LIVE UPDATES
American rapper, Fat Joe claims that Chris Brown's 2009 attack on then-girlfriend Rihanna cost him the degree of popularity and stardom that Michael Jackson achieved at the height of his career.
The rapper, 53, believes Brown's violent attack obscured his accomplishments. Brown, 35, assaulted Rihanna, 36, in a vehicle in the Hancock Park district of Los Angeles following a pre-Grammys party on February 8, 2009.
In an Instagram Live, he went on to describe Chris Brown as 'the most talented singer, artist, performer, hitmaker of our time.'
He said: 'If Chris Brown never got into the controversy with Rihanna, we would be calling him Michael Jackson right now,' Fat Joe said on Instagram Live. 'Not like Michael Jackson — Michael Jackson.'
Fat Joe said that in no way does he accept what Brown did in 2009, but noted Brown was a 'little kid' at the age of 19 when the violent incident occurred.
He also pointed to the music of convicted sex offender R. Kelly, which he said remains popular despite the artist's downfall, and said he feels the time has come to acknowledge Brown's talents independent of his past transgressions.
Fat Joe urged the public to forgive Brown for his past transgressions.
'There's nobody even close to Chris Brown, and it's time we move past it,' Fat Joe said. 'It's been 20-something years that I know of - there's no more incidents. We gonna let this lifetime go by without telling the truth?'
