Chris Brown Bounces NBA All-Star Appearance

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Chris Brown will not be rising from the ashes in Phoenix this weekend.

The R&B star, arrested last night for allegedly assaulting girlfriend Rihanna, has pulled out of his scheduled appearance Sunday at the 2009 NBA All-Star Game.

The 19-year-old had been tapped to introduce the players with Shaquille O'Neal before tip-off at Phoenix's US Airways Center. His "No Air" partner Jordin Sparks will be singing the national anthem.

"Chris Brown has withdrawn from NBA All-Star events," an NBA spokeswoman confirmed to E! News today.

The big-time basketball fan had also been planning to play Friday in the annual All-Star Celebrity Game, part of the weekend-long festivities.

The cancellation is no surprise considering both Brown and Rihanna scratched their scheduled performances at yesterday's Grammy Awards and Rihanna is expected to scrap a concert Friday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Besides, any participation on Brown's part would surely be overshadowed by questions about really happened between him and his chart-topping girlfriend. Earlier Monday, gum purveyor Wrigley announced it was pulling all running advertisements for Doublemint Gum featuring the "Kiss Kiss" singer.

(Originally published Feb. 9, 2009 at 3:36 p.m. PT)