• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK WOMEN COME FIRST

Every day we're serving Black women deeply. Come get a plate of goodness! Sign up for daily content and exclusive offers you'll love!

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and that you have read our Privacy Policy
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · News

Chris Brown's Emotional Michael Jackson Tribute

Chris Brown was denied a place in the BET Awards' Michael Jackson tribute last year -- presumably because of the incident with Rihanna only a few months earlier -- but he took the stage tonight to honor the one-year anniversary of his idol's death. What happened next was so much more than a slick dance routine... Here's what you had to say: Shalanna commented: "I am so proud of Chris Brown and his performance. So often entertainers guard their humanity at all costs, but he let it show." Nikki wrote: "Forgiveness is one thing. but when we actively promote this kind of artist, what message are we sending to our young men and women, and to the wider community?"
Chris Brown’s Emotional Michael Jackson Tribute
By Steven Psyllos · Updated October 29, 2020
chris-brown-425.jpg
Chris Brown was denied a place in the BET Awards’ Michael Jackson tribute last year — presumably because of the incident with Rihanna only a few months earlier — but he took the stage tonight to honor the one-year anniversary of his idol’s death. What happened next was so much more than a slick dance routine…
MJ’s brother Jermaine introduced Brown — not by name, but instead screamed “Here he is!” — and C Breezy burst into “The Way You Make Me Feel” the way only he can — with spot-on choreography and next-generation Jackson swagger. He lip-synched through the moves, wearing the MJ arm brace, the white bandages on his fingertips, the white socks and signature penny loafers. Squint your eyes and you’d think Michael was resurrected. Next up, Brown threw on a fedora, black sequined blazer and the glitter glove and paid respect to “Billie Jean,” vibing to that thick Quincy Jones bass line. When the tune changed to “Man in the Mirror,” Brown took center stage and grabbed a live microphone to sing before a photo montage of the legend on the screens behind him. It didn’t work. He started, “Gonna make a change… for once in my life, gonna feel real good…” He went silent and visibly started to cry, popping back in with a phrase to the song before going quiet again. The lyrics touched too close to home, and he paced back and forth across the stage as the music played, struggling to mouth the lyrics as tears flooded from his eyes, and he cried the ugly cry. His voice cracked, and he fell to the stage overwhelmed. A year and a half since his incident with Rihanna, maybe it was all too much for the 21-year-old. Brown has also experienced enormous challenges with his music career due to public perception since the drama. This Michael Jackson tribute seemed to be a turning point for the talented singer and dancer. Either way, it was great to see C. Brown do what he does best and showing some human nature at the same time.
Watch the video below. What did you think of Chris Brown’s emotional performance? Later in the night, Chris Brown won the BET Fandemoniom Award for fan favorite and told the audience, “I let y’all down once, I won’t ever do it again.”  
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now