Normani is facing intense fan backlash after starring in controversial R&B star Chris Brown’s latest music video for his song WE (Warm Embrace).
The Fifth Harmony alum, 26, shared a brief clip with her Instagram followers on Tuesday, which shows her and the 33-year-old hitmaker dancing sensually.
In the full-length video, which also debuted Tuesday, Normani and Chris share a passionate underwater kiss while swimming fully clothed in a pool.
Being that Chris has faced abuse allegations in the past, fans were quick to criticize Normani for seemingly voicing her support for the star by lending her image to his new project.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Normani’s representatives for comment.
Backlash: Normani is facing intense fan backlash after starring in controversial R&B star Chris Brown’s latest music video for his song WE (Warm Embrace); Normani pictured in 2021
She described working on the video as ‘surreal’ and even thanked the Look At Me Now singer for ‘trusting me’ in the caption of her Instagram post.
‘One for the f***ing books. WARM EMBRACE OUT NOW,’ Normani concluded.
She received high praise from countless verified Instagram accounts, including her former Fifth Harmony bandmate Dinah Jane and Kim Kardashian’s BFF La La Anthony, for her ‘amazing’ performance.
But a majority of the comment section was filled with confused and angered Normani fans, many of which encouraged her to ‘delete’ any trace of the music video from her page.
The Fifth Harmony alum, 26, shared a brief clip with her Instagram followers on Tuesday, which shows her and the 33-year-old hitmaker dancing sensually
In the full-length video, which also debuted Tuesday, Normani and Chris share a passionate underwater kiss while swimming fully clothed in a pool
Another slammed the project as ’embarrassing,’ while one commenter directed blame at Normani’s public relations team for the collaboration.
‘Nah, [your] PR team needs better direction. why would u link up with a ‘man’ like him?’ they wrote.
One Instagram user brutally deemed the video a ‘hard pass’ because of the ‘multiple abuse allegations’ that have been levied against Chris over the years.
‘Could’ve worked with anyone else but someone with multiple abuse allegations,’ the comment read.
‘Surreal’: She described working on the video as ‘surreal’ and even thanked the Look At Me Now singer for ‘trusting me’ in the caption of her Instagram post
‘One for the f***ing books. WARM EMBRACE OUT NOW,’ Normani concluded
‘NOO NOT THE ABUSER,’ one fan lamented in the comment section.
Another wrote: ‘why are you supporting a man who beat up another black woman though??????’
Many commenters brought up Rihanna, who Chris previously admitted to hitting during a heated argument in 2009, and how Normani has repped the 34-year-old Umbrella singer’s lingerie brand Savage X Fenty over the years.
As uncovered by Page Six, Normani was the first Savage x Fenty ambassador and has appeared as a model in Savage X Fenty runway shows.
Criticism: Being that Chris has faced abuse allegations in the past, fans were quick to criticize Normani for seemingly voicing her support for the star by lending her image to his new project
A majority of Normani’s Instagram comment section was filled with confused and angered fans, many of which encouraged her to ‘delete’ any trace of the music video from her page
‘Embarrassing’: Another slammed the project as ’embarrassing’
‘Dammmn that’s messed up. will never forget what he did to Rihanna,’ stated one disappointed fan.
Despite the growing online backlash, the WE (Warm Embrace) music video has managed to rack up over 1.5million views in less than 24 hours.
Most infamously, Chris was charged with felony assault in 2009 after shocking images of his then-girlfriend Rihanna with a bruised face and a split lip surfaced online.
Rihanna’s injuries were the aftermath of a reported physical altercation between herself and Chris that occurred after a party.
Blame game: One commenter directed blame at Normani’s public relations team for the collaboration
‘Hard pass’: One Instagram user brutally deemed the video a ‘hard pass’ because of the ‘multiple abuse allegations’ that have been levied against Chris over the years
Doing well: Despite the growing online backlash, the WE (Warm Embrace) music video has managed to rack up over 1.5million views in less than 24 hours
The Loyal hitmaker later pleaded guilty to one count of felony assault after striking a plea deal, which saw him avoid jail time completely.
Instead, a judge sentenced Chris to five years probation and ‘labor-oriented service,’ along with domestic violence counseling, as reported by CNN.
There was also a restraining order put in place that required him ‘to stay 50 yards away from Rihanna, 10 yards if the two are at the same industry event.’
Infamous: Many commenters brought up Rihanna, who Chris previously admitted to hitting during a heated argument in 2009, and how Normani has repped the 34-year-old Umbrella singer’s lingerie brand Savage X Fenty over the years; Chris and Rihanna pictured in 2013
Rihanna’s go-to girl: As uncovered by Page Six, Normani was the first Savage x Fenty ambassador and has appeared as a model in the annual Savage X Fenty runway shows; Normai seen at the Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 runway show in 2020
Though it was initially to remain in place until 2014, the restraining order was lifted in 2011 – a decision supported by Rihanna at the time.
Speaking on the altercation in his documentary Chris Brown: Welcome to my Life, Chris claimed that he and Rihanna often engaged in physical fights and that his unfaithfulness only made things worse between them.
‘We were fighting each other. She would hit me, I would hit her. But it never was OK,’ he explained.
Back in 2017, Chris’ on/off girlfriend of four years Karrueche Tran was granted a five-year restraining order against him after she testified in court that he had physically assaulted her in the past,’ as per USA Today.
Chris was charged with felony assault in 2009 after shocking images of his then-girlfriend Rihanna with a bruised face and a split lip surfaced online. Rihanna’s injuries were the aftermath of a reported physical altercation between herself and Chris that occurred after a party.
She also presented ‘threatening text and voicemail messages’ that she received from Chris to a judge, along with claims that Chris had once threatened to ‘beat the (expletive)’ out of her and was demanding she return gifts he’d given her in their relationship, as per TMZ.
The former couple were romantically linked from 2011 until 2015.
In June 2021, Chris was investigated after a woman claimed he smacked her during an argument that allegedly took place at his Los Angeles home.
The misdemeanor case was later rejected by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office because of ‘insufficient evidence,’ as reported by Rolling Stone.
Plea: The Loyal hitmaker later pleaded guilty to one count of felony assault after striking a plea deal, which saw him avoid jail time completely. Instead, a judge sentenced Chris to five years probation and ‘labor-oriented service,’ along with domestic violence counseling, as reported by CNN; Chris pictured in June 2022
In early 2022, an unidentified woman filed a $20million lawsuit against Chris claiming he’d ‘drugged and raped her’ while at a a party in December 2020, according to Page Six.
Attempting to clear his name, Chris shared communications purportedly with his accuser on social media. The singer posted several text messages and a voice mail to his Instagram story which he claimed were from the same woman who accused him of drugging and raping her aboard a yacht in 2020.
Those messages were made public in an effort to show that their sexual encounter was consensual. Chris went on to say that he and his team ‘are taking legal action on this situation’, suggesting he may countersue.
The veracity of the screen grabs have not been independently authenticated by DailyMail.com, however, the accuser’s attorney, claimed to TMZ that the texts and voice message were between Chris and her client.
The lawyer added that she was not made aware of the messages by her client and would be ‘withdrawing from the case.’
Restraining order: Back in 2017, Chris’ on/off girlfriend of four years Karrueche Tran was granted a five-year restraining order against him after she testified in court that he had physically assaulted her in the past,’ as per USA Today; Chris and Karrueche pictured in 2014
According to TMZ, the communication began after their encounter on a yacht in Miami in 2020 and continued for months.
Despite Chris’ legal woes, Normani reportedly tweeted in 2014 that she was ‘#TeamBreezy’ – which is Chris’ industry nickname – and stressed to her followers that his ‘personal life has nothing to do with how talented he is.’
A newly resurfaced video, which took place while Normani was still part of the X-Factor generated girl group, Fifth Harmony, features another moment of public support for Chris.
In the clip, Normani insists she ‘can change [Chris’] life’ and that she ‘can help him’ after the interviewer attempts to quash her ‘love’ for the star by reminding her of the ‘trouble’ he’s gotten into over the years.
Big fan? Despite Chris’ legal woes, Normani reportedly tweeted in 2014 that she was ‘#TeamBreezy’ – which is Chris’ industry nickname – and stressed to her followers that his ‘personal life has nothing to do with how talented he is’; Normani pictured in June 2022
