The performer, known for her time with Destiny’s Child, presented the award for Favorite Male R&B Artist and accepted it on behalf of Brown, who has faced multiple allegations of violence against women.
After announcing the embattled R&B singer’s name, the crowd erupted in jeers.
“Excuse me,” Rowland said into the mic. “Chill out.”
She went on to thank Brown for “making great R&B music.”
“Thank you for being an incredible performer,” she continued. “I’ll take this award [and] bring it to you. I love you. Congratulations, and congratulations to all the nominees in this category.”
Many social media users slammed Rowland following her defense of Brown.
“Kelendria Rowland. I was ROOTING FOR YOU!!!! We were ALL rooting for you, how DARE YOU,” Twitter user @MediumSizeMeech wrote on Sunday night.
“Chris Brown just won an #AMAs and Kelly Rowland shushed the audience so she could praise him and preach about how much she loves him? Whew! It might be time to turn this off,” @yosoymichael wrote in a tweet.
Twitter user @MavenRaven22 said that Rowland was defending an “abuser” and someone who discriminates against “dark-skinned black women.”
“Embarrassing for her,” she added.
Another person, @someyanksfan, echoed that rhetoric, tweeting: “Shame on Kelly Rowland for supporting an abuser.”
However, many other fans have rushed to Rowland’s defense.
“y’all agree with Kelly Rowland over a million things but get mad and wanna drag her because she doesn’t feel the same way you do ON ONE THING???? shut up,” Twitter user @FUCCI wrote on Monday morning.
Brown has repeatedly been accused of physical abuse over the span of more than a decade. In 2009, he was sentenced to five years’ probation, domestic violence counseling and community service after assaulting his then-girlfriend, pop songstress Rihanna.
In 2017, another former girlfriend of Brown secured a restraining order against him. Karrueche Tran alleged that Brown had threatened her and demanded that she return items he had gifted her. Tran also claimed that he had previously assaulted her.
Rowland is reportedly a survivor of domestic violence. She sang about the physical abuse she HAd endured from an ex-boyfriend in her single Dirty Laundry.
Newsweek reached out to representatives for Rowland and Brown for comment.
Update 11/21/22, 11:16 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information and background.
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