Andie Winsor
Content Warning: Sexual and physical violence, assault,and mentions of rape.
No one’s past or personal struggles should justify their violent behaviour, and Chris Brown is no exception to this. However, some believe that Chris Brown deserves forgiveness for assaulting Rihanna in 2009, claiming that he has grown and learned from his mistakes. Physical and sexual violence are not mistakes; they are violent crimes. Moreover, Rihanna is not the only person that Brown has committed a violent crime against. Although one act of violence against one person should have ended Brown’s career, it did not, and he continues his career in part due to his loyal fans, and likewise, he continues his streak of violent crime.
This timeline only includes what occurrences were reported; for many reasons, some survivors of sexual/physical violence never share their stories publicly.
A timeline of reports of physical and/or sexual violence committed by Chris Brown:
February 8, 2009: Brown assaults then-girlfriend Rihanna, leaving her with facial injuries. She is hospitalized.1
March 5 2009: Brown is subsequently charged with felony assault and making criminal threats against Rihanna2
June 22, 2009: Brown pleads guilty to a felony and accepts a plea deal of community labor, five years’ probation and domestic violence counselling for the crimes committed against Rihanna.3
October/November 2012: Brown attends a Halloween party dressed as an Islamic terrorist. Rihanna was present at this party, which is a violation of the restraining order Rihanna had against Brown. He appears in court on November 1.
2013: A woman accuses Brown of shoving her to the ground after a nightclub show in California. No charges were filed.4
January 2013: One of Chris Brown’s entourage uses a homophobic slur against Christopher Breaux (better known by his stage name, Frank Ocean), and Brown allegedly punches Breaux and threatens to shoot him. Breaux does not press charges.5
July 2013: Following Brown’s involvement in an alleged hit and run in Los Angeles, California, his probation is revoked.6
October 2013: Brown voluntarily enters a rehab facility, and is kicked out of said facility for violent behaviour.7
October 27, 2013: Brown is involved in a physical altercation with two men outside of a hotel in Washington, D.C. He is charged with felony assault. He spends 36 hours in jail and is sent back to Los Angeles, California to appear before a court.8
September 2, 2014: Brown pleads guilty to the aforementioned charge of felony assault.9
May 5, 2015: Brown is named in a misdemeanor battery case after a man alleges that Brown hit him after an argument over a basketball game. The man declined to press charges against Brown.10
2016: A woman accuses Brown of threatening her with a gun and pointing it at her face inside of Brown’s residence. He is not convicted.11
January 2, 2016: Brown is investigated by the Las Vegas Police Department after a woman alleges that Brown beat her and stole her cell phone during a party at the Palms Casino Resort.12
August 2016: Brown is arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon following an hours-long standoff with police at his Los Angeles residence. Charges were not filed, and Brown is let out on bail.13
April 2017: Police say that Brown allegedly punched a club photographer in Tampa, Florida during his paid appearance at AJA Channel side. He is not arrested.14
June 2017: A judge grants Karrueche Tran a 5-year long restraining order against Brown after he threatens her with violence.15,16
January 2019: Brown, his bodyguard and another man are detained on potential charges of aggravated rape and drug infractions at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Paris. He is released without charges, pending investigation.17
May 28, 2019: Brown and the two other accused men fail to appear in a Paris court over rape accusations. The woman who is pressing charges is represented by Gloria Allred.18
June 18, 2021: Brown is accused of hitting a woman in a home in South Fernando Valley, California.19
Chris Brown is not an anomaly. Many perpetrators of physical and sexual violence continue to have supporters after being accused or convicted of violent acts. Our time, energy, and money is a part of what keeps people like Chris Brown in positions of power. No one’s career, music or talent should be seen as more important than the livelihood and safety of others.
If you or someone you know is or has experienced sexual violence, provided are resources that can help.
SAC Kingston (Sexual Assault Centre)
Phone: 1-877-544-6424. Available 24 hours Crisis Support.
Email: sack@sackingston.com
Located at 400 Elliott Avenue, Unit 1 (Rockcliffe Plaza) Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Queen's University Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Coordinator, Barb Lotan.
Barb Lotan can aid in the healing process and assess potential next steps.
Email: bjl7@queensu.ca
Office Located at B502 Mackintosh-Corry Hall, Human Rights & Equity hallway.
Kingston Police (Non-Emergency Line)
Phone: (613) 549-4660
**In the event of an emergency always call 911 immediately or if on campus locate an emergency blue light.
References 19 Brisco, Elise, “Chris Brown accused of hitting a woman.” 18 Scott, Katie, “Chris Brown fails to appear in Paris court over rape accusation,” Global News, May 28, 2019. 17 Burke, Minyvonne, “Model accusing Chris Brown of rape details alleged encounter,” NBC News, January 23, 2019. 16Heigl, “History of Chris Brown’s Legal Troubles.” 15Dastagir, Alia E.,“Chris Brown is accused of more violence against women. Are we ready to cancel him
14Heigl, “History of Chris Brown’s Legal Troubles.” 13Heigl, “History of Chris Brown’s Legal Troubles.” 12Heigl, “History of Chris Brown’s Legal Troubles.” 11Brisco, Elise, “Chris Brown accused of hitting a woman.” 10Heigl, “History of Chris Brown’s Legal Troubles.” 9Heigl, “History of Chris Brown’s Legal Troubles.” 8Heigl, “History of Chris Brown’s Legal Troubles.” 7Heigl, “History of Chris Brown’s Legal Troubles.” 6Heigl, “History of Chris Brown’s Legal Troubles.”
5Heigl, “History of Chris Brown’s Legal Troubles.” 4Brisco, Elise, “Chris Brown accused of hitting a woman in Los Angeles, reports say,” USA Today, June 23, 2021. 3Heigl, “History of Chris Brown’s Legal Troubles.” 2Heigl, “History of Chris Brown’s Legal Troubles.” 1 Heigl, Alex, “A Complete History of Chris Brown’s Legal Troubles,” People, January 22, 2019.
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