Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) made a surprise appearance at a Saturday concert to honor musician Chris Brown, who pleaded guilty in 2009 to assaulting Rihanna, his girlfriend at the time.
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Crockett, who has represented a Dallas-based district since 2023, is a high-profile critic of President Donald Trump and lost this year’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate to James Talarico. She announced that she would enter Chris Brown’s and Usher’s names into the Congressional Record, a ceremonial honor, at the two musicians’ concert in Arlington, Texas.
“Right now, we are experiencing Black joy to the highest level, and I wanted to make sure we document that in the Congressional Record,” Crockett said at the concert. “So let’s give it up again for Chris Brown.”
Brown pleaded guilty in 2009 to felony assault against Rihanna, whom he was dating at the time of the incident. His music career rebounded, but he remains a controversial figure who has repeatedly run into legal trouble, including other assault charges.
Crockett, who has repeatedly declined to campaign with Talarico since the primary, received online criticism for her praise of Brown.
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“This was a ridiculous move by Crockett,” Democratic strategist Ameshia Cross wrote in a post on X.
Gabrielle Perry, an epidemiologist and founder of an organization aiding women who are or were incarcerated, wrote that “Jasmine Crockett made time to glorify an abuser of women.”
Crockett’s office did not respond immediately to a request for comment on the criticism.
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