Selena Gomez made waves on Twitter with her unmistakable reaction to Chris Brown‘s nomination at the recent MTV VMA ceremony held on September 12th. The singer’s less-than-impressed expression became an instant viral moment when Brown’s name was announced in the Best R&B category for his collaboration on Chlöe‘s track ‘How Does It Feel.’ In a widely circulated online clip, Gomez can be seen scrunching her nose at the mention of Brown’s nomination.
Interestingly, Gomez had a victorious night of her own, clinching the award for Best Afrobeats for her contribution to Rema‘s ‘Calm Down.’ Meanwhile, Chris Brown faced disappointment as he lost out to SZA‘s ‘Shirt’ in his category.
Selena Gomez reacting to Chris Brown being nominated at the #VMAs. pic.twitter.com/ngx4Ep8aD5
— Pop Base (@PopBase) September 13, 2023
However, Chris Brown’s history has been marred by controversy, most notably his guilty plea to assaulting his then-girlfriend, Rihanna, in 2009. More recently, in 2021, Brown was the subject of a police investigation over alleged battery charges, which were eventually dropped due to a lack of evidence.
Gomez’s reaction to Brown’s nomination quickly gained traction on Twitter, amassing over 11 million views on Pop Base’s post featuring the viral clip.
Meanwhile, Chlöe, who collaborated with Brown, faced criticism earlier this year for working with a convicted abuser. The Chloe x Halle star defended her decision, emphasizing that fans should judge the music solely on its merits.
In February, Chris Brown took to Instagram to express his frustration with the ongoing “hate” he receives, referring to past incidents as “mistakes” from his youth.
Chris Brown outburst in Instagram stories and it makes sense ? pic.twitter.com/VX1Rb5XtpF
— G (@gemtamayo) February 17, 2023
Singer Kiely Williams didn’t hold back in criticizing Brown for his collaboration with Chlöe. She challenged him to create music so outstanding that it overshadows his history of violence against women. Brown responded with a barrage of insults and continued to vent about being labeled as an abuser, asserting, “If y’all still hate me for a mistake I made as a 17-year-old, please kiss my whole entire ass. I’m 33 now. I’m so tired of y’all running with this narrative.”
He further questioned the inconsistency of cancel culture, asking why white artists who engage in similar actions, such as dating underage women or domestic violence, seem to evade the same level of scrutiny. Brown concluded with a defiant stance, declaring that he will no longer tolerate insincerity and urging others to stay out of his way.
