The Lime: Chris Brown faces 9 years for assault. Victim: Rihanna

On Sunday Chris Brown and Rihanna both canceled performances at the 51st Grammy Awards where he was nominated for two trophies, Best Pop Collaboration for his song "No Air" with Jordin Sparks and Best Male R&B performance for his ballad "Take You Down;" and she was nominated for Best Dance Recording "Disturbia" and Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals, "If I Never See Your Face Again" a song from her Good Girl Gone Bad Reloaded album featuring Maroon 5.. I first heard the news while watching CNN, where it was announced that Brown was involved in a domestic dispute. Although not yet confirmed many reliable sources are stating that the victim in this "domestic dispute" is none other than his Barbados-born girlfriend Rihanna.
At Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Award Party, minutes before incident
Photo source

The pair were seen leaving Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy party in his rented Lamborghni early Sunday morning. According to police reports around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, the R&B singer and a woman were in a vehicle in the Hancock Park section of L.A. when they became involved in an argument. After stopping his car, Brown and the woman got out and the argument escalated. The woman suffered visible injuries and identified Brown as her attacker.

The LAPD received a 911 call reporting the disturbance. When officers arrived they found the victim, but Brown had already left the scene. He turned himself in Sunday evening, speaking with investigators and posting $50,000.00 bond. Brown has been charged with one count felony criminal threats which could mean up to 9 years in jail.

The two have been dating for more than a year and are seen as the sweetheart couple of R&B. There romance has been highly publicized and they have been photographed just about any and everywhere they have been.
Here they are at Clive Davis Pre-Grammy party last year

Performing together

Shopping in L.A

Apart from these public shots, many photographs have been taken of them in more intimate settings like when they are spending time with each other's family:

On the beach in Barbados

With his family in Virginia at Christmas time

And in their "alone" time... like what is that? you know. So I'm sure there is a lot of pressure on their relationship.

There were many rumors about tension in their relationship from the start of the year, especially when Brown was photographed with a particular female at a couple stops on his European tour. With the negative reviews she has gotten for her performances so far this year, I wonder if there was that building tension that affected her on stage. This is a terrible way to end a relationship.

The downward spiral is now in effect. Fans are now split as to who is the victim, who is at fault, etc. Many cannot believe that Chris Brown was capable of this kind of action. News Alert: ANYONE IS CAPABLE OF DOING ANYTHING, UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES.

Apart from tarnishing his squeaky clean image, this incident is hitting him in his pockets.
Wrigley said Monday that it will be suspending its Chris Brown ad campaign for Doublemint gum
“Wrigley is concerned by the serious allegations made against Chris Brown. We believe Mr. Brown should be afforded the same due process as any citizen. However, we have made the decision to suspend the current advertising featuring Brown and any related marketing communications until the matter is resolved.”

Sponsors are quick to disassociate themselves from artist whose actions tarnish thier image or in any way. Remember the Akon and Verizon fallout after his rough dancing ( could you really call that dancing though????) with an underage girl at a Trinidad night club. And even more recently look at the impact of a photo of Michael Phelps and a marijuana bong has had on his career.

What is really sad to me about this whole situation is the backlash that Rihanna is already getting. Some people are saying that Chris Brown blames her for giving him Herpes. Prompted by pic above where she is hiding a cold sore I don't know about that, but what ever she did or did not do DOES NOT give him the right to beat on her. The music industry is losing one of its biggest stars and I think that antagonizing Rihanna may be a way to keep Chris Brown's career afloat. He will not be the first artist who has been accused of domestic violence )Dr. Dre, Eminen, Ike Turner, Big Pun) all celebrated by fans and industry.