NEW YORK, USA (AP) — The Grammy Awards' warm embrace of Chris Brown three years after his assault of Rihanna has drawn the ire of viewers who claim the controversial R&B star shouldn't have been rewarded with such attention.

Brown was front-and-centre three times during Sunday's Grammys. He won best R&B album for FAME, he performed a single from his upcoming album, Turn Up the Music, and he opened a dance tribute to Soul Train creator Don Cornelius.

The imagery of Brown's Grammy glory was striking because it was, literally, a return to the scene of the crime. On the eve of the 2009 Grammys, Brown beat his then-girlfriend Rihanna, for which he later pled guilty to a charge of assault and was sentenced to five years of probation and six months of community labour.

Since then, Brown has worked to repair his image, undergone domestic violence counselling and rediscovered popularity with his hit album FAME (Forgiving All My Enemies)." Last year, his restraining order was eased. The former order required Brown to stay 50 yards away from 23-year-old Rihanna, but the restriction was reduced to 10 yards if they were at a music industry event. Rihanna also performed Sunday but the two never shared the stage.

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