Chvrches singer Lauren Mayberry has revealed the extent of the abuse she has received since publicly calling out Chris Brown on the band’s Instagram page.
Last week, Chvrches made headlines when she criticised music producer Marshmello – who the group recently worked with – for collaborating with Chris Brown and rapper Tyga on a new track.
“We are really upset, confused and disappointed by Marshmello’s choice to work with Tyga and Chris Brown,” they wrote.
“We like and respect Mello as a person but working with people who are predators and abusers enables, excuses and ultimately tactically endorses that behaviour.
“That is not something we can or will stand behind.”
Tyga was the first of the two to comment on the post, writing: “Where all God’s children. Everyone makes mistakes no ones perfect. Let’s Keep the energy positive.”
Chris Brown later voiced his opinion on the subject, in typically graphic fashion noting: “BUNCH OF LOSERS. these are the type of people I wish walked in front of a speeding bus full of mental patients. Keep groveling over you own insecurities and hatred.”
He added: “IM BLACK AND PROUD. AND I KNOW ITS HURTS THAT U GUYS ARE STRUGGLING WIT LIFE OR PEACE SO U ARE FORCED TO SEE MY SUCCESS. You aren’t even #2 (REMEMBER 2nd place only means YOU LOST FIRST! TA-TA. GOODDAY PEASANTS)”
In video footage posted by TMZ, frontwoman Lauren Mayberry revealed the reaction from Chris’ fans has been particularly strong, including violent threats of rape, and death threats.
“We aren’t picking on Chris Brown for the sake of picking on Chris Brown,” she said. “We have to be honest, and we have to be authentic, and we would be really hypocritical if we worked with somebody and didn’t say anything about what they did immediately after that.
“I was like ‘I dunno, I think domestic abuse might be wrong’, and now I’m going to have to invest in some bulletproof tutus, because apparently that does not go down well with the Breezy fans.
“Maybe don’t promote serial convicted violence to kids… and then [the fans] were like, ’do you know what we’re going to do? We’re going to rape you and shoot you. You kind of proved the point…”
Lauren has also shared graphic screenshots of private messages she has received from Chris Brown’s fans on her personal Instagram page.
In 2009, Chris Brown pleaded guilty to physically assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna, and is still banned from entering the UK because of this.
He is currently embroiled in a defamation lawsuit against a woman who accused him of sexual assault earlier this year, for which he was arrested but later released without charge.