TYRESE GIBSON TALKS ABOUT CHRIS BROWN

Chris Brown

Troubled Chris Brown is struggling to deal with the public backlash following his alleged fight with Rihanna last month, according to his friend Tyrese Gibson. The almost former star is facing almost five years in prison if convicted of assaulting Rihanna during the February 8th incident, which left the pop singer beaten and very bruised. The pair reconciled after a meeting at rap mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs' Miami, Fla., mansion, but Rihanna has since reportedly called off the romance once and for all. Brown's career has taken a huge hit since the headline-grabbing altercation, with bosses at gum firm Wrigleys and America's National Dairy Council pulling promotional campaigns featuring the singer, and bosses at several radio stations have removed his songs from their play lists after receiving complaints from their listeners. And talented actor Gibson is insisting Brown, who was recently photographed laughing and enjoying a ride on a jet ski, is not coping with the ordeal as well as it may seem. He says, "Although he appears to be really strong through all of this, it's really taking a toll on his spirit. People like me and Puff (Combs), we're just trying to show him love and keep his spirits up while he's going through all of the heat, and there are a lot people doing the same for Rihanna." And Gibson also claims Brown is also finding it very difficult to return to work, despite the fact he's back in the studio preparing for his next album. The star adds, "It's really hard for him to focus right now on his music, even though he really wants to. "At the end of the day, I'm not trying to justify it because wrong is wrong, but unfortunately, us as entertainers, we have to grow up on stage with a lot of people looking at us. And a lot of people forget that he's 19, she's only 21." Brown is due to be arraigned in a Los Angeles California court next month.
Photos By: Sara De Boer/Retna