A local radio station has yanked R&B star Chris Brown’s tracks from its playlist after allegations that he attacked his pop princess girlfriend, Rihanna.
After unofficial sources and media reports claimed Brown, 19, assaulted the Grammy-award winner Sunday, 91.7 The Bounce decided to pull his tracks the next day.
“The allegations and charges that are coming forward from the police in California, we decided to take the songs off air for the time being until we get some clarity on what happened,” said CHUM Radio general manager James Stuart.
Though the station hasn’t received any angry calls about Brown’s music, the decision to yank the tracks was a no-brainer for management.
“Most of his songs deal with the relationship side … These are sensitive and serious topics as far of allegations of abuse in relationships. It seemed inappropriate to play songs that reflected the exact opposite of that,” Stuart said.
Women between the ages of 18 and 24 are most at risk for violence in dating relationships, said Sandra Danco, executive director of Edmonton Women’s Shelter.
The way women are portrayed in rap culture alone, Danco said, has an extreme influence on teenage girls and young women.
She said on Thursday that the station deserves credit for being cognizant of its audience.
“When violence in a relationship is promoted by a popular, cultural expression, it’s hard to get it out of our way of thinking.”
