Chris Brown is making it clear he is not losing sleep over the reaction to his new album “BROWN.” The singer jumped on Instagram Stories this week to respond to growing criticism surrounding the project, and somewhere in the middle of the rant, he dragged Zara Larsson into the conversation too.
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“Team Breezy, I know people want me to get on here and say some sad s**t, but f**k that,” Brown said in the video. “We kickin’ they a**. We ain’t lettin’ up.”
The comments arrived as “BROWN,” Brown’s 12th studio album, continues its first week on streaming platforms with a projected Top 5 debut on the Billboard 200. The 27-track project features appearances from Bryson Tiller, GloRilla, Leon Thomas, Sexyy Red, Tank, Fridayy, Vybz Kartel, and YoungBoy Never Broke Again. It also serves as the centerpiece for Brown’s upcoming stadium tour with Usher, which begins in June.
Still, the album rollout has been overshadowed by sharp criticism from several corners online, especially after Pitchfork published a blistering review written by critic Alphonse Pierre. The review called BROWN “a real piece of s**t” and described the album as “soulless, hit-chasing music,” arguing that Brown’s music and public narrative continue to lean heavily on themes of victimhood and redemption following years of controversy tied to his assault history and other allegations.
Pitchfork’s review did not just critique the music. The piece also questioned the broader entertainment industry’s willingness to rehabilitate Brown’s image, especially after his Grammy win for “11:11” (Deluxe) earlier this year and the commercial success of his recent tours. Pierre argued that mainstream media and fans have gradually softened toward Brown over time, even as conversations surrounding his past continue to follow him.
Brown clearly saw the backlash and responded accordingly.
“I don’t give a f**k what these n***as is talkin’ about,” he continued in the Instagram Stories clip. “I know exactly who my fans is and I know exactly who hearing this album. If you not my fan, I don’t want you to listen to my s**t. Go listen to motherf**kin’ Zara Larsson or somebody.”
That line quickly sparked attention online because Larsson has publicly criticized Brown before. Earlier this year during an interview with Cosmopolitan, the Swedish pop singer said Brown was one of several artists she intentionally blocks on Spotify because of abuse allegations and violent behavior.
“There’s so many artists I have blocked on Spotify, and all of them are, like, abusers,” Larsson said at the time. “You certainly wouldn’t find, like, a Chris Brown song.”
The tension adds another layer to what has already been a noisy album cycle for Brown. Before release day, social media spent weeks clowning the album artwork for resembling classic Michael Jackson cover poses, especially Thriller. Brown later revealed the album title is an acronym for “Break Rules Only When Necessary,” a detail that triggered even more reactions online.
Despite the criticism, Brown’s commercial momentum has not slowed much. His single “It Depends” with Bryson Tiller became one of the project’s strongest-performing records ahead of the album release, while anticipation for the upcoming Usher co-headlining tour has remained high.
For now, Brown appears fully committed to the “us against everybody” framing that has long fueled his relationship with Team Breezy. And judging by his latest response, he is treating the criticism less like damage control and more like promo.
