Justin Bieber is taking a beating on social media for defending Chris Brown and referring to the R&B singer’s assault on Rihanna as “a mistake.”
In an Instagram post, Bieber wrote: “Everyone wants to wait til people die To give them the credit they deserve. I’m calling it now when [Chris Brown] passes away after a long full life, you will miss what you had in front of you the whole time ... trust me watch you will see. the people who have over looked this mans talent because of a mistake he made.. you need to reevaluate!”
Brown responded to Bieber in the comments. “I LOVE YOU MAN! THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN ME. YOUR STAR SHINES SO BRIGHT AND YOUR HEART IS UNMATCHED! YOU ARE A KING BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY YOU WERE PUT HERE TO INSPIRE AND CREATE ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES BRO! IM WITH YA TILL THE WHEELS FALL OFF AND WHEN THEY DO ... WE GONE GET SOME NEW WHEELS”
A lot of people were not impressed that Bieber was praising a man convicted a decade ago of assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna. Brown was sentenced to community service and five years probation.
“What if Rihanna was Hailey,” one person commented, referring to Bieber’s wife. “Would you say the same?”
Many posted the same response: “Domestic violence is not a misake.”
One person posted an excerpt from the police report detailing the injuries Brown caused to Rihanna and someone else listed all of Brown’s alleged violent incidents.
Of course, not everyone took issue with Bieber’s elevation of Brown. Fellow artists like J Balvin, Marshmello, and Sean Kingston showed their support.