Chris Breezy Breaks down

I did not see Chris Brown's performance at the 2010 BET Awards live, but I did catch the broadcast of the afterparty and heard everyone talking about how Chris tore it down. Just hearing Chris Brown's name and the BET awards in the same sentence was shocking enough seeing that they all but banned him from the building in 2009, days after Michael Jackson died. I have had the pleasure in the past of personally seeing Chris Brown channel Michael Jackson and I was floored at how effortllessly he did Michael's moves, so to have a Michael Jackson tribute last year without Chris did not feel right. I understand why BET could not have Brown perform with wounds from his assault on Rihanna still raw in people's minds.

After seeing a short highlight of Brown's performance I had to find it on YouTube. Everyone is making a big deal about him crying on stage saying he wasn't sincere, he was looking for sympathy, yada yada yada. "Man In the Mirror" is a powerful song in its call for people to look within themselves and make a change for the better before helping others in need. The irony of the song and the significance it has in Brown's own life at this point - ofcourse the guy is going to break down. That does not mean he is looking for sympathy in my opinion.

I am positive he is genuinely sorry he laid hands on Rihanna and he misses Michael Jackson. I haven't seen anyone do Michael's moves spot on like that since a young Alfonso Ribiero (Carlton from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to the youths) in the 1984 Pepsi commercial. A young guy who studies Michael Jackson like that and incorporates his dances into all performances has a definite love for MJ that would cause a break down such as we saw.

I believe Chris. As I said before "Man In the Mirror" is a powerful song from an otherworldly talented singer/songwriter/performer/humanitarian that tugs on the heartstrings and conscience of people who take their good fortune (not only monetary, but health as well) for granted. I think it is time to forgive this young man for his horrible lapse in judgement. While I do not condone his actions in the slightest bit, he has plead guilty, he is serving his time with community service, and he has been blackballed in the music industry. Bravo to BET for giving Brown the cathartic experience of paying tribute to his idol. After criticizing last year's tribute and funeral from the peanut gallery, Chris got his chance to do his thing where he is most comfortable... the stage. Sound familiar?