Chris Brown's 'Image' problem

There's a whole passel of luminaries -- Magic Johnson, Maya Angelou, Muhammad Ali, Russell Simmons, Will Smith and Queen Latifah among them -- in the mix for trophies at "The 40th NAACP Image Awards."

There's also Chris Brown, the embattled hip-hop artist who's being investigated by the L.A.P.D. for allegedly beating his girlfriend, pop superstar Rihanna. As new details come out today about the couple's possibly violent relationship and the potential charges against him, a question popped up: What if he wins?

Awkward!

Both he and Rihanna have canceled concerts and other public appearances this week, and the two were no-shows at Sunday night's Grammys, where both were scheduled to perform.

Technically, Brown fits the bill of the NAACP kudofest's mandate to "celebrate outstanding achievement and performances of people of color in the arts." But giving him something called the Image Award? Um, that would just seem wrong.

The show's nominations in music, movies, TV and literature came about through industry recommendations that were then churned through specially-created NAACP committees and subcommittees. Any NAACP member could vote online when the nods were whittled to the final five. It looks like the group, kicking off celebrations for its 100th anniversary, retains most of the control over the process.

Brown's fellow nominees -- Common, Jamie Foxx, John Legend and will.i.am -- should probably buff their acceptance speeches, you know, just in case.

Go here for a full list of nominees -- "Seven Pounds"? Really? The show, with hosts Halle Berry and Tyler Perry, airs live on Fox at 8 p.m. 

Comments

[anonymous]

This what i do not understand Celebrities Magic Johnson,Terrence Howard, and others " oh I spoked to both Chris and Rhianna "they are young hope they can get pass this and get back together. True it is Rhianna's choice about Chris. It's like saying I condone what Chris did he assaulted this girl. Think about it we look up to these celebrities their come a time silences is the best answer. I like Chris the artist his music is good but it's hard the support a man who put his hands on a female. Yeah right Magic given his sister or daughter advise the stay with a guy who assaulted her left her pass out after he done chocking her. Now Chris seeking help that's good but he's still responseable for his action. He will be cleared celebrities always get-off. Now a normal man in jail without a bond till trail then sentence time in jail gone throw away the key.