Chris Brown rejects Texas honour after lawmaker apologises

Chris Brown has rejected a Texas honour after the state lawmaker who presented it apologised for doing so.

Brown posted his response on Instagram Story on Tuesday, Sept. 15. He said he did not ask for the recognition in the first place.

“YALL CAME TO ME WITH THIS! NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND,” Brown wrote. He added that his Dallas shows were already sold out and that he did not request to be honoured, according to Billboard.

The honour was presented on Saturday during a tour stop at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Brown and Usher both received legislative recognition from U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Texas state Rep. Venton Jones.

One citation entered the two singers into the Congressional Record, the official written account of U.S. Congress activity. The other formally recognised their artistry in the state of Texas.

Jones addressed the decision on The Don Lemon Show on Monday, Sept. 14. He said he was apologising after criticism from domestic violence advocates.

Jones said he wanted to apologise to Black women, women and anyone who has experienced domestic violence for honouring Brown. His remarks followed public backlash to the presentation at the weekend show.

The criticism relates to Brown’s 2009 guilty plea for assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna. He was sentenced to five years’ probation, community service and domestic violence counselling.

Brown closed his message with a short dismissal. “I ain’t ask to be honored,” he wrote, as reported by WFAA.