Does Chris Brown and Rihanna Working Together Bother You? Chris Brown and Rihanna are back together, at least musically. Two songs featuring the young singers were released on the web late Monday, Brown singing on a remix of Rihanna’s “Birthday Cake” and Rihanna on Brown’s “Turn Up the Music.”

The collaborations have received a great deal of attention from the media and from fans. It was at a pre-Grammy Awards party in 2009 that Brown attacked his then-girlfriend Rihanna. He pleaded guilty to a felony charge and is serving five years of probation. In 2011, a judge eased a restraining order that had required Brown to stay 50 yards away from Rihanna to only 10 yards if they were at a music industry event. Fans are reacting to the new collaborations on both sides of the argument.

From MTV.com reader “KringleChick”:

“Loving both of these songs. Glad they were able to put the music first and let everything else stay behind. Both are great artists and these songs rock. Their voices are amazing together!”

On the other side at MTV.com is LP54, saying:

“Why, Rihanna? Why? I know for lots of people it’s just a song, but for others it’s their role model saying it’s okay.”

Members of The20 also weighed in:

“@anniemal: Rihanna, you’re on your own. Next…” (editor’s note: spelling corrected)

“@cristinmcgrath: I feel a certain way about Rihanna. She used that situation to reinvent herself. I feel like her & Chris back together = a big “FU” to fans.”

What are your thoughts on Chris Brown and Rihanna working together in light of their history?

-LD

[Youtube, NBC Philadelphia, MTV, @anniemal, @cristinmcgrath]

Photo: Getty Images

Time For Occupy Philly to Go? It’s been a tumultuous couple of days at the Occupy Philly camp down at City Hall. On Saturday, a 23-year-old woman was allegedly raped. On Sunday, Mayor Michael Nutter spoke about the group, saying (among other things):

“Occupy Philly is fractured with internal disagreement and disputes. The people of Occupy Philly have changed and their intentions have changed. All of this is not good for Philadelphia. We must change our relationship with them.”

The Occupy Philly camp responded on Monday, albeit briefly. Their permit at City Hall expires Tuesday, so the protestors need to leave Dilworth Plaza to allow the $50 million revitalization project to begin.

The 20’s @RichNegrin (also the city’s Deputy Mayor and Managing Director), who has been communicating with the protestors from the start (depicted in this Metro-compiled collection of tweets), said on Twitter early Tuesday that the Occupy Philly folks rejected a meeting, then claimed not to have information, linking to a Philly.com story.

@RichNegrin: Occupy Philly rejects meetings that would have provided info. Then claims not to have info. Cute. http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/133861283.html

The Philadelphia Daily News then wrote an editorial on Tuesday morning, listing eight reasons why it’s time to “Un-occupy Philly.” The reasons they list:

1. We want our space back.
2. The protest has cost $500,000 so far.
3. What are you doing, anyway?
4. The First Amendment isn’t absolute.
5. Dilworth Plaza’s renovation must start.
6. It’s getting dangerous.
7. There are complaints of public defecation and urination.
8. Speaking of gross: ear gauges. They should have stayed dead back in the 1980s.

The20’s @pkerkstra followed that up with a post of his own this morning for The Philly Post titled “Bloomberg Clears Zuccotti Park: Is Occupy Philly Next?” He concludes the piece by saying:

“So long as the police handle the eviction professionally—and we have every reason to think they will, given how well they’ve handled themselves to date—Nutter will come out of this ok. Occupy Philly? Not so much.”

So what do you think? Is the time up for Occupy Philly?

-LD

[NBC Philadelphia, Philly.com, Daily News, @RichNegrin, @pkerkstra]

Photo: Getty Images