Lloyd Denies Telling Chris Brown To Cry During Michael Jackson Tribute

R&B singer Lloyd has addressed speculation and rumors that he told Chris Brown to intentionally cry during his Michael Jackson tribute BET Awards 10 performance last weekend.

Writing via his website, Lloyd shot down the gossip.

“I never told him to go on stage and cry. We spoke recently, and I told him as a friend that people hadn’t really seen him be vulnerable about his situation last year. I thought he was holding back and needed to let that emotion out. [But] him crying at the BET Awards was real, I could feel it…I think he cried about a number of things. About the fact that he thought people would hate him forever because of one mistake. Feeling that love on stage was probably overwhelming. Plus [Jackson] being gone and him performing ‘Man In The Mirror’, that song is powerful, especially for his situation. It pushed him over the edge.” (The CMU)

Websites earlier this week quoted Lloyd as suggesting Brown would do better if he cried during the set.

Speaking to US press, Southside star Lloyd said that before Chris’ segment, Lloyd told the shamed R&B star: “man, you gotta get up there. You gotta cry, you gotta really show your heart to the world.” Chris choked up when singing Man In The Mirror at Sunday’s award show. After his performance, the star said: “I let you all down before. But I won’t do it again. I promise you.” (Glamour Magazine)

Brown’s meltdown took place as “Man in the Mirror” began to play.

And while Todd Bridges showed up to give a shout-out to Gary Coleman (“I was even hearing [that phrase] in prison!”) it was Brown who was tasked with the expected yet still-surprisingMichael Jackson tribute marking the first anniversary of the King of Pop’s death. Brown even started out in silhouette, making us squint at first to see who was donning the trademark fedora. Brown did justice to Jackson’s dance moves (as much as anyone could, that is) and his sweet timbre, but whether it was out of feeling for Jackson or introspection directed at his own past foibles, the tarnished 21-year-old choked up and never recovered when “Man in the Mirror” got going. (E! Online)

Writing via Twitter, artists like Fabolous said Brown gave a historic performance.

“Chris Brown jus single handledly bodied every MJ tribute to date. His dance swagger is almost exact to Michael’s.. Almost..,” he wrote late Sunday (June 27) night. (Fabolous’ Twitter)

Check out Chris Brown’s performance down below: