http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29640420/

Nickelodeon had no role in Brown's decision


By Courtney Hazlett
The Scoop
msnbc.com
updated 9:59 p.m. ET, Wed., March. 11, 2009


When Chris Brown pulled himself out of the running for the Nickelodeon
Kids' Choice awards via a statement issued March 11, Nickelodeon
didn't have much — if any — role in Brown's decision or in crafting
the announcement.


The statement said, in part, "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."


In fact, the kids' channel didn't get as involved as many might expect
in the decision, as just prior to the statement's release a source
from inside Nickelodeon conceded that they "didn't expect him (Brown)
to attend," but that Nickelodeon wasn't making any official decision
about his attendance. "When we put out the statement saying it was up
to the kids to decide who will win, it was just a statement. Just to
have something out there," said the source.


And rumors that Nickelodeon rejected a petition to have Brown removed
from the nominees for the March 28 show are "totally untrue," says the
source. "There was no rejecting of a petition."


Nickelodeon wouldn't say whether they'd make any announcement at the
show or do a special on domestic violence at a later date.


Stopping short of addressing weighty issues is somewhat status quo,
however. Nickelodeon hasn't discussed removing Michael Phelps' from
the favorite male athlete category. After Jamie Lynn Spears announced
her pregnancy, the idea of a teen pregnancy special was announced but
never materialized.