Singer Chris Brown, a no-show for Sunday night’s Grammy Awards, is sought by Los Angeles police after an alleged domestic violence incident.
Brown was scheduled to perform at the nationally televised awards show. He had been nominated for two Grammys. His girlfriend, singer Rihanna, abruptly canceled her planned Grammys performance, but neither her spokesman nor the show organizers gave a reason. “We have just been informed that Chris Brown will not be attending tonight’s 51st Annual Grammy Awards,” the Recording Academy, which presents the Grammys, said in a statement issued after the show was under way. “We’re sorry he is unable to join us this evening.” Executives with Brown’s record label who were at the Grammy Awards told CNN they knew nothing about the incident and declined further comment. “Rihanna is well,” her spokesman said in a written statement. “Thank you for concern and support.” Police have not identified the alleged victim, who they said “suffered visible injuries and identified Brown as her attacker.” Brown, 19, and Rihanna, 20, were seen together Saturday night at a pre-Grammys dinner at the Beverly Hills Hilton, about five miles from where police said the alleged incident happened at 12:30 a.m. Sunday. LAPD Officer Karen Smith confirmed police were looking for Brown, but would not say if the officers were looking for him at the awards show.
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Brown did not make a red carpet arrival and was not seen by reporters at the show nearly an hour after the national broadcast began. The introduction to the CBS broadcast, apparently pre-taped, listed both Brown and Rihanna as performers. The police statement said Brown and a woman were in a vehicle near Hollywood’s Hancock Park when “they became involved in an argument.” “After stopping his car, Brown and the woman got out and the argument escalated,” police said. After receiving a 911 call at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, officers found the woman at the scene of the alleged fight, but Brown had left, the department said. Investigators were treating the incident as a possible felony battery case, police said. Brown was nominated for two Grammys this year, including in the best male R&B vocal performance category for his song “Take You Down.” He also shares a best pop collaboration with vocals nomination with Jordin Sparks for “No Air.”
