14 DAY TRIAL // After more than a week since word broke in the media that Chris Brown had lashed out at girlfriend Rihanna and beat her until almost senseless, the 19-year-old now-disgraced singer is finally making the first move towards clearing his image in the media. Reports are coming in that Brown has hired a professional PR firm to handle the incident in the press, the same one that also got Mel Gibson out of the 2006 altercation with the police during a DUI bust.
“Embattled R&B singer Chris Brown has hired the Los Angeles based crisis management PR firm of Sitrick & Company, as he attempts to counter a wave of bad press following his alleged altercation with his ex-girlfriend, pop star Rihanna. Sitrick is considered an expert in navigating celebs through negative publicity because of unseemly situations stars may find themselves in.” Radar Online informs. Apparently, Brown’s first statement since the alleged beating was also issued under Sitrick, although the PR would not say when the singer contracted them.
Since the story got out, Brown has been keeping a very low profile, reportedly flying to Las Vegas with a friend to wait for things to settle down. When that did not happen, as it was to be expected, several of his friends and family members have started to issue statements on his behalf, pleading with the fans and representatives of the media to not point fingers in his direction, at least not until the police investigation is over.
Speaking of statements, Brown’s first stand since the incident is said to have enraged Rihanna to the maximum, because not once did he admit to being guilty of anything. “All of us, including Rihanna, don’t understand how he can say he’s sorry on the one hand, but still... does not admit any guilt. He should have expressed more contrition.” One source, allegedly close to Rihanna, is telling the Chicago Sun-Times. According to the spy, Brown’s “cavalier and arrogant statement” sounded more like a plea with the fans to continue buying his music more than a true public apology.
Chris Brown is due in court on March 5 on charges either of making terrorist threats or of domestic abuse. Until then, given that he now has a professional team helping him to deal with the media, it’s very likely that another statement will follow.