Chris Brown vows to raise awareness about domestic violence Down Under

American R&B singer Chris Brown has said he will raise awareness of domestic violence if he is granted a visa to tour Australia, after authorities indicated he could be banned from entering the country.

Brown, who was convicted of assaulting his then-partner pop star Rihanna in 2009, may be refused entry despite plans to bring his "One Hell of a Nite" tour to Australia in December.

The government confirmed on Sunday, just a day before tickets were due to go on sale, that he had been issued with a "notice of intention to consider refusal."

"People to whom these notices are issued have 28 days to present material as to why they should be given a visa to enter Australia," Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said Sunday.

Now Brown has taken to social media to say he could help shed light on domestic violence if he is allowed entry.

"I would be more than grateful to come to Australia to raise awareness about domestic violence," he tweeted late Tuesday.

Im not the pink elephant in the room anymore."

Brown's clean image crumbled in June 2009 after he pleaded guilty to assaulting Rihanna while they were driving to a pre-Grammy Awards party.

The Grammy award-winning performer was sentenced to five years' probation -- now lifted -- a year-long domestic violence programme and 180 days of community labor.

"My life mistakes should be a wake up call for everyone," he said. "Showing the world that mistakes don't define you.

"The youth don't listen to parents nor do they listen to PSAs (Public Service Announcements). The power that we have as Entertainers can change lives."

Brown has visited Australia twice since 2009 but newly appointed Minister for Women Michaelia Cash last week suggested he may be banned this time amid heightened awareness about family violence.

Activist group GetUp! has also questioned whether Brown's tour should go ahead, saying it would send the wrong message about violence against women.

Brown is due to perform in the Australian cities of Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane from December 9-16. — Agence France-Presse

source: gmanetwork.com

Australia set to refuse visa for US singer Chris Brown

SYDNEY - Australia intends to refuse a visa for US singer and hip-hop star Chris Brown, a government spokesman said on Sunday, following through on a threat made last week over the singer's history of domestic violence.

Brown, 26, had been due to perform at a series of concerts in four Australian cities in December.

A spokesman for Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said a notice had been sent to the singer indicating the government intends to consider refusal and he had four weeks to respond.

"People to whom these notices are issued have 28 days to present material as to why they should be given a visa to enter Australia," the spokesman said in a statement.

A final decision on whether to issue the visa would be made after considering any material presented on the singer's behalf, the spokesman said.

In 2009, Brown pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting his then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, and was sentenced in the United States to five years probation, which was lifted in February.

He has been denied entry by Britain and Canada since his conviction.

Australian Minister for Women Michaelia Cash last week urged Dutton to consider refusing Brown entry.

Neighboring New Zealand has already ruled Brown ineligible for entry as a result of Britain refusing him admission, casting doubt over the Antipodean leg of his world tour.

The Australian government last week earmarked A$100 million ($70.2 million) to combat domestic violence. — Reuters

Chris Brown: ‘Please let us leave!’

Chris Brown posted another video with the caption “Obama!!!”

This time, the American singer is pleading to be allowed to leave the Philippines.

In the Instagram video he posted earlier today, July 24, Chris was seen kneeling and acting as if he's praying: “Please! Please let us leave! Please! Please!”

This video has since been deleted from Chris's Instagram account.

Chris arrived in the country last July 21 for his solo concert held on the same night at MOA Arena.

However, three days after, he is still here.



The singer is barred from leaving the country as he is still waiting for a clearance from the Department of Justice (DOJ).

This is in connection to the lookout bulletin order against him after Maligaya Development Corporation (MDC) sent a letter to the DOJ to ask for assistance.

MDC filed a criminal complaint against Chris for not showing up at Iglesia Ni Cristo's New Year's Eve party last December 31, 2014.

The company claims that they have fully paid the talent fee of the 26-year-old American singer.

MDC wants a successful prosection of the criminal complaint against Chris.

—PEP

source: gmanetwork.com

Court to probe singer Chris Brown's community service records

LOS ANGELES - Prosecutors on Tuesday asked a court to find R&B singer Chris Brown in violation of his probation because they say community service records stemming from his 2009 assault on girlfriend Rihanna contain "significant discrepancies."

Brown is scheduled to appear at a hearing on Wednesday in Los Angeles, at which time a judge could decide to revoke the "Don't Wake Me Up" singer's probation.

But Brown's attorney, Mark Geragos, told Reuters the allegations are "scurrilous, libelous and defamatory."

"The prosecution has lost their collective minds," Geragos said. "I'm going to seek sanctions against the (district attorney's) office for bringing a frivolous motion."

Brown pleaded guilty in 2009 to beating and punching R&B singer Rihanna and was sentenced to five years probation, 180 days of community service and domestic violence counseling.

The community service involved tasks like cutting grass, picking up trash and removing graffiti. He was allowed to complete it in his home state of Virginia.

"After a thorough review of all documents and evidence submitted to the court it appears there are significant discrepancies indicating at best sloppy documentation and, at worst fraudulent reporting," Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Mary Murray said in a court filing on Tuesday.

Murray cited three occasions when she said Brown was not at the recorded location of his community service and instead performing or traveling, once on a private jet bound for Cancun, Mexico.

Brown, in another instance, never stripped or waxed the floors at a Virginia community center as a report said he did, according to the 19-page court document.

Murray also accused Virginia authorities of poor and incorrect management of the singer's service and records, and said his community service case should be transferred to Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg in November praised Brown for "actually working diligently to complete all the things the court has required of you."

R&B singer Rihanna and Brown have recently rekindled their romance and are dating again, Rihanna told Rolling Stone magazine last week.

Brown was in a brawl last month with fellow singer Frank Ocean outside a West Hollywood recording studio. A police report indicates he punched Ocean in the face but Ocean said over the weekend he did not want Brown prosecuted. — Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com