Around 11 a.m. on Thursday morning, Chris Brown shared a photo of himself holding his daughter, Royalty, alongside his mother, Joyce Hawkins. Brown titled the post, “MOST IMPORTANT WOMEN IN MY LIFE!” and as of 6 p.m. Thursday evening, the post has nearly 1.2 million likes.

Obviously, I am not a private investigator, nor am I a mind reader. I cannot, for certain, say why Brown would post a picture of two women close to him on Instagram, yet I remain skeptical of his intentions following his arrest in Paris earlier this month. If the reader is unaware, Chris Brown is currently under investigation for allegedly raping a woman while in Paris, France. The Associated Press reports that the “29-year-old singer was detained Monday along with his bodyguard and one other person after a woman accused Brown of raping her in a hotel room last week.” This was a statement from two police officials who remain anonymous.

My skepticism and frustration has snowballed over the course of this news story, but I have had a distaste for Chris Brown and those who work with him following the events in 2009, where he beat his then-girlfriend Rhianna, landing her in the hospital. Brown served his community service and apologized publicly, yet his behavior since has indicated that Brown remains abusive towards women.

It is my personal opinion that powerhouses of the music industry, such as Chris Brown, offer a unique opportunity to influence the public. Music and art have always been the lifeblood of human society, as they reflect shared values and experiences; however, Brown has abused his platform. Following his release from custody in France earlier in January, according to Entertainment Tonight, Brown posted on Instagram,

“I WANNA MAKE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR…… THIS IS FALSE AND A WHOLE LOT OF CAP! NNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEERRRRRR!!!!!! FOR MY DAUGHTER AND MY FAMILY THIS IS SO DISPRESPECTFUL AND IS AGAINST MY CHARACTER AND MORALS!!!!!”

It is here that Brown not only publicly humiliates the alleged victim, but he dismisses the allegation all together on the basis that he has a daughter. While this may seem innocuous, his statement reflects a popular form of dismissal often seen in response to sexual assault. Having female friends, family members, children or siblings does not make a person exempt from sexual assault allegations, as relationships with women do not guarantee fair treatment of women.

When I saw Brown’s most recent post in an article, I knew I had to say something. I do believe that people are capable of change and forgiveness, but I find it ridiculous how forgiving the public is of Brown when figures, such as Terry Cruise, are treated so terribly when coming forward as victims of sexual assault.

The conversation regarding sexual assault, innocence and redemption is difficult, but until victims are treated with the same respect and consideration as those accused, I remain critical of Chris Brown and anxiously await to see what other PR he uses to dig himself out of his most recent controversy.

Abigail Carlin is a senior English language arts major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].