Chris Brown breaks his silence

Chris Brown says he is seeking counseling from loved ones and family members, one week after an alleged attack against his girlfriend, singer Rihanna.

"Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired. I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God's help, to emerging a better person."

The 19-year-old R&B singer issued a brief statement today through publicist Michael Sitrick. In it, Brown also says many of the reports about the incident are incorrect, although he doesn't provide further details.

"Much of what has been speculated or reported on blogs and/or reported in the media is wrong. While I would like to be able to talk about this more, until the legal issues are resolved, this is all I can say except that I have not written any messages or made any posts to Facebook, on blogs or any place else. Those posts or writings under my name are frauds."

Screengrabs of a fake Facebook page circulated online late last week, but was quickly determined to be a hoax.

Brown turned himself in on Feb. 8 and was booked on suspicion of making a criminal treath, but no charges have been filed yet. He is free on $50,000 bail while the case is being investigated.

On Friday, Brown's father said his son is at home and "very remorseful" over what happened. Rihanna is now at home in Barbados recuperating.

Jay-Z has a beef with Chris Brown?

We've all been wondering how Jay-Z - Rihanna's producer and big brother-like mentor - is coping with his protege's alleged altercation with Chris Brown.

According to Us Weekly, Jay Z is enraged. "He hit the roof," says a source close to the rapper. "Chris is a walking dead man. He messed with the wrong crew."

Yikes.

The general public may not remember Jay-Z's rough-and-tumble earlier days as a young New York City

rapper, but Chris Brown probably does - and we're guessing he might be worried.

Meanwhile, another source close to Rihanna claims that bruises were visible on the singer's neck as recently as early December. "I asked if everything was OK with her and Chris," says the confidant. "She told me, 'We broke up again.' I didn't pursue the issue further."

In related news, Brown's sister, Lytrell "Tootie" Bundy, says Chris, is "doing good" despite the gravity of his situation.

"He's coping," she told Extra on Wednesday. "He's

doing ... [as well] as to be expected."

Click here for our constantly updated timeline of news stories surrounding the alleged attack.

Chris Brown’s Alleged Assault Charges Could Cost Him His Endorsement Deals

He's been the squeaky clean pop R&B poster boy since he hit the scene in 2005 with his #1 debut single "Run It."

He is not Michael Jackson, but he surely lit a fire under Usher's behind.

He has not publicly feuded with another artist.

He's been dating his female counterpart Rihanna.

He even had a Doublemint commercial.

He is 19-years-old.

There are a half a dozen upcoming teen male pop R&B singers signed to major labels who wish they could achieve his success.

But if the allegations are true that Brown assaulted a woman, his career will be in jeopardy.

According to the reports from the most reputable news sources, Brown turned himself in to authorities Sunday evening in connection with a charge of making a criminal threat. After being interviewed by police, he was released on a $50,000 bond.

Brown is being accused of assaulting a woman Sunday early morning and fleeing the scene, leaving her in a car in the Hancock Park section of Los Angeles. As a result of the issue, Brown canceled his performance at Sunday's 51^st Grammy Awards where he was nominated for two trophies, best pop collaboration for his song "No Air" with Jordin Sparks and best male R&B performance for his ballad "Take You Down."

It is unclear whether or not his girlfriend pop star Rihanna was the victim, however, insiders are speculating that it was the "Umbrella" singer who made the 911 call to police, complaining of being attacked.

Rihanna also withdrew from her scheduled performance from the Grammys.

The couple was last seen together Saturday night when they attended the annual pre-Grammy party hosted by music veteran Clive Davis. Reports indicate that they were happy.

On Sunday a spokesperson for Rihanna told People magazine that the singer was well, but did not confirm whether she was involved in the altercation.

I hate to speculate on matters like this until all of the facts have been revealed. But I do want to consider what the ramifications might be for Chris Brown if he is found guilty of hitting a woman.

Aside from potentially serving jail time, Chris could face a backlash from his fans and the companies that endorse him.

Wrigley said Monday that it will be suspending its Chris Brown ad campaign for Doublement gum. In a statement the company said it would delay any advertising or related marketing until the situation is resolved, AP reported. Wrigley added that Brown should be "afforded the same due process as any citizen."

Advertisers and sponsors are quick to disassociate themselves from artists with controversial histories. Ludacris lost an endorsement deal with Pepsi in 2002 when The O'Reilly Factor host Bill O'Reilly attacked the soft drink giant for supporting an artist whom O'Reilly described to have socially irresponsible lyrics. And last year, Verizon pulled the plug on its sponsorship of Gwen Stefani's tour after opening act Akon was seen on a web clip dirty dancing with an underage girl at one of his club dates.

Just last week, we saw the consequences Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps faced when photos surfaced of the 23-year-old swimmer smoking marijuana via a bong pipe.

This could potentially affect Chris' invitation to other award shows and might even prompt fans to not support his upcoming concerts.

Respected hip-hop historian and journalist Dave "Davey D" Cook said that Brown losing endorsement deals is hardly the key issue. He wants to know how the community will be affected by having role models in Brown and Rihanna entangled in a widely publicized domestic matter. "The music industry, they'll circle the wagons and protect him," Cook said via email. "They'll spin the story and even go out after the victim which is happening now with Rihanna, who is catching heat from people accusing her of snitching."

Cook adds that he would like to see both Brown and Rihanna get help, but he believes that the music business will first put emphasis on keeping Brown's career afloat. "Chris Brown is a hot commodity making money in a crumbling industry that celebrates abusive culture, i.e. pimping," Cook said. "He'll be protected and held up to high esteem just like Ike Turner, Dr. Dre and Big Pun and numerous other artists and entertainers accused of domestic violence."

Many of Chris and Rihanna's fans are already forming opinions about the allegations.

After the news reports were released, fans expressed their opinions on social networking sites.

I've read many status updates on Facebook that conveyed anger towards Chris Brown.

On Rihanna's MySpace page, some users left her encouraging words, telling her that they are praying for her, that she will be okay, and to do what's best.

Ironically, few harshly condemn Brown. Some even take his side, citing rumors that Rihanna may have provoked a fight between the couple.

The comments on Brown's MySpace page clearly support the artist. One reminded him that he is innocent until proven guilty, while another told him not to worry because everyone makes mistakes.

We will see how the reaction develops as more of the story comes to light.

Brown is scheduled to go to court on March 5.

Early Grammy winners

LOS ANGELES – A tearful Jennifer Hudson won her first Grammy, thanking her family "in heaven and those who are with me today" to kick off an evening already stoked with drama when police said they were investigating double nominee Chris Brown for an alleged assault on an unidentified woman.
Brown and longtime girlfriend Rihanna, each nominated and slated to perform, separately dropped out of the Grammys at the last minute and their whereabouts were not immediately known Sunday night. The victim of Brown's alleged assault wasn't identified, and it wasn't immediately clear whether Rihanna's absence was related to Brown's.
Hudson, 27, made no direct reference to the killings of her mother, brother and nephew that kept her in seclusion until just this month. But while fighting back tears, she made it clear that her family was foremost on her mind.
"I first would like to thank God who has brought me through," said Hudson, also an Oscar winner, as she accepted her award from Whitney Houston.
Hudson later performed "You Pulled Me Through," a dramatic song about overcoming deep despair, with the lyrics: "When I was drowning, when I was so confused, you, you pulled me through." As she sang the last note, she looked directly into the camera and dissolved into tears once again.
While Hudson's emotion was front and center, drama unfolded behind the scenes when police said just 90 minutes before the show began that they were investigating the 19-year old Brown. His performance was subsequently removed from the show, though it was unclear if he bowed out or was dropped.
Then, minutes before U2 opened the telecast by zipping through its new single, the Recording Academy said Rihanna had scratched her performance as well. The couple could be seen sitting together at a Grammy pre-party the night before in Los Angeles.
According to the police report, Brown and a woman were in a vehicle in the ritzy neighborhood of Hancock Park when they began to argue around 12:30 a.m. Sunday. Brown stopped the car and both got out, whereupon the argument escalated, the report said.
The woman, who had visible injuries when police arrived, identified Brown as her attacker, but he had left the scene, the report said.
The absences of both performers put a huge hole in the Grammy telecast, but the Recording Academy found able replacements in Justin Timberlake, Al Green, Boyz II Men and Keith Urban as they all sang Green's classic hit, "Let's Stay Together." No mention was made on the broadcast about the switch.
With all the drama going on onstage and behind the scenes, the awards seemed almost like an afterthought — but the awards went on all the same. Coldplay, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, and Lil Wayne each won three apiece — Coldplay's win included song of the year for "Viva La Vida."
"We've never had so many Grammys in our life," said lead singer Chris Martin, perhaps so excited he got confused (they had already won four over the years). "We feel so grateful to be here. I'm going to tear up."
British singer Adele was also teary, as she beat the Jonas Brothers, Lady Antebellum, Jazmine Sullivan and fellow Brit singer Duffy to nab best new artist. It was her second award of the evening.
"Thank you so much. I'm going to cry. I want to thank my manager, my mom, she's in London. And Duffy I love you. I think you're amazing. Jonas Brothers, I love you as well," she said, saying the last part with a devilish look, eliciting laughter.
It was Adele's second award; she earlier won for best female pop vocal.
Lil Wayne was the nominations leader with eight, and won best rap solo performance for "A Milli," rap song for "Lollipop" and rap/sung collaboration for "Swagga Like Us," an all-star song featuring Jay-Z, T.I. and Kanye West.
But the prolific rapper won't be going home with eight trophies; he was competing against himself in two categories that he won and lost another. He still has a chance to win the evening's top prize, album of the year, for his best-selling disc "Tha Carter III."
Plant and Krauss, also nominated for album of the year for their collaboration "Raising Sand," took home an award for country collaborations with vocals and contemporary folk/Americana album. They later won a third for pop collaboration with vocals.