Chris Brown denies pulling out of Pride event ‘because gay men would be there’
Chris Brown has insisted he has “nothing but love and respect for the LGBT community” after a report claimed he backed out of a Pride event because gay men would be there.
Brown was booked to appear at Atlanta nightclub Freight Depot as part of a lesbian event billed as “the biggest girl party in the country with over 4,000 women in attendance”.
But the Georgia Voice reports that he refused to turn up once he learned that some gay men would be among the crowd, with party promoter Melissa Scott quoted as saying: “I’m completely baffled. You know it’s Gay Pride. You knew you agreed when you sent the contract in and took the money.”
The publication claims to have verified text messages between Scott and Brown’s management, in which they also dispute a picture of him being used in the marketing material. “I was being told to take his image down because he looks a little feminine in that image, an image that he took,” Scott explained. “As a promoter I should be focused on my crowd. I had to send text messages of pictures of my crowd to say, there’s nothing but girls in here man.”
I was at the show Saturday in ATL that @chrisbrown bailed on. This was disrespect towards the lgbt community.
— Ms.MeMeC (@ms_memec) September 7, 2015
Brown wasn’t even slated to perform; just to introduce singer Teyana Taylor, also the opening act on his current tour. Instead, rapper Fetty Wap stepped in instead.
However, the controversial hitmaker has strongly refuted the story on Twitter – saying he had absolutely no knowledge of the show or his alleged commitment to it.
I wasn't aware or informed of a show I supposedly cancelled. I have nothing but love and respect for the LGBT COMMUNITY.
— Chris Brown (@chrisbrown) September 7, 2015
The show was never confirmed by any of my people. So I apologize if the fans wanted me there.
— Chris Brown (@chrisbrown) September 7, 2015
I honestly wasn't booked for the show. Hopefully in the future we can do it right. Much love LGBT
— Chris Brown (@chrisbrown) September 7, 2015
Teyana Taylor has not referenced the row on her own Twitter feed.
