leaving Neverlands .’ The documentary talks to the two boys who were 7 and 10 when Micheal Jackson started a relationship with them and their families. They tell their stories of how they were abused by Micheal Jackson. This documentary changed the way the world saw him. Micheal Jackson the King of Pop became Micheal Jackson the child abuser. He’s whole reputation and legacy has been tainted. Everything he worked hard for has been destroyed by his actions. However, even though we have heard stories and seen evidence of his involvement with underage boys many people still love and appreciate his music. But is it right ? should we remove the individual from their artistic craft? Should we only judge them by their merits, not their past lives?
For me I’m in the middle, I'm still confused about whether I should still be listening to Chris Brown after he assaulted a female. Rihanna is a woman just like me. I do feel pain for her, I was angry. But there is a saying that people change and if she can give him a second chance so should we. Then there is the side of me that says no he doesn’t deserve a second chance. A side that is angry at Micheal Jackson for pretending to care about young people and abusing their trust. Abusing the trust of the public.
When it comes to this topic I am just confused. Just stuck in the middle. Constantly asking myself should I be listening to Chris Brown, Micheal Jackson or Dutchevali’s music?
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