In May 2026, while staring directly into the eyes of three of the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein—during a congressional hearing on the late financier’s sprawling web of rape, trafficking, and abuse—that’s what Rep. Jasmine Crockett said.
uncertain
Crockett → star → what
“I’ve been smiling probably more than I’m supposed to as I’ve sat here because y’all bring me so much joy.
asserted
all → smile → joy
And let me tell you why,” she added.
asserted
she → let → ?
“The reason is this: because in spite of this incompetent government, y’all do not back down.”
asserted
all → back → government
Four months later, Crockett would take to the mic to express her joy once again, not at a congressional hearing but at the Texas AT&T Stadium, to bestow honors on a man who, in 2009, choked his then-girlfriend to the point that she “began to lose consciousness.”
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she → take → consciousness
On Sunday, the Texas Democratic representative joined Chris Brown onstage to sing his praises while awarding him recognition in the congressional record during the Texas stop of his joint tour with Usher.
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representative → join → Usher
“We’re experiencing Black joy to the highest degree,” crowed Crockett, flanked by Rep. Venton Jones.
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Crockett → experience → Jones
For those not in the know, Chris Brown is a decorated R&B singer who’s been performing since he was a teen.
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he → decorate → know
Known for his smash songs, “Run It,” “Loyal,” and “Forever,” he’s been a staple of the genre for decades.
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he → know → decades
Nowadays, Brown is known less for his radio hits and more for the hits he allegedly bestowed on dozens of individuals, dating all the way back to 2009 when he brutally assaulted Rihanna, then his girlfriend.
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he → know → Rihanna
But his legal problems didn’t stop there.
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problems → stop → ?
Over the past fifteen years, Brown has racked up so many convictions and allegations of assault and drug use that there’s an entire Wikipedia page dedicated to his legal issues.
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Brown → rack → issues
Most notably, Brown has a long track record of alleged violence against women specifically.
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Brown → have → women
In 2009, he pleaded guilty to assault against Rihanna, whom he repeatedly struck, bit, and choked during an argument.
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he → plead → argument
In 2017, his then-girlfriend, Karreuche Tran was granted a restraining order against him after he threatened to “beat the s— out of” her in text messages.
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he → grant → messages
She also accused him of punching her in the stomach twice and pushing her down the stairs, which Brown has denied.
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Brown → accuse → which
In 2018, a woman sued Brown for sexual assault in a case that settled out of court in 2020.
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that → sue → 2020
In 2024, ID dropped the documentary Chris Brown: A History of Violence, in which several alleged victims of the singer came forward, including a woman who said Brown raped her in 2020 on Sean “Diddy” Combs’ yacht.
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Brown → drop → yacht
Brown’s penchant for violence has followed him throughout his entire career, but has somehow done absolutely nothing to stop dogged public support for the singer, especially among Black women.
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penchant → follow → women
Actress Keke Palmer attended Brown’s “Breezy Bowl” in 2025 despite interviewing Tran about Brown’s alleged assault against her in 2014.
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Palmer → attend → 2014
Throughout the 2020s, stars like Lizzo, Ciara, and Kelly Rowland have all given Brown his flowers.
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stars → give → flowers
He’s collaborated with the likes of Normani, Chloe Bailey, and Cassie, who’s testified that Diddy sexually abused and exploited her.
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Diddy → collaborate → her
But what separates Crockett from those figures is her status as a politician and her past use of her position to support victims of sexual violence.
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separates → separate → violence
Throughout her career, Crockett rarely, if ever, shied away from calling out the Republican Party’s racism and misogyny.
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Crockett → shy → racism
She’s steadfastly called out the Department of Justice’s failure to release the Epstein files and done the same with Trump for his sexual misconduct during his second presidency.
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She → call → presidency
To (rightfully) lambast your colleagues for supporting a sexual abuser, only to have those politics fly out the window for something so inconsequential, is, on its face, a baffling choice.
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politics → lambast → face
Saying Trump’s White House is covering up the Epstein files scores you viral clips circulated on the evening news.
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House → say → news
Calling survivors of sexual exploitation “courageous” leads to comments calling you “inspiring” and “OUTSTANDING.”
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Calling → call → you
Apparently, it’s easier to denounce abusers when it’s politically advantageous.
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it → ’ → abusers
The Aporia
