Joyner Lucas will “stand in front of the f***ing bullet” in his defence for Chris Brown

Joyner Lucas, the I’m Not Racist rapper, found himself donning shining armour, ready to slay trolls and haters on behalf of domestic abuser and rape-accused Chris Brown, amid recent controversies involving fellow artists Tinashe and Selena Gomez.

Tinashe's confession

The first spark of this controversy was ignited when Tinashe, an artist who had previously collaborated with Brown, openly expressed her regrets about working with him.

She voiced her discomfort about their collaboration, stating that it was primarily a label decision that she wasn't pleased with.

that abuser wanted to tear tinashe down so bad but all he did was create publicity for her new album. now she got vids defending her going viral on tiktok lmao pic.twitter.com/lEUb6nhC2l

— BB👼 (@jithongchy) September 19, 2023

Tinashe's comments cast a shadow on her past work with Brown, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere around their previous musical endeavours. Brown retaliated with a one-line response.

Selena Gomez at the VMAs

Another twist in the tale occurred during the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) when Selena Gomez's facial expression garnered attention. Gomez seemed visibly displeased when Brown's name was announced as a nominee in the Best R&B category for his featured role on Chlöe Bailey's single, How Does It Feel.

Selena Gomez's face the moment they announced Chris Brown's nomination for an award at the #VMAs pic.twitter.com/spr5l9l9aO

— Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman) September 13, 2023

The reaction set off a storm of online discussions and memes, putting Brown back in the spotlight for reasons he might not have anticipated.

In comes Lucas

An outspoken supporter of the rapper, Lucas took it upon himself to defend Brown in the face of growing criticism.

He declared war on anyone daring to diss Brown, as if he'd taken an oath to protect Breezy's honour at all costs as the self-appointed guardian of the Chris Brown fan club. 

No @chrisbrown slander will be tolerated pic.twitter.com/C38YHskUu1

— Joyner Lucas (@JoynerLucas) September 17, 2023

• He made it clear that he wouldn't tolerate any hate directed at Brown and referred to those criticising him as "weirdo f***ing celebrity weirdos."
• He criticised celebrities who appeared on podcasts and spoke negatively about Brown, even making faces of disapproval.
• Lucas asserted that he was standing up for his friend and fellow artist, taking the proverbial bullet on his behalf.

• In his Instagram story, Lucas went further, suggesting that the people hating on Brown were secretly fans of his.
• He even posted clips of Gomez listening to his music, highlighting the irony of people advocating against bullying while participating in online criticism. 

Brown seemed to appreciate Lucas's support, as he reposted the lengthy story on his own account, signalling his agreement with Lucas's stance.

The backlash

Despite Lucas's firm defence of Brown, he faced significant backlash from social media users and the public. Critics argued that his support for Brown was inconsistent with his previous stance on similar issues.

• In January 2019, Lucas had expressed concern and offered condolences and support to R Kelly's victims following the release of the Surviving R Kelly docuseries, which detailed allegations of abuse and sexual crimes committed by the R&B icon.

However, when it came to allegations against his frequent collaborator Brown, Lucas took a different approach. He dismissed the accusations, stating on Instagram, 

defending Brown's reputation as a charismatic figure who didn't need to engage in such behaviour. 

He dismissed the accusations as attempts to tarnish his friend's legacy and even indulged in a bit of victim-blaming logic, claiming that Brown had no need for such behaviour given his ability to charm the ladies.

1.Stop
2.Hitting
3.And
4.Abusing
5.Women https://t.co/BHZ119ONcY

— Tai༺♡༻ (@spillmez) September 17, 2023

Invoking legends

Lucas's impassioned defence of Brown included an unusual comparison to the likes of Malcolm X and Michael Jackson. He suggested that like Malcolm X, who had a troubled past before becoming a revolutionary figure, Brown should be judged on his talent and not his personal history.

However, this comparison did not sit well with many, as the contexts of their lives and actions were vastly different, making the analogy problematic and controversial.

The ‘Bigger Picture’

This controversy involving Lucas and Brown raises questions about the responsibilities of celebrities in addressing allegations of misconduct within their industry.

Lucas's support for Brown has further ignited discussions about how the music industry handles accusations of wrongdoing and whether personal talent should always overshadow personal actions.