Chris Brown - Marketing Mogul Stoute: 'Brown Will Bounce Back, Just Like Bryant'

Singer CHRIS BROWN can repair the damage caused to his career by his fight with ex-girlfriend RIHANNA, just like basketball star KOBE BRYANT bounced back after his 2003 sexual assault scandal, according to marketing mogul STEVE STOUTE.

The Kiss Kiss hitmaker is facing almost five years in jail in relation to an 8 February (09) incident which reportedly left Rihanna battered and bruised.

Brown's career has taken a knock since the headline-grabbing altercation, with bosses at gum firm Wrigleys and America's National Dairy Council pulling promotional campaigns featuring the star, while executives at several radio stations have removed his songs from their playlists after receiving complaints from listeners.

But entertainment marketing titan Stoute, who was instrumental in landing Brown the Wrigley's deal, insists he can salvage his tattered career and be just as successful as Bryant.

The Los Angeles Lakers star hit the headlines in 2003 when a Colorado hotel employee accused him of sexually assaulting her. Bryant maintained his innocence and the charges were later dropped after his accuser refused to testify in court.

Bryant has since overcome the allegations and regained his star status - and Stout is adamant Brown can do the same, as long as he can win back public support.

He tells MSNBC, "We've seen brands move past this before, and we've seen celebrities move past this. We've seen Kobe Bryant go through what he went through, and all of a sudden he's back in graces with Nike, he has Vitamin Water deals and he's the MVP of the league... So it's all public opinion. Public opinion ultimately does control how these things work out."

Brown is due to be arraigned on 6 April (09) on felony counts of assault likely to cause great bodily injury and making criminal threats.