Ciara is facing criticism on social media over her new collaboration with Chris Brown.
The Texas-born singer teamed up with Brown on the single âHow We Rollâ, which was released today (Friday, August 4). Itâll appear on Ciaraâs forthcoming EP âCi Ciâ (out August 18).
Some fans, however, have questioned the R&B artistâs decision to work with Brown again after he was convicted of assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna back in 2009.
He has since been accused of assault multiple times. In 2021, Brown was under police investigation after a woman alleged he had “smacked the back of her head so hard her weave came off”. That case was ultimately dismissed owing to âinsufficient evidenceâ.
Upon ‘How We Roll’ being announced earlier this week, numerous fans took to Twitter to air their disappointment in Ciara. “Cute. A domestic abuser,” one person tweeted. “What a shining example.”
Another asked: “Why is Ciara platforming Chr*s Br*wn knowing he’s an abuser?”
Elsewhere, a Twitter user criticised Ciara for choosing to collaborate with Brown over “all the upcoming rappers” who could’ve featured on ‘How We Roll’.
Someone else wrote: “Disrespect of black women will continue as long as black women keep allowing it to happen. Why are you all still supporting him? Why are you supporting the women that choose to be associated with him?”
Another said: “Every time an artist (especially female) collab with this man, I wonder how theyâre going to explain it to their children. How do you explain to them that you donât care about his long rap sheet or his victims because he can dance and carry a tune?”
You can see those tweets and more reactions below.
Ciara working with Chris Brown in 2023 is why I'll never feel bad not supporting her.
— Rye Lane Stan Account #2 (@JennyWHOA) August 2, 2023
Cute. A domestic abuser.
What a shining example.
— Star of the King on Pluto (@PlutonianNight) August 2, 2023
Ewww, why is Ciara platforming Chr*s Br*wn knowing he's an abuser? pic.twitter.com/NZzwIar3m8
— Tanesha, BSN RN Karen Kryptonite (@ERnurse86) August 3, 2023
Ciara doing a song with CB⊠pic.twitter.com/KJeNJBLEaB
— Cydney
(@blkbravado) August 2, 2023
the woman beater
cmon
C— c50g (@c50g) August 3, 2023
Out of all the upcoming rappers? You chose the one thatâs abusive girl pic.twitter.com/fg7uDgvMwS
— Jasmeen (@JasmeenD) August 2, 2023
really? with @chrisbrown ?
thank u, next
— ye (@jsmartingo) August 2, 2023
This is gross. Seriously?! We gon act like heâs an acceptable âcollab partnerâ ?? Like we donât have memories?
— Kadee (@KimberDJ) August 2, 2023
Disrespect of black women will continue as long as black women keep allowing it to happen. Why are you all still supporting him? Why are you supporting the women that choose to be associated with him?
— Laena Targaryen is better than you (@Tyutyreir) August 2, 2023
Every time an artist(especially female) collab with this man, I wonder how theyâre going to explain it to their children. How do you explain to them that you donât care about his long rap sheet or his victims because he can dance and carry a tune?
— this barbie supports the SAG & WGA strikes (@ambular_93) August 2, 2023
Ciara youâre better than this pic.twitter.com/NIisEVqBzl
— chrissiâź (@ungodlykristy) August 2, 2023
Collabing with abusers how cute!
— e (@yeseoullie) August 2, 2023
we need to investigate 35+ bwâs attachment to that man https://t.co/7bxdcT1p9M
— âÙprin (@sixinchbeys) August 2, 2023
Why can't the R&B girlies let this man go? https://t.co/MaJewk52kV
— Uncle Rory (@_ror_c_) August 3, 2023
I would be mad, if ppl still listened to her music https://t.co/taSZR1BLr1
— I appreciate you. (@DeeLaSheeArt) August 2, 2023
When will this end? Yikes. https://t.co/n395jV1uxX
— đ±đđđđ
(@MJFINESSELOVER) August 2, 2023
I am sick of yâall putting him in songs. https://t.co/gtJ13fIAa9 pic.twitter.com/bLUiCZxkzG
— Ajumma (@fairymazee) August 2, 2023
Plz tell me Iâm reading/seeing this wrong https://t.co/cDiqdpOPmJ pic.twitter.com/JhFQaUswMJ
— Jordan Blok (@Jordanbloked) August 3, 2023
There wasnât nobody else you could call bruh? https://t.co/CIAG9hKrEs
— Greedy Protective Services (@DopeChubbyChick) August 2, 2023
why do female artist keep collaborating w him
like he not gone give you chart success yâall fanbase isnât gonna grow like and he isnât adding anything to the songs like whats the point https://t.co/BSDU9S3hJr
— Mikiel B. Jordan (@astrooctapus) August 2, 2023
He must have something over their heads cause why do they keep working with this man https://t.co/TdjMLxPwRf
— morningstar â (@jupitersembrace) August 2, 2023
— Jezebel's Gem (@AmandaDannielle) August 2, 2023
So disappointing. https://t.co/zyC4cK4q6C
— Bri
(@goddessoffilth_) August 3, 2023
Whyâs he still got a career⊠https://t.co/2YoNkRtJO1
— ena ⊠(@enatheory) August 3, 2023
Ciara toured with Brown back in 2005. Additionally, he featured on the singerâs track âTurntablesâ from her 2009 album ‘Fantasy Ride’. Around the time of the record’s release, Ciara explained that she’d considered removing Brown’s vocals after he was charged with assaulting Rihanna.
But she ultimately decided to keep Brown’s contribution. “I wanted to focus on the music and leave it at that,” she told MTV News, “because it’s a record that I’ve had for a while, I love the way it sounds and it’s one of my most favourite records on the album.
“And if I alter it, it’s not gonna sound the same. So for me, really it’s nothing more than about the music, so I kept it there.”
However, Ciara said it “definitely took time” for her to come to that decision.
Ciara has not yet responded to the criticism surrounding ‘How We Roll’.
Earlier this year, Chlöe Bailey defended her Chris Brown-featuring single âHow Does It Feelâ. Brown, meanwhile, took to Instagram in February to rant about the âhateâ he still gets for a âmistakeâ he made when he was younger.
In 2022, Jordin Sparks joined Kelly Rowland in defending Brown after he was booed by audience members at the American Music Awards.
Joey Bada$$ also defended his decision to collaborate with Brown following a backlash from fans, saying âpeople make mistakesâ. In 2021, Lizzo was criticised online after footage emerged of her calling the singer âmy favourite person in the whole fucking worldâ.
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