*Chris Brown was slated to pay tribute to Michael Jackson with a performance at the American Music Awards on Sunday.
On Saturday (Nov. 19), Brown posted a video on Instagram of himself rehearsing for the AMAs tribute He later returned to the comments section of the post to announce: “Would’ve been the AMA performance but they cancelled me for reasons unknown.”
Ciara also posted a minute-long clip on Twitter suggesting she planned to join Brown in the Michael Jackson tribute. The video showed the songstress in a dance studio with Brown rehearsing to “Thriller” and Billy Jean.”
Ciara captioned the post: “MJ thank you for the inspiration you’ve given us all! Thriller 40th Anniversary. @ChrisBrown you’re a rare breed of this generation. Always fun to rock with you.”
READ MORE: 2022 American Music Awards: List of Winners
MJ thank you for the inspiration you’ve given us all! Thriller 40th Anniversary. @ChrisBrown you’re a rare breed of this generation. Always fun to rock with you ???????? pic.twitter.com/dzXgDzLMFk
— Ciara (@ciara) November 21, 2022
AMA producers have now offered an explanation as to why Brown’s performance was cut from the show.
“Live shows change all the time, it’s the nature of this business; unfortunately, this element of the AMAs didn’t come together as we couldn’t align on the performance, to no fault of Chris Brown,” a spokesperson for Dick Clark Productions, which produces the show, said in a statement Monday to Urban Hollywood 411.
Meanwhile, the Hollywood news site Puck, reported that the plug was pulled on Brown’s MJ tribute because ABC “began considering the optics of a convicted domestic abuser feting an alleged child molester.”
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Brown did not attend the AMAs but he won the award for Favorite Male R&B Artist.
Kelly Rowland had to ask the crowd to chill out because they booed him after she announced Brown as the winner in the best Male R&B Artist category. The other artists nominated were Brent Faiyaz, Giveon, Lucky Daye and The Weeknd.
“Now Chris Brown is not here tonight so I’m accepting this award on his behalf,” Rowland told the crowd before saying, “Excuse me… chill out” as they booed.
Rowland continued, “But I wanted to tell Chris, thank you so much for making great R&B music and I want to tell him thank you for being an incredible performer. I’ll take this award — bring it to you. I love you. Congratulations. And congratulations to all the nominees in this category.”
Watch the moment via the Twitter clip below.
Chile Kelly Rowland ain’t playin’! She had to check the crowd while announcing Chris Brown as the winner at the AMAs! ????:(@abc @gettyimages ) pic.twitter.com/Ssj2UF9z0M
— TheShadeRoom (@TheShadeRoom) November 21, 2022
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