Broadway Pianist Justin Brown was Arrested for Allegedly Trying to Meet a Minor for Sex in Sept, Now He's on TikTok
By Chris Peterson
TW: This post contains details of a sexual crime.
UPDATE 6/29 - The “Disney.Bway” account is no longer on TikTok. It’s unclear if Brown deleted his account or it as removed as I know it was reported to TikTok admins.
The TikTok account “Disney.Bway” seems to be getting some traction as of late. The account features a man behind the piano playing showtunes and asking his followers to record duets with him. So far the account has amassed over 9,000 followers.
What should also be made public is that the man in the video, who owns the account, is Justin Brown. Nine months ago, the Broadway pianist was arrested in an NYPD sting operation for allegedly trying to meet with a minor for sex on social media apps.
So just to recap, a man, who less than a year ago, was arrested for trying to meet minors for sex on social media apps, is now on a teen-centric social media app trying to connect with minors.
Thankfully, others are catching on to Brown’s account as well.
According to prosecutors, last September Justin Brown showed up at a Queens address with a backpack full of lubricant and condoms believing he was meeting a 14-year-old boy for sex.
The Broadway rehearsal pianist for shows such as Dear Evan Hansen had spent the earlier part of that week chatting with the minor over two different social apps, Grindr and Snapchat.
The minor made it clear that he was 14-years-old, which didn’t stop Brown from pursuing to meet with him.
But the minor wasn’t a minor at all, it was an undercover NYPD officer.
According to the New York Post,
Brown was using the dating app Grindr at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 2, when he started a back-and-forth with the “boy.”
He asked the kid’s age, was told “14,” and responded, “Ha-ha nice,” according to the criminal complaint against him.
Brown then “asked about switching over to the Snapchat app,” the DA said in a press statement.
“Around noon that same day on Snapchat, the “teenager” received a message from Brown using the name “jbplaysmusic1.” A sexually explicit conversation ensued, and the defendant allegedly sent a photo of his face and a picture of his penis to the “boy.”
When Brown arrived in Queens later that week to meet up with the “minor”, the NYPD was waiting for him.
According to local news, when questioned by police, Brown admitted to chatting with multiple people believing they were minors as well.
Brown faces up to seven years in prison on charges of attempted use of a child in a sexual performance, second- and third-degree attempted criminal sexual act, first-degree attempted dissemination of indecent material to minors and attempted endangering the welfare of a child.
After the arrest, Brown posted bail, deleted his personal website, and is presumably free while awaiting trial.
While some in Brown’s situation might lay low and avoid anything that might get them into further trouble, Brown is apparently doing the opposite. He’s joined the popular teen-centric video app, TikTok.
But while many didn’t seem to know about his recent past, some users are noticing and are posting about it.
User, Deanna Giulietti (@deannagiulietti), posted a video where she shared her horror upon discovering that she had just dueted with him.
@deannagiulietti TW ⚠️ #fyp #musicaltheatre #musicaltheatresingers #mt #musical #theatre
♬ original sound - Deanna Giulietti
Others are posting about it as well. In return, some are reporting that Brown is blocking them on the app. He’s also turned off commenting on his videos after some started to call him out for being on the app given his arrest.
So from my standpoint, it’s alarming to think that someone who was arrested for luring minors for sex, is now on a teen-centric app interacting with teens. I’m not a defense attorney, but I would have a tough time defending my client doing this.
What’s even more disgusting is that Brown’s account was originally named “jbplaysmusic”, the same account name he used to try to commit sexual crimes against underage boys. After being called out, he changed it to “Disney.bway” which isn’t any less disgusting. Add that to the fact that he’s blocking people and shutting down comments, Brown seems to know this is a problem as well.
I hope that his account is reported to TikTok admins and he’s booted from the app as quickly as possible, along with other punishments to follow.
Source: onstageblog.com