Singer Chris Brown recently found himself embroiled in a social media spat that backfired spectacularly. The controversy began when Brown, known for his hit songs and tumultuous public persona, targeted a man he accused of impersonating him on Instagram. The episode, which has since gone viral, highlights the unpredictable nature of social media and the perils of celebrity outbursts.
Brown’s ire was directed at Instagram user @tigomgl, who bears a striking resemblance to the singer. In a comment left on one of the man’s photos, Brown did not hold back his disdain. "It's lame as fk impersonating me... [Y]ou look like you missing a chromosome," Brown wrote. He went on to threaten the lookalike, stating, "Be you my n*a... You could never be me! So stop it before I slap [the] s**t out [of] you."
The photo that sparked Brown’s anger showed the lookalike, who identifies himself as Tigo Fariah, adorned with earrings, a necklace with large gems, and a stud nose ring. His facial hair and tattoos further accentuated his resemblance to Brown. The caption, "Energia de cura, em mim," which translates to "healing energy on me," included lyrics from Brown’s song "Angel Numbers / Ten Toes" from his 2023 album "11:11."
Ironically, Brown’s heated response had an unintended consequence: it boosted the lookalike’s popularity. The Shade Room, a popular social media account, reposted Brown’s comment, bringing even more attention to the situation. Many users found humor in Brown’s predicament, noting the absurdity of insulting someone who looks like him.
"All it did was make the guy more famous 'cause I didn't even know who he was," one commenter noted. Another added, "Well if I can't get Chris, I might as well try with the bootleg one."
Criticism of Brown’s reaction was widespread, with some pointing out the hypocrisy of insulting a man who resembles him. "What [was] he supposed to do? Change the way he looks? Lmao," a user quipped. Others took issue with Brown’s violent language, especially given his history of assault incidents and arrests. "This is why he'll never remove those violent narratives surrounding him," one critic opined.
Yet, there were those who sympathized with Brown, arguing that the lookalike's actions were indeed "weird" and "too much." One person suggested, "It's weird to me for a grown man to go around pretending to be someone else... It's giving needs therapy." Another commenter echoed this sentiment, stating, "I'm with Chris on this one! It's one thing to just kind of naturally look like somebody but ole boy went out [of] his wayyy!!"
Despite the divided opinions, the consensus leaned towards the view that Brown's public outburst was ill-advised. A user summarized the situation aptly: "It's lame...but it's more lame to even address it when you're a whole superstar... That's [going to] happen 100 more times... You [going to] fight everybody?"