Chris Brown was not included in the lineup for the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday night. He did not receive an invitation.
However, according to Chris Brown, he insists that he was actually invited. The National Basketball Association allegedly changed their decision afterwards.
To support his claim, Chris Brown shared screenshots on his Instagram story that appear to show his invitation to participate. The 34-year-old also provided his side of the story, explaining how and why the league withdrew his invitation.
“I was asked by the NBA to play in the all-star game this year! Only for them to call later and say they couldn’t do it because of their sponsors like RUFFLES. At this point, I’m tired of people bothering me and living in the past,” he expressed.
Chris Brown made it clear that he shared the emails to provide evidence. He emphasized that the NBA wanted him to attend and sit courtside, but he was not interested in doing so.
“I ONLY GO WHERE I’M APPRECIATED,” he stated.
One of the emails, sent from someone named ‘Keith Fernandez’ with the subject ‘NBA All-Star 2024 Welcome x Chris Brown,’ seemingly confirms his initial involvement in the game.
The email welcomed Chris Brown to the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend and provided details about the venue, event, and date. It also mentioned connecting him with Holly Cislo, the Talent Manager for the Lucas Oil Stadium, who would handle logistics and facilitate interactions with various departments.
The email concluded with well wishes from Keith.
Another email from Fernandez indicated that Chris Brown would be on Lil Wayne’s team and wear a blue uniform. However, these details did not materialize.
According to the evidence provided by the emails from Fernandez, it appears that the NBA initially asked Chris Brown to play in the game but later changed their minds. The reason behind this decision remains unclear.
However, Chris Brown’s comments about “living in the past” and “sponsors” suggest that his troubled history, particularly the assault on Rihanna in 2009, might have influenced the change. It is possible that the game’s sponsors became concerned about the optics of including Brown. This assumption is based on the limited information available regarding the NBA’s handling of the situation.
Regardless of the underlying cause, Chris Brown maintains that he was prepared to participate in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday before his invitation was abruptly rescinded. Instead, the league asked him to stay and watch.
If Chris Brown’s account is accurate, it seems that the NBA mishandled the situation. Inviting him in the first place only to retract the offer later was a poor decision.
According to the Source brobible.com