The Democratic US representative Jasmine Crockett is under fire for honoring musician Chris Brown, a convicted abuser, with an official recognition at a Texas concert over the weekend.
Crockett, a Texas congresswoman, awarded Brown and R&B musician Usher a congressional record recognition at a performance in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday. Appearing alongside Texas state representative Venton Jones, Crockett said she was there to “honor” Brown and Usher.
“We are experiencing Black joy at the highest level,” she said, according to video from the concert. “And I wanted to make sure we document that at the congressional level. So let’s give it up again for Chris Brown.”
A congressional record recognition is a ceremonial honor in which a member of Congress can enter a specific person or achievement into the official congressional record.
Brown pleaded guilty in 2009 to felony assault against his then girlfriend, music star Rihanna. He also awaits sentencing in a UK incident in which prosecutors alleged he hit a music producer over the head with a bottle. Brown pleaded guilty to a charge of “affray” in that case.
Crockett lost the Democratic primary for US Senate in Texas earlier this year to James Talarico, a state representative now running against Republican Ken Paxton in a race that’s considered a toss-up and a key target for Democrats.
Since her loss, Crockett has so far not campaigned for Talarico, with some people online calling attention to her choice not to campaign with the Democratic Senate nominee and instead appear with Brown.
Roxane Gay, the author, wrote on social media platform Threads: “What the hell is [Jasmine Crockett] thinking? This is such a bizarre and unacceptable misstep.” She later added that Crockett didn’t mention voting or endorse candidates in the appearance.
“She just flew on stage and gave a known abuser of Black women (multiple allegations past and recent) a congressional honor,” Gay posted.
Crockett has said she “will be campaigning down ballot” when asked in recent weeks by CNN’s Laura Coates about whether she would be campaigning with Talarico, saying she wanted to make sure that people in lower-profile races weren’t getting “overshadowed” by a focus just on the top of the ticket.
Some defended Crockett, saying her appearing with Jones, the state representative, at the concert before thousands of people was using her platform to get voters to turn out for the down ballot.
Crockett did not respond to a request for comment.
Beto O’Rourke, a former Democratic congressman in Texas, defended Crockett’s decision to campaign for down-ballot candidates at a roundtable hosted by Bloomberg News in Dallas last week, before the Brown concert.
“She’s helping him in what I think is the most effective way possible, which is this reverse coattails of boosting these down-ballot candidates,” O’Rourke said. “It’s up to her and at her discretion, but I would not be surprised if we don’t see her play a larger role in what’s about to happen in Texas and she will deserve so much of the credit when James Talarico wins, when Gina Hinojosa wins, for the work that she’s done, the people that she has engaged.”
David Smith contributed reporting
