The American Music Awards (AMAs) were last night (November 20)! While award shows of the like have definitely lost some of their shine (as Seth Rogen put it, "People just don't care — and why should they?") as of late, there is still usually at least one stand-out moment that gets the in-office folks talking around the water cooler. In this case, it was definitely Kelly Rowland accepting the award for Favorite Male R&B Artist on behalf of Chris Brown and putting the audacious crowd in its place in the process.
Having previously claimed that the AMAs scrapped his Michael Jackson tribute performance, Brown did not attend the event. So, when the singer won his category, beating out the Weeknd, Brent Faiyaz, Givēon, and Lucky Daye, Rowland was tasked with saying a few words on his behalf — or to him? Either way, she said some words at the ceremony, which was hosted by Who's Line Is It Anyway? mainstay Wayne Brady.
"Chris Brown is not here tonight so I'm accepting this award on his behalf," Rowland told those watching at home, while an audible booing emerged from the in-house crowd. "Excuse me," she said, addressing the audience, "Chill out."
The former Destiny's Child member continued on in praise of Brown, "But I want to tell Chris, thank you so much for making great R&B music. And I want to tell him, thank you for being an incredible performer. I'll take this award, bring it to you. I love you. Congratulations, and congratulations to all the nominees in this category."
If memory eludes you, Brown assaulted then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009 and images of her injuries went viral, prompting feminists to boycott his music.
Amid the Ticketmaster fiasco heard 'round the world, this year's AMAs also saw Taylor Swift sweep all six awards out of the six categories she was nominated for — further extending her reign as the annual accolades' most-awarded artist ever with a total of 40 victories to date.
Watch the clip of Rowland accepting Brown's award below.
The day after the ceremony, Rowland doubled down on her support for the disgraced singer.
Having previously claimed that the AMAs scrapped his Michael Jackson tribute performance, Brown did not attend the event. So, when the singer won his category, beating out the Weeknd, Brent Faiyaz, Givēon, and Lucky Daye, Rowland was tasked with saying a few words on his behalf — or to him? Either way, she said some words at the ceremony, which was hosted by Who's Line Is It Anyway? mainstay Wayne Brady.
"Chris Brown is not here tonight so I'm accepting this award on his behalf," Rowland told those watching at home, while an audible booing emerged from the in-house crowd. "Excuse me," she said, addressing the audience, "Chill out."
The former Destiny's Child member continued on in praise of Brown, "But I want to tell Chris, thank you so much for making great R&B music. And I want to tell him, thank you for being an incredible performer. I'll take this award, bring it to you. I love you. Congratulations, and congratulations to all the nominees in this category."
If memory eludes you, Brown assaulted then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009 and images of her injuries went viral, prompting feminists to boycott his music.
Amid the Ticketmaster fiasco heard 'round the world, this year's AMAs also saw Taylor Swift sweep all six awards out of the six categories she was nominated for — further extending her reign as the annual accolades' most-awarded artist ever with a total of 40 victories to date.
Watch the clip of Rowland accepting Brown's award below.
The day after the ceremony, Rowland doubled down on her support for the disgraced singer.
