Chris Brown was not invited to the NBA All-Star Weekend Game
Chris Brown claimed he was invited and then disinvited to the NBA's All-Star Game Weekend.
Brown, 34, shared alleged screenshots via Instagram story to emails welcoming him to the 2024 All-Star Weekend, where he would have played in the NBA ESPN All-Star Celebrity Game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. In his statement, Brown suggested that Ruffles, one of the game's sponsors, disputed his involvement.
“I was asked by the NBA to play in the all-star game this year!” Brown wrote on his Instagram Story on Friday, February 16. “Just that they would call later and say they couldn't do it because of their sponsors, like RUFFLES. Right now I'm tired of people bothering me and I'm tired of living in the damn past.
Brown added, “I posted the emails for you all to see. The NBA was still trying to convince me to sit courtside… NOT F–KING HAPPENING.” He concluded his statement with: “I only go where I am appreciated.” The emails also contained mock-ups of the uniforms of Brown's famous team, which is said to have been coached by rapper Lil Wayne.
Brown shared these screenshots on Instagram hours after the game took place. Based on the emails, Brown was connected to his contact for the event, who would handle his scheduling, travel and transportation throughout the weekend.
According to the N.B.A website, one team was coached by Stephen A. Smith, Lil Wayne and A'ja Wilson, while Shannon Sharpe and 50 Cent led the other team. Participants in the All-Star Celebrity Game included Jennifer Hudson, AJ McLean, Lilly Singh and Quincy Isaiah.
Chris Brown attends the Celebrity Basketball Game during the 2017 BET Experience on June 24 in Los Angeles.
Prince Williams/Film MagicOff the field, Brown has a history of unsportsmanlike conduct. In May 2023, Brown and Usher appeared to have a heated argument at Brown's birthday party in Las Vegas, well before the My Way singer's stint at the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show.
Sporting events can be exciting enough, but when a celebrity is in attendance, all bets are off. Many stars – regardless of the reason and regardless of the person – have received dissatisfied responses from the crowds at baseball games, football games, basketball games and more. Emma Stone and Kim Kardashian respectively […]
Usher, a longtime friend and collaborator of Brown, reportedly intervened when the With You singer wouldn't leave fellow artist and party guest Teyana Taylor alone. This allegedly led to a physical altercation between the two men that ended in a bloody nose for Usher.
Before the Las Vegas incident, Brown was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department after he was accused of “beating” a woman in June 2021. Us confirmed at the time.
Brown has been embroiled in legal troubles for years, starting with his 2009 arrest for domestic violence after physically assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault in 2009. He was placed on probation for five years and spent 180 days in community service in Virginia.
That was far from the end of his legal troubles. In 2017, his ex Karrueche Tran was granted a five-year restraining order against Brown after he allegedly became aggressive towards her. Tran accused him of sending violent text messages and punching her twice in the stomach.
In 2018, Brown and two associates were charged with sexual battery, assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress after an anonymous woman alleged she was held down and assaulted at his home during a party. The lawsuit was dismissed and settled out of court in 2020.
The following year, Brown was detained in Paris on possible charges of aggravated rape after a woman reported the incident to police. The case was later dropped and Brown filed a defamation suit against the woman.
In 2021, Brown was indicted for allegedly drugging and raping a woman in Miami, but a judge dismissed the case in August 2022 after text messages showed the woman asking to see Brown after the alleged assault.