Chris Brown wants the NBA to leave him alone.
He voiced his grievances on Instagram, accusing the NBA of rescinding his invitation to participate in the All-Star Celebrity Game.
The singer, a familiar face at the annual event, expressed his frustration on Friday (February 16) through his Story on the platform.
Before the basketball game, with names like Kai Cenat and Lil Wayne in the mix, Brown got a call saying there was a change of plans. Apparently, Ruffles, one of the game’s sponsors, didn’t want the ‘Hope You’ singer involved.
Chris wrote:
“I was asked by the NBA to play in the All-Star Game this year! Only for them to call later and say I couldn’t do it because of their sponsors like Ruffles. At this point, I’m sick of bothering me and I’m tired of living in the f*****g past.”
“I posted the emails so y’all could see. The NBA still was tryna get me to come and sit court side… NOT F*****G HAPPENING,” he added.
Tamika Mallory Weighed in
In her opinion brands have the right to choose who they want to be associated with.
She wrote:
On this issue…brands have every right to choose who they do or don’t want to work with in situations surrounding domestic violence, sexual assault etc etc…
I have questions for our community…especially our women.
Does there come a point when a younger person who did something wrong gets to move forward or do we hold them to their actions forever?
Does it matter that Rihanna, the victim, moved on? Should we pick up the ball and run with it?
Is there something Chris Brown should be doing OR should have done to earn back the respect of the people?
How should we talk to our young people about redemption or the absence of such?
These are not rhetorical questions. I really want to get a sense of how people genuinely feel. And let me say upfront, I don’t follow Chris Brown news so I don’t know all the details. My intention is to provoke a conversation that’s bigger than one person.
Welp her comment section did weigh in:
Jessica Woo wrote:
This has absolutely NOTHING to do with Rihanna and everything to do with his habitual disrespect towards women. Let’s not act like we didn’t see Usher have to intervene between Teyana Taylor and him just last year. Let’s not act as if Rihanna was his only abusive relationship. Even the way he weaponized his fan base against Tinashe just a couple months ago when she simply said their collaboration was not her idea because he was not a pop artist. He has a behavioral pattern. Black women NEVER get the type of grace this man receives. Look at Mo’Nique… black balled for being “difficult” yet folks continue to fight for black males who have shown verbal, physical and emotional abusive behavior towards women CONSISTENTLY.
and another said:
I think the big problem is that people selectively decide whom to try to cancel. There are abusers in Hollywood who still thrive despite committing more egregious acts. Black men are often emasculated. While Chris Brown has caused harm to women in the past, it seems he has grown. He was moving on, and I believe people should allow him to continue growing. Obviously, Chris Brown still has fans, but cancel culture disproportionately affects black people.
more:
SHE HIT HIM – he hit her back. He went too far.
He paid for his mistakes and had to rebuild his brand from scraps.
The NBA is also no stranger to abusers and predators, so the stance is weird.
RIHANNA herself has forgiven him – PUBLICLY.
He can say her name in interviews and no receive a violation of any protections; meaning THAT SHIT IS IN THE PAST. They have both gone on to recreate and CEMENT themselves in our lives and hearts, and we are ALL human. We can’t judge or cast punishment on anyone, as that’s GOD’s place. Let that man live. We won’t forget at all, but we don’t have to hold him to his weakest and lowest form of self. We all have been at that point of low, but we are all still alive and thriving just doing the best we can. Let God. ???️
Twitter reaction
Chris brown became a star in 2005, The incident happened in 2009, this NBA thing is happening in 2025
They have tried to kill this black man for 15 years,
This is why they’ll never let him do the Super Bowl presumably.
Probably afraid he would’ve wiped all they asses in the game https://t.co/P8FVWtniep— Kaycee Brown (@IamKayceeBrown) February 17, 2024
and
So the NBA asked Chris Brown to play in the All-Star game this year only for them to back out bc of their sponsors ? At this point, if this award shows/other entertainment outlets aren’t going to stand on their words, stop playing in this man’s face & leave him the fuck alone. pic.twitter.com/g6GZMjZiCM
— ????????????. (@xohoneydaniels) February 17, 2024
and
the industry really is a hypocritical cesspool of serial rapist, serial abusers, serial child molesters & much more, but we’re drawing the line at chris brown? yall got coaches & team players who should be facing jail time for their behavior yet they’re making plays & were… pic.twitter.com/t86vTwTo2E
— ????ᥫ᭡ (@andranaeee) February 17, 2024
and
The crazy thing is nobody ever even cared about CELEBRITY Al star games anymore until Chris brown started headlining. Mind you. Only his clips went viral. pic.twitter.com/QB4eX2xgOn
— ???✰???????? (@HARAJUKUD0LLY) February 17, 2024
and
How many NBA players right now are still actively hired with DV cases, or putting hands on their SO’s and we don’t know it yet?
But Chris Brown is the malcontent who can’t be allowed to tarnish the brand….a man who took responsibility for his actions and made amends. Yea ok pic.twitter.com/nVjqUSZl4t
— LINEBACKER BRI ? (@adoreewoo_) February 17, 2024
I think the NBA needs to stand ten toes down, either you want the man participating or you don’t.
Ruffles has issued and official statement
We received an email containing an exclusive statement from Ruffles regarding their role in the decision to disinvite Chris Brown.
They write:
“Ruffles sponsored last night’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, however Ruffles did not have any involvement in, nor visibility to, any player decisions or celebrity invite discussions.”
Let us know what you think!
