Celebrity News & Gossip: R. Kelly and Chris Brown Are Bad for Women

Our love/hate affair with R&B crooners R. Kelly and Chris Brown is highly justifiable. While we have grooved to their music, even remembering songs line for line, we can't forget the bad deeds committed by these two men. R. Kelly initially got the side-eye from us when rumors spread in 1994 that he had married the late singer Aaliyah. As reports of fake marriage certificates and rumors disputing the allegations surfaced, we quickly dismissed the fact that our favorite R&B star might be a pedophile. And then, all hell broke loose.

A pornographic video of R. Kelly having sex with women, including a 14 year-old girl surfaced in 2002, leading to the indictment of R. Kelly on charges of child pornography, misconduct with a child, videotaping the sexual acts and other charges. Ironically in June of 2008, R. Kelly was found not guilty. He continues to record and is touring to promote his latest album.

Brown with Rihanna during happier times.

Chris Brown's judgment day came when he assaulted Rihanna after an award show in Los Angeles. Brown and Rihanna were seen fighting in the tony neighborhood of Hancock Park and the police were called. Rihanna's face who one viewer upon seeing the police photographs of called, "the elephant woman", suffered severe head trauma and obtained several bruises.

While Kelly continues to record and is currently on tour to promote his new album, Chris Brown struggles to get his career back on track. Will the two men every fully reedeem themselves?  See Essence writer Michaela Angela Davis' take on the bad boys of R&B.