Jason Merritt/Getty Images; John Shearer/WireImageAmerican Idol producers are in talks with Chris Brown and Rihanna about possibly performing together on the show this season, a source close to the situation exclusively tells E! News.
"They want Chris and Rihanna to reunite on the show," the insider says. If they were to duet on Idol, it would be their first public appearance together (on purpose, at the same time), let alone their first live collaboration, since early 2009, when Brown was arrested for assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna.
Wow, how do you think the people who object to their latest projects together will react to that?!
The last time they appeared onstage together was in 2008—and, judging by the controversy kicked up by Brown's performance (and win) at the Grammys this month, plenty of critics would react harshly to the pair collaborating on stage.
But if this did happen, which song would they do—assuming that the pair's two just-released remixes would be the likely choices? It's unlikely they could perform Rihanna's sexually charged "Birthday Cake," which may be too risqué for prime time, so maybe they'd do Brown's "Turn Up the Music"? Or something else entirely?
Rihanna's rep denied the rumor, saying, "It's not true."
But in any case, Fox has not yet approved the pairing, our source tells us, adding that the idea is still in the very early stages of discussion.
The network had no comment.
"I just hope my music inspires people to really come together," Brown tweeted a few days ago. "LOVE and POSITIVITY."
Would you watch if Chris Brown and Rihanna perform together on American Idol? Sound off in the comments section!