Jasmine Crockett Faces Backlash Over ‘Disgusting’ Stunt

Rep. Jasmine Crockett is facing criticism after using her congressional office to honor R&B singer Chris Brown, whose record includes the 2009 assault of then-girlfriend Rihanna. The Texas Democrat, who lost a Senate primary earlier this year, appeared onstage Saturday during a Brown and Usher concert at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

She told the crowd the artists would be recognized in the Congressional Record. “Now, y’all know, I tend to get in trouble every once in a while. I’m a make this real quick. I need to know who run it! So is Dallas in the building?” she said. “Let’s give it up for Chris Brown.”

The reaction online focused on Brown’s history. He pleaded guilty to felony assault in 2009 after attacking Rihanna. He later faced other cases, including a 2013 confrontation involving Frank Ocean, a misdemeanor assault plea in Washington, D.C., and a five-year restraining order obtained by Karrueche Tran in 2017.

More recently, he pleaded guilty in Britain to affray after a 2023 London nightclub attack in which prosecutors said he struck producer Abraham Diaw in the head with a glass bottle. Sentencing is set for Oct. 26.

Washington Free Beacon reporter Andrew Kerr wrote that Crockett used her office to honor “the rapper best known for beating” Rihanna in 2009. The criticism did not stay on the right.

WATCH: Jasmine Crockett honored Chris Brown with a congressional record.

"Right now, we are experiencing black joy to the highest level."pic.twitter.com/yW7lp4Rwmt

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) September 14, 2026

Democratic activist Shannon Watts listed Brown’s convictions and the restraining order. Democratic strategist Ameshia Cross called the appearance “a ridiculous move by Crockett” and “tone deaf as hell,” pointing to domestic violence rates among Black women.

Eric Michael Garcia, D.C. bureau chief of the Independent, wrote that it was “Absolutely disgusting to see Jasmine Crockett platform and honor an abuser of women. Just completely vile.” Author Dan Winslow said he would not support her again.

Crockett’s member statement was titled “Recognizing the Artistry of Chris Brown and Usher Raymond.” Onstage she framed the honor as a record of “Black joy.” “I know it’s almost Sunday, so I wanna be clear. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. And right now, we are experiencing Black joy to the highest level, and I wanted to make sure we document that in the Congressional Record,” she said.

Brown later said he did not ask for the recognition. “Funny thing is… YALL CAME TO ME WITH THIS! NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND,” he wrote, adding that his Dallas shows were already sold out and that he “ain’t asked to be honored because I knew some sh*t like this would happen.”

Crockett is in her final months in the House. She gave up her Dallas-area seat to run for Senate and lost the Democratic primary in March to James Talarico. Her term ends in January.

The controversy is about the use of an official congressional recognition, not a private compliment at a concert. That is why members of her own party joined the criticism.

Brown’s legal record is public and long. Crockett’s statement treated the night as a cultural milestone. Those two facts collided in the same clip.

She will leave Congress with the episode as one of the last public acts of her House career.