Chris Brown is weighing in after U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett faced backlash for honoring the singer during his and Usher’s concert in Arlington, Texas.
On Monday, Brown shared a photo of himself embracing the Texas congresswoman onstage to his Instagram Story, along with a message thanking her for the recognition. He also acknowledged the criticism that followed Crockett’s appearance.
“Thank you so much,” Brown wrote. “I apologize for any backlash you have to deal with for awarding for me.” He added that he is “not political” and said he was grateful for the recognition. “I’m not political but I move off of frequency and energy and I’m so grateful. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU.”
The exchange comes days after Crockett appeared onstage during Brown and Usher‘s concert at AT&T Stadium on Saturday (Sept. 12), where she announced that the two artists were being recognized in the Congressional Record for their contributions to music. Texas state Rep. Venton Jones also joined the presentation, giving Brown a separate legislative recognition.
Crockett framed the moment as a celebration of Black music and culture, telling the crowd that she wanted to formally document what she described as “Black joy.” The Congressional Record entry, titled “Recognizing the Artistry of Chris Brown and Usher Raymond,” highlights the singers’ careers and influence on contemporary R&B and popular music. The recognition is ceremonial and does not represent a congressional vote or legislation.
But the decision to recognize Brown quickly became a point of contention online, with critics pointing to his history of legal issues. Brown pleaded guilty to the felony assault of then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009. He has also faced additional legal issues over the years, including a recent U.K. case stemming from a 2023 nightclub incident.
The response to Crockett’s appearance was not universally critical, though. Some defended the recognition as a celebration of Brown’s musical career and argued that his artistic contributions could be acknowledged separately from his legal history.
Jones, who participated in the presentation, also addressed the criticism. In an appearance on The Don Lemon Show, he apologized to people who have experienced domestic violence, saying he did not intend for the recognition to cause additional trauma. He also explained that he and Crockett had been invited to participate in an effort connected to voter mobilization.
Simultaneously, Brown’s message is clear that he’s aware of the reaction surrounding the recognition. In a separate post, he also thanked Crockett and Jones for the honor, writing that it “means so much” to him. Brown is currently continuing his tour with Usher, while he is also awaiting sentencing in the U.K. after pleading guilty to an affray charge related to the 2023 nightclub incident.
