Chris Brown Addresses BET Awards Meltdown, “That Was My Ultimate Apology”

Written By S. Samuel

R&B singer Chris Brown has finally addressed his performance at this past June's BET Awards where he dissolved into tears during his Michael Jackson tribute.

Chris Brown
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Despite rumors claiming the set was staged, Brown promised his emotions were authentic.

“A lot of people don’t know, I was going to see Michael Jackson the day he died,” said Brown, who has long talked about his admiration for the late King of Pop. “I was on my way to the Staples Center to see him [the day he died] … When I heard ‘Man in the Mirror,’ the words started speaking to me in my personal life. It just touched me. It wasn’t fake. I know people were trying to put extras on it, but everything was genuine. That was my ultimate apology, hands down.” (MTV)

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-surprising Michael 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)

Following the performance, speculation grew claiming R&B singer Lloyd told Brown to cry.

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)

However, Lloyd later came forward and 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)

Check out Chris Brown’s performance down below:

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Written by S. Samuel

Steven Samuel is the co-founder of SOHH.com.

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