Chris Brown stays seated during national anthem

R&B Chris Brown has joined other high-profile Americans in refusing to stand for the national anthem during a charity basketball game on 9/11.

The Forever star was one of the celebrities participating in Los Angeles radio station Power 106's benefit game, and to kick off the match, R&B singer Tank took to the center of the court to lead the crowd in a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

Brown, along with a few of his teammates, were seen sitting on the sidelines before Tank performed, and they remained seated until the end of the song. The act of protest was seemingly a nod to American footballer Colin Kaepernick, who recently stirred up controversy by announcing he would not stand for the national anthem before games until there is a "significant change" in the oppression of African-American citizens due to their race.

Ironically, Tank even asked all the people at the University of Southern California's Galen Center to stand in respect of all those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks exactly 15 years ago on Sunday (11Sep16).

"I understand everyone can exercise their right to stand or to sit, and exercise their rights to freedom and justice," Tank told the crowd. "But in the wake of 9/11, please understand and respect the fact that many men and women and children lost their lives for this very thing that we're here to stand for today."

In addition to Brown, other stars taking part in the basketball game were Mac Miller, Kid Ink, Keke Palmer, Serayah, Omarion, while B.O.B. and DJ Dillon Francis were among the performers.