Two of today's hottest young R&B stars, Chris Brown and Rihanna, spent the night before their scheduled Grammy Award appearances with their arms around each other at a high-profile industry party, the prelude to what should have been successive national TV performances and an emotional high point for the couple.
Instead, neither performer made it to the Grammys as Brown turned himself in to Los Angeles police Sunday evening following an early morning argument and alleged physical assault that played out on a quiet street in Hancock Park. Los Angeles police booked the 19-year-old singer on suspicion of making criminal threats. Brown later posted $50,000 bail and was released shortly after the end of the show, but police said additional charges may be filed against him when the case is presented to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Tuesday, February 10, 2009 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 37 words Type of Material: Correction
Chris Brown troubles: In some copies of Monday's Calendar section, an article about Chris Brown being arrested in an alleged assault case on Sunday stated that he is a native of Tappahannock, Wash. Tappahannock is in Virginia.
The two stars' absence from the Grammy ceremony sparked a dramatic last-minute change in the production, for which veteran soul singer Al Green came to the rescue.
"I was in the shower and didn't have anything on, and they said, 'Whatever you have, throw it in the bag and come on,' " Green said backstage about getting the call to perform. He said he was not given an explanation of the last-minute invite. "We had two hours and 40 minutes to rehearse, come back onstage and change and then go out and do it."
Attended party
Brown and 20-year-old Rihanna, who was born Robyn Rihanna Fenty, had been together Saturday night in Beverly Hills at the pre-Grammy gala, hosted by the Grammy-sponsoring Recording Academy and veteran music executive Clive Davis.
After the gala, Brown and a woman drove through the upscale Los Angeles neighborhood about 12:30 a.m. Sunday in a rented Lamborghini and started arguing, police said. Brown stopped the car on North June Street, the two got out and the argument escalated, according to police.
The victim, who was later identified by sources familiar with the case as Rihanna, suffered visible injuries and identified Brown as her attacker, according to the police report. Authorities did not describe her injuries or whether she was treated for them.
A witness called 911, but police said Brown was gone by the time officers arrived at the scene. Police routinely book domestic disputes in which one party exhibits any sign of physical injury as felonies, a police source said.
