Chlöe Bailey faced a ton of backlash for collaborating with Chris Brown earlier this year due to the “Loyal” hitmaker’s controversial past — but it didn’t even phase her.
The singer opened up on the topic when she stopped by to promote her new album In Pieces on Audacy’s V-103 podcast on Monday (April 3). Talking to host Big Tigger, Chlöe emphasized that the hate is nothing new and it’s just rolling off her back at this point.
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“I always just wanna let the music speak for itself,” she said of “How Does It Feel.” “And to be honest, no matter what I do, people always find things to say about it, so I’m used to it. I just choose to ignore it. People have every right to their opinions, freedom of speech, and it’s up to me to choose what I give my attention and energy to.”
The collab between the two R&B singers dropped in February, ahead of In Pieces‘ March release. Before the song even hit streamers, many took issue with the Bailey sister’s decision to link up with Chris Brown given his history of alleged violence against women.
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“We’re failing Black women in music if they feel like they have to collaborate with a known abuser in order to chart,” one person tweeted before listing off numerous other male R&B singers she could have worked with, including Bryson Tiller, Lucky Daye and Brent Faiyaz.
“We will absolutely not be streaming,” wrote another person. “Catch you next time though.”
However, Chris Brown fans were quick to defend the singer from the backlash. “Chris Brown is the GOAT everyone that’s crying your tears taste amazing. Move on!” wrote one fan. Another added: “Everyone hating on Chris is so exhausting, like bruh, sis, go be negative elsewhere.”
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Fellow R&B star H.E.R., City Girls member JT and Bebe Rexha were among the big names who expressed their excitement for the song in Chloë’s Instagram comments section.
“WORRRRRRKKKKK,” H.E.R. wrote along with a fire emoji, while JT applauded the collaboration with an enthusiastic: “Come on!!!”
However, 3LW and Cheetah Girls singer Kiely Williams criticized Brown directly, accusing him of being a woman abuser.
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“let him come out with his own record – so genius so captivating that it makes us all forget HE BEATS WOMEN. He can’t so we won’t. So what does he do?” Williams wrote on Twitter. “He slowly creeps back into the mainstream by getting small nods for features on Black Women’s merit. Black women who are more talented, more worthy, but give him the okay.
She added: “I am swatting the fucking air rn. Garbage.”
Brown responded directly to Williams, clowning the singer’s gap tooth while quoting her 2000 3LW song “No More (Baby I’Ma Do Right).”
“I’m kinda getting tired of your broken PROMITHIS of ya broken PROMITHIS PROMITHIS,” Breezy wrote on his Instagram Story. “obviously you are at a point in your life where either you are broke or broken…..the FACT you think you have to speak negatively about me makes you look so lame….YOUR LIFE AND CAREER MUST SUCK RIGHT NOW.”
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He continued: “Minding your business WOULD’VE BEEN BEST….but I guess you don’t have a business or a real job that makes u financially stable. I feel more embarrassed for you and your actual maturity.”
He then shared another meme of Williams, writing alongside it “THOP IT.”
Elsewhere, Brown took a moment to shout out his critics as a whole, posting a clip from his 2017 documentary Welcome To My Lifewhere he speaks candidly about his notorious domestic violence case with Rihanna in 2009.
“If they all hate me, I want them to hate me because they can’t beat me,” Breezy is heard saying in the clip. Brown added in the caption: “LET THAT SINK IN.”
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In a second Insta Story, Brown wrote: “Where are the cancel culture with these white artist that date underage women, BEAT THE FUCK OUT THEIR WIVES, GIVING BITCHES AIDS,
“OH. That’s right.. THEY ARE YOUR BUDDIES [smirk emoji] NO MORE FAKE LOVE FROM ME.. STAY OUT MY WAY OR GET RAN OVER SIMPLE AS THAT!”
He concluded: “NONE OF YOU AND I MEAN NONE OF YOU N-GGAS CAN FUCK WIT ME.”
