American R&B superstar Chris Brown has deactivated his Instagram account, sparking intense speculation after a fresh wave of online backlash.
The move comes on the heels of his Breezy Bowl XX concert at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where he invited sports journalist Kayla Nicole onstage during a performance of his 2007 classic Take You Down. Nicole reclined on a red chaise as Brown delivered a sultry lap dance and kissed her leg, a moment that drew roaring approval from the live audience.
Nicole later reflected on Instagram, saying she did it “for the teenage me blasting CB in her bedroom” and, more importantly, “for my brown girls.”
But once clips went viral, the performance reignited long-running accusations of colourism against Brown, with critics claiming he has a history of preferring lighter-skinned women. The online debate escalated rapidly, prompting the singer to clap back on his Instagram Story: “Miss me with that colorist rage baiting!!!”
As the backlash persisted, Brown announced he would step away from social media: “Ima take a break from social media. Y’all done pissed me off long enough.” By Monday, his account, which boasted over 75 million followers, had been deactivated.
Chris Brown has deactivated his Instagram. pic.twitter.com/hCvwlbgA4n
— Chris Brown News (@chrisbrownewss) September 17, 2025
This isn’t the first time Brown has faced similar accusations. In 2023, two women in the U.K. alleged they were barred from a VIP section at one of his events because of their skin tone, claims the singer firmly denied. The latest controversy appears to have pushed him into another self-imposed social media exile.
The Instagram break comes amid other ongoing challenges for the star. Earlier this year, producer Abe Diaw accused Brown of assault in London, claiming the artist attacked him with a tequila bottle. Diaw later filed a $16 million lawsuit, and Brown was arrested on May 15, 2025, in connection with the case.
For now, the singer remains under the spotlight, caught, once again, between admiration from fans and criticism over his personal and professional decisions.