Chris Brown can officially add “doctor” to his resume. On Saturday, May 23, 2026, the “Gimme That” singer revealed that he received an honorary doctorate degree in Visual & Performing Arts from Harvest Christian University. The father of four posted pictures of the special moment online, boasting about his latest accomplishment. However, some social media users weren’t as ecstatic about the A-lister, as a few have flooded various social forums to blast the 37-year-old.
Brown received an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Visual & Performing Arts from Harvest Christian University in May 2026.
The singer posted photos of himself in his academic regalia online, captioning the flicks, “I DID A THING!”
Other images gave his followers a closer look at the certificate, which acknowledges that Brown has met the requirements for the honor.
According to ABS-CBN, Harvest Christian University issues honorary doctoral degrees to those who’ve “made significant impacts in their fields, particularly in music, entertainment, and humanitarian work.”
Per the institution, honorary degrees recognize a person’s accomplishments and “influence beyond the classroom, honoring those whose life’s work embodies the values and mission of the university.”
Chris Brown Has Been In The Game Since The Early 2000s
Brown rose to fame in the early 2000s with his self-titled album, “Chris Brown,” which featured the singles “Run It!,” “Say Goodbye,” and “Poppin.” The project reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and, as of today, has sold over 4 million copies.
In the years that followed, Brown released chart-topping albums, including “FAME” and “Fortune,” and received two Grammys for Best R&B Album in 2012 and 2025. Adding to it, Brown has also become one of the highest-grossing touring artists of all time, with his latest tour grossing nearly $300 million.
While impressive, Brown’s career has also been clouded by controversy since 2009, when Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault after a reported domestic violence dispute between him and his then-girlfriend, Rihanna.
Additionally, Brown has reportedly been involved in several physical altercations with his peers, including Drake and Frank Ocean, and was arrested in 2013 after punching a man in the face outside of a DC hotel.
While Brown has still experienced success despite his legal woes and other disputes, his personal issues have certainly hung over his head since the mid-2000s. It appears to be one of the reasons why some are furious with Harvest Christian University for honoring the singer with such a prestigious title.
“LOL imagine giving an honorary doctorate to a convicted criminal, images of whose crime – a battered woman – are all over the internet to find,” someone wrote about the moment on Reddit. “Seems very Christ like.”
Another user wrote, “Disgusting,” and a third said, “An abuser and an honorary degree = no one cares.”
On Instagram, the reaction was much of the same, considering one user wrote, “Defund Honorary Degrees!”
Someone else added, “Good for him, but I’m not calling him Dr. Chris Brown. Much love and respect to our Black scholars who have truly earned their doctorates and are pursuing theirs.”
Brown’s Latest Album Received A Low Score From A Music Review Publication
According to a previous report from The Blast, Brown was recently in the headlines after dragging Pitchfork, a respected music publication, for giving his latest album, “Brown,” a 1.3/10 rating.
The outlet’s review quickly went viral, likely because the senior writer who penned the piece called the 27-track project a “real piece of sh-t.”
Brown fired back, saying, “F-ck that! We kickin’ they a-s, goddamnit. We ain’t lettin’ up. I’mma keep my foot on they neck, and we ain’t stoppin’. You heard me?”
Brown Shaded Another Singer In The Process
In his statement, Brown told critics he wasn’t concerned with their opinions of his music. “If you not my fan, I don’t want you to listen to my sh-t. Go listen to motherf-ckin’ Zara Larsson or somebody.”
Larsson has been vocal about her disdain toward Brown for years, according to The Blast. Earlier this year, she revealed he was one of the artists she had blocked on Spotify.
“There are so many artists I have blocked on Spotify, and all of them are, like, abusers,” the “Pretty Ugly” singer said. “You certainly wouldn’t find, like, a Chris Brown song.”