Chris Brown Rejects Texas Honor After Lawmaker Apologizes

Singer Chris Brown rejected a State of Texas honor after the lawmaker who presented it publicly apologized for recognizing him, escalating a controversy that began at a concert earlier this month. The incident has sparked debate about the responsibilities of public officials when honoring artists with histories of legal trouble. The controversy began on September 12 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, during Brown and Usher's joint concert. U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett and Texas State Representative Venton Jones joined the artists onstage. Crockett presented both singers with a Congressional Record recognition for their contributions to music, while Jones gave Brown a separate State of Texas legislative recognition. Criticism quickly followed the ceremony due to Brown's history of domestic violence. In 2009, Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault for attacking his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. More recently, he pleaded guilty in July 2026 to affray stemming from a 2023 nightclub attack in London and is scheduled for sentencing on October 26. Jones addressed the backlash on Tuesday during an appearance on Don Lemon's show.