Grammy Awards bosses have defended their decision to include Chris Brown in the 2012 telecast, insisting the controversial singer deserved a spot at the ceremony.

Organisers came under fire for inviting Brown to perform twice during Sunday's show, three years after he pleaded guilty to assaulting his ex-girlfriend Rihanna following a pre-Grammy Awards party.

Several critics and viewers claimed the R&B singer shouldn't have been allowed to take the stage to perform his single Turn Up The Music and a dance tribute to late Soul Train creator Don Cornelius.

However, Neil Portnow, president of The Recording Academy which hosts the Grammys, insists Brown was asked to participate because of his recent career successes.

He says, "That's really where the judgment comes from: music professionals listening to the music of other professionals. Clearly, our voting membership rated highly Chris' musical work this past year.

"If we're going to get in trying to personally evaluate artists in terms of their personal lives, that's a slippery slope that we wouldn't want to get into."

Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich has also offered his support to the embattled Kiss Kiss star, admitting he was "kind of rooting" for Brown's comeback.

Ehrlich tells CBS This Morning, "I just believe people deserve a second chance. The year he had this year really brought him back into the public. He really deserved a second chance." (PAW/WNWC/LR)