In an intense new documentary, Chris Brown: A History of Violence, set to premiere on October 27 on Investigation Discovery (ID), fresh details surface regarding R&B singer Chris Brown’s alleged 2020 assault on an anonymous woman aboard Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ yacht. This film arrives amid federal investigations into Diddy’s alleged involvement in sex trafficking and racketeering, drawing renewed attention to Brown’s longstanding relationship with the rapper and his own record of accusations and legal disputes.
The anonymous woman, referred to as Jane Doe, recounts a disturbing encounter with Brown during a yacht party hosted by Diddy. Doe, who had recently relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a professional dance career, claims she was invited to the yacht on December 30, 2020, by a friend. Once aboard, she was introduced to Brown, whom she saw as a positive figure in the industry. However, the encounter quickly took a dark turn. According to Doe, Brown handed her a drink, after which she began to feel disoriented and physically incapacitated. She describes her memory fading after a second drink, and recalls being unable to move as Brown allegedly took her to a private bedroom, where he proceeded to assault her.
Doe claims the aftermath of the assault left her deeply shaken, to the point where she struggled to reconcile the events and sought therapy for clarity. “I know it for a fact,” she states in the documentary, “instead of telling myself that it wasn’t. It was. It was rape.” She further alleges that Brown accessed her phone, leaving a message to get her number. Although this connection might seem appealing to some, Doe asserts that the experience left her devastated, and she struggled with the implications of what had happened.
Despite filing a $20 million lawsuit against Brown in early 2022, the case was dismissed “without prejudice” due to lack of prosecution, with police revealing text message exchanges between Doe and Brown that complicated her claims. While the lawsuit was initially withdrawn, Doe has since re-engaged her lawyer, Ariel Mitchell-Kidd, who remains supportive of her story. Mitchell-Kidd acknowledges challenges in getting her client to open up fully at the time but stands by Doe’s allegations, arguing that industry pressures protected Brown from justice. Brown’s legal team has consistently denied these claims, stating that Doe fabricated her accusations.
This documentary also delves into Brown’s infamous 2009 assault on pop star Rihanna, which left her visibly injured and led to Brown’s eventual guilty plea and a probation sentence. His public image has been marked by additional accusations of violence, physical altercations, and erratic behavior that have painted a picture of ongoing struggles with aggression. Archival footage in the documentary highlights a young Chris Brown admitting that he “just [acts] ridiculous” when around women, revealing his struggle to control himself in certain circumstances.
While Diddy’s team has not commented on his alleged connections to Doe’s case, the rapper remains entangled in serious legal issues of his own. His recent federal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering bring heightened attention to his associations and events, including the night in question involving Brown and Doe on his yacht.
Chris Brown: A History of Violence aims to highlight the complex and troubling history of Brown’s interactions with women, examining his reported aggression and delving into the events that have raised serious questions about his character and influence within the music industry. With its release during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the documentary underscores the importance of confronting abuse and challenges the protective culture that can sometimes shield prominent industry figures from accountability.