Augusta Honors on Hold for James Brown

The city of Augusta doesn’t feel good about James Brown.

Plans to build a statue of the Godfather of Soul and to rename an annual music festival for him are on hold after Brown’s arrest on a domestic violence charge Wednesday.

Brown, 70, was released from jail Thursday. A widely circulated mug shot showed him wearing a bathrobe with his hair in a mess.

The singer has denied accusations that he pushed his wife to the floor and threatened her with a chair in their Beech Island, S.C., home. If convicted of the domestic violence charge, he could face a $500 fine and 30 days in jail.

Mayor Bob Young said he is awaiting the outcome of the case before deciding whether to erect the statue of Brown, who grew up in Augusta.

“This certainly is not anything anybody could have planned for,” Young said. “It’s extremely unsettling and disturbing, but we will have to wait and see how this plays itself out.”

Brenda Durant, executive director of the Greater Augusta Arts Council, said her organization will meet with the city and James Brown Enterprises to decide whether to rename the May music festival after Brown.

“We are really in limbo,” she said.