Chris Brown, the talented singer, dancer and now father of three has had a checkered past. His talent and popularity is undeniable even though his run-ins with the law including his infamous domestic violence run-in with ex-girlfriend Rihanna has taken center stage.
In 2019, the Grammy-award winner was charged after a run-in with a couple in a club in Tampa Florida. A witness in the crowd recorded some of the commotion using a cell phone.
But the now 33-year-old passionate father is trying to leave behind his past that shows he’s been through a lot more than many of us knew before.
When most young boys are at home playing video games, Chris Brown says he watching pornography and having sex.
In an interview when he was 24-years-old, the singer revealed he lost his virginity at the tender age of eight. While many would see eight as far too young, the singer claims it just started him down the road of being a ladies man early on.
“So, at eight, being able to do it, it kind of preps you for the long run, so you can be a beast at it. You can be the best at it,” Chris said. He went on to say “It was a different world living in the country.” Referring to the country parts of Virgina where Chris grew up.
But Chris is now changing his focus as he sees himself in his daughter, Royalty. He says he’s shifted his focus to her.
Brown has joint custody of Royalty, his first child, whose mother is his ex-girlfriend, Nia Guzman. And even with his hectic schedule, Chris is happy to see his little girl any time he can.
“That’s the best part of being a dad,” Brown said. “You know, doing those little things. Bedtime is crazy for me ’cause I always was like…trying to avoid bedtime when I was a kid, like, ‘No, Mom, just 15 more minutes, please!’ So I’ll keep like the kids’ channel on and turn it all the way low and turn all the lights out, and you know, I’ll lay in the bed with her and like rub her back until she actually falls asleep. But some nights, she’s not having it. Like, she just is totally energetic—’Aaaaaaah!!!'”
“IM DOING MY BEST to allow my child to grow and teach me to be better. ALL THE FATHERS OUT THERE WHO DONT STEP UP TO THE PLATE, YOU ARE MISSING OUT ON WHAT LIVING REALLY IS.”
“It’s actually great [being a dad]. It’s very humbling. You know, it’s very calming. I think I was a lot, you know, rambunctious, very hyper as a kid but now seeing that 10 times over, my daughter’s kinda like mellowing me out.”
The recording artist entered rehab after throwing a rock through the window of his mother’s car. Brown was on probation since pleading guilty in 2009 to a felony charge of assaulting his then-girlfriend, Rihanna’s history of aggression is due to the singer’s post traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder, a rehab facility has confirmed.
“Mr. Brown became aggressive and acted out physically due to his untreated mental health disorder, severe sleep deprivation, inappropriate self-medicating and untreated PTSD,” says a letter from the facility, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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“Mr. Brown will also require close supervision by his treating physician in order to…
…ensure his bipolar mental health condition remains stable,” says facility’s letter.
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness often characterized by drastic shifts in mood, activity, energy levels and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The condition, which may be genetic, often begins before the age of 25 and can be treated with different medications like mood stabilizers.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition caused by a terrifying or traumatic event and is often characterized by flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety and/or uncontrollable thoughts about that event. PTSD can be treated with psychotherapy, behavioral therapy and/or medication.
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Both bipolar disorder and PTSD can lead to sleep deprivation in people afflicted with these disorders.
Brown has been through periods of hardship and made it through them in the past. He told Giant Magazine in 2007 that his stepfather used to beat his mom, which “terrified” him and made him want to kill his stepfather with a baseball bat.
Aggression like that shown from Chris can be put under control with therapy and self-care. Here’s to hoping he gets the help he needs to move on and live a longer, happier life.