Chris Brown Begins Community Service

Singer Chris Brown has started community work, as part of the sentence for beating up then-girlfriend Rihanna in February this year. Dressed up in an orange vest, the star was spotted picking up garbage and clearing weeds at the police horse stables in Richmond, Virginia, all the while smiling to fans who had come to see him do the “dirty work,” BBC News informs.

Brown presented himself for community service and was told on the spot the duties for the day, which means next time he might do something else, reports in the media say. For the entire duration of the workday (three-five hours), Brown smiled constantly and even chatted with the police officers guarding him, it is being said. He also brought his own security, to make sure there were no problems with fans that might come to see him.

“Dressed in an orange work vest, the 20-year-old helped clear weeds and rubbish from police horse stables. He waved at fans who gathered to watch him work. […] It is understood the singer will perform different types of manual labor over the next 180 days, but police will not reveal the location of the work in an effort to avoid security problems. Brown must pay for extra guards while he carries out the community service.” BBC says.

Speaking of security, TMZ notes that Brown even brought his own bodyguards to ensure that things ran smoothly. Moreover, the paparazzi agency / celebrity gossip e-zine says, one security member wore a T-shirt speaking against domestic violence that Brown reportedly mentioned on his Twitter page. The caption on the black tee read, “Violence: Break the Cycle,” and, while the purpose behind it was admirable, it did not spare Brown some criticism in the online media.

“What is wrong with this picture?” TMZ writes in a recent post, adding a photo of Brown with a hand saw in hand. “Smiling whilst performing hard labor for beating your girlfriend is generally considered bad form. Employing the services of a private bodyguard seems like overkill when police have it covered.” TMZ says of just two of the things that are off about the photo in question.