Chris Brown Off Kids' Choice Awards

After allegedly assaulting his girlfriend Rihanna, formerly kid-friendly pop star Chris Brown has wisely volunteered to withdraw his name from the list of nominees for Favorite Male Singer and Favorite Song at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, set to take place March 28th. The move came after concerned parents launched an online petition to take Brown's name off the ballot, gathering over 5,000 signatures in a few days.

"Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding the incident last month has shifted the focus from the music to whether he should be allowed to be among those nominated," Brown's representative said in a statement. "While Chris would like to speak to his fans directly about this and other issues, pending legal proceedings preclude his doing so at this time. Once the matter before him has been resolved, he intends to do so."

It's just the latest move in Chris Brown's banishment from the world of kids' entertainment. Days after the Feb. 8th incident, SesameStreet.com removed the video clip "See The Signs," featuring Brown and Elmo, from its website (it lives on over at YouTube). My toddler Jack and I often watch videos on the Sesame Street website and that one was one of Jack's favorites. Seeing it now, of course, it totally gives me the creeps. It reminds me that, despite how much we sometimes think we "know" celebrities, we really have no idea what's going on with them.

(photo courtesy of Children's Television Workshop)