The Real Reason Why Chris Brown Didn’t Perform in Honor of Michael Jackson at the 2009 BET Awards
Author: Staff | Date: June 29th 2009 | Filed: Exclusives, News & Gossip
BET needs to be ashamed of themselves for using Michael Jackson’s name to hype up ratings. Because that’s EXACTLY what they did. If you didn’t catch the 2009 BET Awards, trust us … you didn’t miss much. The show was obviously thrown together at the last minute, and they should have left MJ’s name out of it if they weren’t going to deliver.
On Friday, via their official website, they put out a story saying that they would be “shifting gears” to honor Michael Jackson and his contributions to the world of music and the entire world in general. The final result? A sloppy mess that looks like it was put together in an AOL Instant Messenger chat room the day before. Now we’re not going to knock Jamie Foxx and Ne-Yo for their tributes, because they were on point. And even Ciara did her thing too. But no one would have done a tribute like Chris Brown…
Chris Brown has been given the title as “the next Michael Jackson” ever since he first started “running it” back in 2005 with Juelz Santana. And he did the damn thing at the 2006 World Music Awards when he performed Thriller. Now, we all know he’s been through his bout with the media with the whole Rihanna thing, but unfortunately BET couldn’t put that aside for 5 minutes to honor the biggest name in music and entertainment.
“Chris Brown was supposed to open the show but BET executives were not agreeing to let Chris go on stage after they had already established that he was performing,” a source revealed to Gossip On This. “A lot of reports were saying that he was using this as a way to rebuild his image. So at the last minute, he was pulled. … After 3 days of rehearsal, they pulled Chris Brown from the show…”
Upon hearing the last-minute news of Chris Brown not opening the show, calls to BET were made and were not returned…
In a nutshell, Chris Brown found out Friday that BET had given him the green light to perform and open up the 2009 BET Awards, which would have been great! But BET listened to the media, who basically told them that Chris Brown was just using the show to rebuild his image, which is completely false. It’s a known fact that Chris Brown is a HUGE Michael Jackson fan, and Michael Jackson himself was a fan of Chris Brown. So he would have loved Chris to perform in honor of him.
So if you were wondering why Jamie Foxx and Ne-Yo performed a billion times … that’s why. They were filling in for lost time. BET Networks should be ashamed of themselves and we hope the media drags them through the mud this week. Instead of looking out for Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, the King of MUSIC … BET decided to look out for themselves. And in the end, came out looking like fools.
Shame on you BET … shame on you! The VMAs are going to sh*t all over the BET Awards!!!
PaigeCameron
June 29, 2009 at 1:33 AM
DAMN! that’s too bad, cuz me & my family we anticipating Chris .
ummm
June 29, 2009 at 1:38 AM
but the jackson family did show up, janet and his dad did so i call ur story BS
ZAH
June 29, 2009 at 1:41 AM
Those freaking IDIOTS!!! Upset is an understatement to what I’m feeling!!!!!!
jgirl
June 29, 2009 at 1:42 AM
HELLO – BET IS NOT BLACK OWNED. IT’S A SUBSIDIARY OF VIACOM. IT IS THE WHITE MEDIA.
nina
June 29, 2009 at 1:43 AM
damn !!! duzz sooo sadd i wuzz waitiinnn 4 chris daa wholee night 2 perform =[[ reallyy dissapointed at BEt =[[[
MEEEE
June 29, 2009 at 1:43 AM
Story is legit. Only the dad and sis showed up, why didn’t the rest of the family?? Because of the above incident.
Harmony
June 29, 2009 at 1:45 AM
Wow!! so wat if this was for his career he loved michael he needed this michael needed this!! i cant help but think that mtv is gonna take this and run with it and as well they should cause NOBODY does michael like chris brown!!!!
YEPPPPP
June 29, 2009 at 1:50 AM
That “tribute” was absolutely embarassing. Michael was KNOWN for his dance skills and NO ONE DANCED! WTF? Some of Jamie’s nose jokes may have been out of line too. They were funny, but sort of disrespectful. BET definitely DISSAPOINTED in a big way. Its obvious Chris had a big performance planned and they pulled it at the last minute because there’s no way they were doing all that bragging for those simple “tributes” they showed tonight. SMH….no performance blew me away at all. Best part of the show was the last 5 minutes beginning with Janet.
NAJ
June 29, 2009 at 1:50 AM
I AGREE TOTALLY..CHRIS BROWN WOULD HAVE BEEN THE BEST THING FOR THE SHOW…IT WAS A PIECE OF TRASH ASIDE FROM THE OJAY’S , BBD AND MAXWELL,TREY SONGZ……THE ARE TOTALLY WRONG FOR NOT LETTING HIM PERFORM…CHRIS BROWN STUDIED MICHEAL AND COULD HONOR HIM THE BEST!!
MiJay
June 29, 2009 at 1:51 AM
i totally believe this story!!! Thats so sad that they pulled him he would have been an excellent performer!!! the tribute could have been a lot better
NAJ
June 29, 2009 at 1:52 AM
@ HARMONY, I AGREE WHO CARES IF HE DID DO IT FOR HIS CAREER////HE LOVED MICHAEL AND HAS TALENT LIKE NO OTHER….I HOPE MTV GETS HIM AND BLOW BET OUT THE WATER
Estevan
June 29, 2009 at 1:53 AM
Would have been the best tribute, but BET ruined it. This was my first BET award show to watch and it was lacking in a lot. I did however like Janet for her heart-felt speech, and the song Neyo and Jamie did. But Chris would have done a fantastic job, we’ve seen a lot of his versions and Man in the Mirror would have been great.
Yomomma
June 29, 2009 at 1:53 AM
Or perhaps BET didn’t want to lend a hand to a woman beater trying to renew his career! Great performer or not, there was enough controversy surrounding MJ’s legacy without the likes of some scum like Chris Brown paying tribute to him.
Violence against women is not something that should be swept under the rug after a few months….Chris Brown made mistakes and now he’s paying the price. BET didn’t wanna tarnish their image or disrespect the image that some people had of MJ by having Brown perform….it’s as simple as that.
JoeBlackAttacks.Com
June 29, 2009 at 1:53 AM
I just wanna say I am too pissed that I wasted more than a few hours on this mess and @ UMMM if you don’t believe his story don’t get ignorant…I seen enough of that on tonight’s show…and if you didn’t notice…Janet was in…and out of there in like three mins. Joe was the only one who was there the whole time…I’m so posting this on my blog!
SaQuenta
June 29, 2009 at 1:54 AM
OMG the show would have been alot better with Chris Brown trIbute…it makes alot of since on why I kept seeing Jamie performing (I was sick of his a**) but it dont make since that the Jackson family would be trying 2 reach out to BET when they have more important things on their mind…but it could be possible! Plus I also thought the show could have given MJ more tribute
Captain Obvious
June 29, 2009 at 1:54 AM
Guys, if BET did this, you should probably not get your hopes up for a CB performance at the VMA’s. They are both owned by Viacom, so will likely have the same policy. Better look for something at the World Music Awards instead.
lol
June 29, 2009 at 1:56 AM
u guys are sooooooooooooo dumb! why would his family show up to a public award show when their loved one died 3 days ago, this story is the biggest BS ever.
DIDNT ANY OF U LISTEN TO WHAT JANET SAID???
MYABE CB PULLED OUT OF RESPECT FOR MJ BECAUSE WITH HIS DRAMA PPL WOULD OF MADE IT ABOUT CB NOT MJ. USED UR HEADS!!
LividFan
June 29, 2009 at 2:04 AM
-smh-
I am so livid with BET and I never watched before this award show and I most certainly won’t be tuning in now. Don C. was on that stage when he beat a woman, T.I won an award from jail, Bobby Brown was able to perform, Jay-z punched a woman in the face on camera and performed so what gives? It hurts so badly to see BET dishing out the crap they called a “tribute” complete with Jaime making an ass of himself/promoting his own endeavors. Chris still has a lot of fans whether they like it or not. That Rihanna case is totally separate from MJ. He is more important than Rihanna and Chris combined and their troubles should NOT have been dragged into his death to hinder the excellent tribute that man deserves. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE FAMILY REQUESTED CHRIS. WTF?! – I believe MJ even called Chris for his b-day one year.
So it only shows their selfishness and lack of care for Michael. They don’t give a shit about MJ – none of them. All those lack luster comments on stage. Where were you motherfuckers before his death? Were you publicly showing your love for him then? No! I know CB and a few other artist CONSTANTLY mentioned MJ’s influence on them. Anyone who knew MJ knew he was a perfectionist and that show wouldn’t have cut it. No dancing at an MJ tribute?! Don’t give that 2 day crap either because clearly that show was a train wreck and only salted w/ MJ to boost the ratings.
This man gave 40 years of excellence to us and you couldn’t give him five minutes of CB performing (something his family wanted)
FUCK you BET.
msgigi152
June 29, 2009 at 2:05 AM
it was a little disappointing and you can tell it was quickly put together in 3 days no dance tributes
Inie
June 29, 2009 at 2:06 AM
this just shows how some people are…worry about necessary things…BET Awards was sorry this year, and didn’t give justice to MJ dance moves or songs…shame how some people act!
Right
June 29, 2009 at 2:06 AM
@Yomomma;
But they had Bobby Brown there.
So why have one woman beater and not the other?
REF
June 29, 2009 at 2:11 AM
They should have granted the wishes of the grieving family. They should have put aside CB’s recent troubles. CB is truly a sincere MJJ fan and would not have been using this opportunity to get in good graces with the public. It would have been done genuinely. They should be ashamed of themselves if they in fact listened to mainstream media; MTV just gonna use it to their advantage a get CB to perform a tribute @ their award show.
PLEASE
June 29, 2009 at 2:13 AM
They had Bobby, Don, and Joe . And they were abusers at one point. So what makes them different then CB. Along with Lil Wayne being censored ever 2 seconds in his Entire set. All the rappers in there were durg deals, killed some, etc…
So BET has standards Now??? LMAO!
Melanie
June 29, 2009 at 2:13 AM
some people need to just let this hate go. I refuse to let a single issolated incident were chris was pushed to his breaking point define a young man for the rest of his life.
BET gets the biggest fail in the world for that coonery they called a tribute. I’m actually glad he wasn’t a part of it because I dont want him associated in any way to the backlash that is gonna be coming this week towards BET.
Shai
June 29, 2009 at 2:15 AM
Thats some bull cause i watched the bet awards just for him and the show was about mike so everyone should have been able to show their respects if they wanted to.! – thats just my view on it
Vickie
June 29, 2009 at 2:17 AM
Okay, So why does it have to be “White Media”, and “Black-owned”… And why to black people feel free to catagorize everything like that when if a white person even says “black” you all freak out???….. Second of all… do you really think Chris Brown thinks about doing things ‘for his career’ before he does them?…..Think not, if he did he wouldn’t be in the mess he’s in now!!!…. So I agree with the main point, they should have let him perform.
SaQuenta
June 29, 2009 at 2:20 AM
LividFan…u are the one person that has broke it down I really agree with ur comment NE-YO was speaking about how MJ inspired him and he didnt even dance but the song he sung was off the hook…Jamie turned the show into his plug 4 his tour…and to not see Beyonce dance??? She always dance her and Ciara! Chris Brwon would have made everybody proud of his MJ tribute…they are even showing clips on MTV when he dressed like MJ and danced 2 1 of his songs…BET is full of crap and everybody else thats keeps bringing up him and Rihanna situation because theey both still have fans that supports them and if the Jackson family still supports him why woulndt they honor there wish??
vickie
June 29, 2009 at 2:20 AM
P.S. & why does the shit with Rhianna matter anyways?. Noone’s worried about the alleged child molestation by MJ at this point any. Everybody seems to forget about that?!?!?!?!!!
Machone
June 29, 2009 at 2:26 AM
Chris Brown is a mediocre singer at best. If he wants to follow in anyone’s footsteps, MJ’s are not the best to follow in. Maybe he should start following Mike Tyson.
EYE OPENER
June 29, 2009 at 2:31 AM
I AGREE WITH “LOL”’s comment. That was not the reason the Jackson family didn’t show. They lost a family member 3 DAYZ AGO PEOPLE! They are trying to keep the family out of spotlight!! Has ANYONE noticed that you saw Janet’s face only ONCE?! His dad showed only as an acceptance on the tribute. So, you people get a LIFE!
and if the Jackson Fam asked for Chris to perform, where can I find that statement?!
shonda
June 29, 2009 at 2:36 AM
THIS STORY IS ABSOLUTE NONSENSE AND WILL BE PROVEN AS SUCH. IF YOU LOVE CHRIS BROWN SO MUCH, YOU AREN’T DOING HIM ANY FAVORS BY WHINING AND BLAMING EVERYONE ELSE FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL FAILURES. YOU FANS BLAME RIHANNA, BET, JAY Z, EVEN AL SHARPTON—YOU ALL ARE A PATHETIC BUNCH!!!!
QUIT WHINING OVER ALL OVER THE INTERNET. IT’S REALLY BECOMING EMBARRASSING AND NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR CHRIS AT ALL.
SECNDLY, CHRIS BROWN NEVER WAS AND WILL NEVER BE ANYBODY’S MICHAEL JACKSON. MICHAEL KNOWS THIS,THE JACKSONS KNOW IT, ANYONE WITH A BRAIN KNOWS IT. THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER MICHAEL JACKSON. GET THAT THROUGH YOUR DAMN HEAD!!!!!!!!!!
CHRIS IS SO-SO. HE CAN DANCE, BUT HE’S NO MICHAEL AND HE’S A CORNBALL. GET ANY KID OF THE STREET AND THEY CAN GET THE MOVES DOWN. CHRIS’S VOICE IS NASALLY AND WHINY. HE’LL NEVER BE MICHAEL JACKSON SO JUST LIVE WITH IT. MICHAEL WAS ON A WHOLE ‘NOTHER LEVEL OF GREATNESS. IT’S EMBARRASSING TO THINK SOME FEEL HE CAN BE REPLACED, ESPECIALLY BY SOMEONE LIKE CHRIS BROWN LOL
Yomomma
June 29, 2009 at 2:37 AM
@RIGHT
Yeah, but the Chris Brown stuff is still fresh in everybody’s minds. Most people probably don’t even remember the Bobby Brown thing.
Marvelle
June 29, 2009 at 2:38 AM
Chris Brown would be better served doing a Ike Turner Tribute!! Now that would be DOPE!!!!!
Adriana
June 29, 2009 at 2:43 AM
If you knew anything about MJ would would know he was a gentle, forgiving soul. I’m sure he would’ve been honored to have Chris perform, especially since he called him on his birthday, his family requested and he has been caught in the media’s hurricane of hate since the early 90s. Too bad some of you people can’t grasp that life is too short to dwell on hate. You could die tomorrow bickering about what happened between Chris an Rihanna. Doesn’t sound appealing to me.
SaQuenta
June 29, 2009 at 2:47 AM
@ yomomma it dnt matter how old it was it happened Shonda if u dont like Chris Brown ur choice and this is not the only website to report the same story so it has to be some truth to it and what fans do is support their artist and thats what everybody on here is doing…the main point to all of this that BET didnt do what was expected of them and that Chris Brown should have been able to perform!!!!!!
Right
June 29, 2009 at 2:47 AM
@Yomomma;
That’s irrelevant. Just because it happened years ago shouldn’t give Bobby a free pass. It still HAPPENED, no? So why treat him any differently?
It just seems very hypocritial, imo.
MJ Fan
June 29, 2009 at 2:48 AM
The BET Awards SUCKED ASSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chris Brown would have made the show a million times better….. I think that BET has really lost their touch…. Bleeping everything people said made the show suck ass…. Then all these new original BET shows are all retarded… Like Tiny & Toya who gives a fuck about them…… Basically I’m about to stop watching BET…. I would rather watch the Disney channel……
Right
June 29, 2009 at 2:50 AM
All I have to say on this topic is: if the Jackson family PERSONALLY requested that Chris perform, it shouldn’t matter what Viacom wanted. The show was supposed to be for Michael, not for Viacom. If they wanted him, they should’ve got him. Denying their wishes when the show is supposed to be honoring their loved one seems VERY disrespectful, IMO.
Why I shall Never Watch another BET show ever again...on purpose at least!
June 29, 2009 at 2:53 AM
[....there were only a few performances that you could say was worth tuning in for, but beyond Tre Songz, *Wrong song for the Audience she was preforming for* Beyonce, and Ne-Yo the rest of the show was crap....and you know what the sad thing about all this is most people aren't even mad at BET for this Turd of a Show ...we are all just so Damn Disappointed!...]
Steven
June 29, 2009 at 2:54 AM
I think this story is a bunch of bull… the Jackson family was present as we all heard and seen both Janet and Joe Jackson. As for Chris Brown not performing, the man was just convicted of a felony and although the loss of the King of Pop was devastating to us all, Chris Brown is no exception. I believe the network did everything in their power to put together a 4 hour show in a matter of days… Quit hatin… He should of thought about honoring Michael Jackson before he started beating up women
Right
June 29, 2009 at 3:01 AM
“He should of thought about honoring Michael Jackson before he started beating up women”
That’s a fair statement.
“Hey, Michael Jackson is gonna suddenly, shockingly, and sadly pass away in about six months. Lemme sit here whilst my girlfriend flips her shit on me.”
Yup, I can see that happening.
Steven
June 29, 2009 at 3:05 AM
Lol… Dumb-ass,
Someone doesn’t have to die in order to honor them. If he was so focused on being “the next Michael Jackson” and living up to his honor he should have thought about that before he beat up that girl.
Michael Jackson passing away was indeed a tragedy, but it doesn’t change that fact that Chris Brown is paying the consequences for his actions. If BET dismissed him as a performer, I believe they had every right to do so…
Now that’s a fair statement…
Right
June 29, 2009 at 3:12 AM
@Steven;
Well, due to the way the world works, we usually honor people the most after they pass. It’s not exactly the most ideal of arrangements, but that’s how it is.
And there are plenty other factors you aren’t taking into consideration in terms of “he should of thought of that before he beat up that girl”. But that’s a discussion for another day.
Chris has been paying the consequences for about half a year now, it’s not like it’s been a week. It’s been six months. I believe in forgiveness, and shunning someone isn’t forgiveness. If Chris wanted to pay his respects to MJ, then he should’ve had every chance to. Why make it about what he did instead of honoring the memory of MJ?
I don’t think BET made the right decision. The show was definitely a flop and didn’t nearly live up to the legacy that MJ left behind, IMO. It was very much the “Jamie Plugs His Tour” five-hour (or something to that effect) special.
Leila
June 29, 2009 at 3:25 AM
yup.. BET totaly had a chance to blow everyone away with an amazing show…but they blew it! Chris was the one to bring it and now some other (more classy) award show will get reep the benifits of his talent! the show was a major flop – i did like snoops 2 sec apperance and jamie did sing well at the end BUT really a tirubte…more like an insult if that was ment to show the world how MJ has inspired… then where was the dancing! sorry it was realy just really lame, even preformers i usual like …beyonce,jz for eg SUCKED!!!!!!!! THUMBS DOWN HARD!!!!!!!!
Gina
June 29, 2009 at 3:42 AM
I so agree! Chris Brown would of been an amazing performer to have on the show in honor of Michael Jackson. That boy can dance his heart out and sing beautiful….he would of been great entertainment!
babygirl
June 29, 2009 at 3:46 AM
i agree chris brown would have done a great job despite what the media and the bet should have not even listen to the media and people and they should have known that chris was going to put on a great show cause without him the show was wack i watched the show and it was boring and all the songs had nothing to do with michael jackson.
Tima1
June 29, 2009 at 4:31 AM
@UMMM @SHONDA @Marvelle @Steven
It hard to believe that you read this entire story, yet
decided to base your belief on one statement that
appears to be an incomplete thought. When the author
said the Jackson family didn’t show up, they probably
meant more of the family didn’t show up. If BET did pull
the plug on Chris Brown’s performance, it was obviously
done at a time that it was inopportune for Janet & Joe
to turn around & leave.
@Yomomma,
It’s very sad to see such hatred for someone all of you obviously
don’t know. The point of the tribute, was too honor Michael
Jackson’s “music/dance genius, humanitarianism, & philanthropy.
Who better too honor his music/dance prowess, than Michael’s
foremost protégé, Chris Brown. Whether you agree with this
choice, is pointless; it is what it is.
Like Michael, Chris is growing up under a microscope where every
thing he does is being judged , unfortunately by such bigots as
yourselves. I’m sure none of you are perfect and wouldn’t want
to face the wrath of like kind; somehow I don’ think you could handle
it since it’s much easier to “dish” it out.
@LOL
If people would have taken Chris’ performance, as less than an
honorable tribute too Michael, his mentor, they would have missed
the point & that’s their loss. Those one-time moments are priceless.
@Melanie
KUDOS TOO U! =)
@Machone
Hmmm, Michael obviously saw something you don’t. I’ve been following
Michael for awhile now & e has never allowed anyone too touch his beloved
“THRILLER”. Chris was commissioned by the WMA AT Michael’s request,
too perform “Thriller”. That was the night Michael received his ‘Diamond”!
Tima1
June 29, 2009 at 4:36 AM
*CORRECTION GOT A COUPLE TAGS MIXED UP:
@UMMM
It hard to believe that you read this entire story, yet
decided to base your belief on one statement that
appears to be an incomplete thought. When the author
said the Jackson family didn’t show up, they probably
meant more of the family didn’t show up. If BET did pull
the plug on Chris Brown’s performance, it was obviously
done at a time that it was inopportune for Janet & Joe
to turn around & leave.
@Yomomma, @SHONDA @Marvelle @Steven
It’s very sad to see such hatred for someone all of you obviously
don’t know. The point of the tribute, was too honor Michael
Jackson’s “music/dance genius, humanitarianism, & philanthropy.
Who better too honor his music/dance prowess, than Michael’s
foremost protégé, Chris Brown. Whether you agree with this
choice, is pointless; it is what it is.
Like Michael, Chris is growing up under a microscope where every
thing he does is being judged , unfortunately by such bigots as
yourselves. I’m sure none of you are perfect and wouldn’t want
to face the wrath of like kind; somehow I don’ think you could handle
it since it’s much easier to “dish” it out.
Tima1
June 29, 2009 at 4:39 AM
@Right
You’re absolutely right! KUDOS =8)
wtf85
June 29, 2009 at 4:40 AM
Maybe some of u forgot that chris brown did honor MJ on tour and in award shows (when nobody else did) and he did a fantastic job. u chris brown bashers don’t know what really went on that night between him & rihanna. Leave his mistakes for God to judge.