Bonus Beats: Chris Brown and Rihanna have reunited on a new single leaving many to question the credibility of the victim and the remorse of the convicted.  And with that I’m done. I don’t want to hear about Rihanna anymore. I don’t want to hear about Chris Brown anymore. I don’t want to hear about Rihanna and Chris Brown anymore. I don’t want to hear about how Brown beat Rihanna the night before the Grammy Awards a few years ago. I don’t want to hear about his probation.

Though I was never a fan of either one, as someone who covers their doings on a regular basis, it is impossible to ignore either of them, considering that it is my job to report the music news and they are musicians who often find themselves in the news.

But now, with this latest twist in the saga, I see no reason to write about either of them any longer. We have become a society that embraces freakshows to such an extent that little is sacred. The kids from Jersey Shore are multi-millionaires because they behave like animals and perpetuate Italian stereotypes. Gym, tanning, and laundry has proven a surer way to success than reading, writing, and arithmetic is. We have become a society that rewards a man who beat a woman with multiple stage performance opportunities at the Grammy awards ceremony, and then, for good measure, a Grammy award.

Over the past several days, Brown’s defenders have been vocal that everyone deserves a second chance. Everyone? Did we forgive Bernie Madoff for stealing over 65 million from his clients? Or did we throw a forgiveness party for Jeffrey Dahmer? Now, comparing Brown to a man who killed more than 17 people might be unfair, we, as a society, have decided to accept just about anything short of mass murder if the criminal can sing or dance or act.

Perhaps Chris Brown did deserve a second chance. There are plenty of women who posted on Twitter that they would let Brown beat them if it also ensured that they could be with him. Clearly, they were not offended by his ubiquity at the Grammy awards. My wife, who is not a fan of Brown or Rihanna pointed out that Rihanna is no angel (and, in fact, is, by her own admission, a certifiable freak) and while she didn’t deserve to be beaten, the minute she went back to Brown (and numerous stories over the past few weeks have indicated that the two have rendezvoused secretly) it compromised her credibility as a victim. Rihanna is not the typical beaten spouse. She had all of the opportunities and money she needed to get out of the relationship if she so desired.

At the time of the crime, many stories indicated that Brown fought with Rihanna after he learned that she allegedly gave him an STD. Even if she did, it would not justify his behavior; however, one wonders whether Brown settled with the district attorney as quickly as he did after being charged for beating Rihanna not because he thought that he might be acquitted, but because he did not want to air Rihanna’s dirty laundry at trial, and knew that after a period of time, he would get back together with her.

Brown, on his Twitter feed Sunday night wrote, “HATE ALL U WANT BECUZ I GOT A GRAMMY Now! That’s the ultimate F–K OFF!” Clearly, he is the same immature asshole he was when he beat his girlfriend. Clearly, he has learned nothing from the events of the past few years. Clearly, Chris Brown feels like he was wronged. There is no sign of remorse. There is no sign of maturity. There is no sign that, facing similar circumstances, he wouldn’t do the same thing he did to Rihanna again to her or to someone else.

The rest of us need to focus on something more positive. There are plenty of great musicians who deserve attention. And that’s that.

–Roy Opochinski, Managing Editor

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position or position of any agency associated with Groovevolt.com.