After copies of Chris Brown’s new album were photographed in the London store HMV with a sticker stating “Warning: Do not buy this album! This man beats women,” a spokesperson for HMV has suggested that the publicity from last week’s sticker incident may have helped promote Brown’s album, Fortune.
The sticker, placed on a number of copies of Brown’s new album, refers to Brown’s physical assault on ex-girlfriend and hip-hop diva Rihanna back in 2009. Since the domestic dispute, the two young singers were rarely been seen together. Yet in an interview with Oprah Winfrey on Oprah’s Next Chapter, Rihanna did refer to Brown as “the love of my life,” and earlier this month at the MTV VMA Awards, Rihanna and Brown kissed while on stage.
The amount of media coverage the sticker is receiving has proving to spread the word of Brown’s violent past, but the sticker vandals may have also unintentionally promoted the singer’s new album. A spokesperson from retailer HMV told NME:
“I guess they got their point across pretty effectively – with widespread coverage around the world, though, by the same token, quite a few more people now know there’s a new Chris Brown album out.”
Brown has been in the public eye several times recently, including the VMA kiss with Rihanna and a new neck tattoo that some feel resemble Rihanna’s bruised face. Publicity the “Forever“ singer is attaining can only help get the word out about his new album and upcoming events.
Follow Caroline Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.