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R&B singer Chris Brown failed to turn up and perform at the Grammy awards ceremony last night after being arrested and bailed over domestic violence allegations.

The fact that Brown's long-term girlfriend and pop superstar Rihanna also failed to turn up at the awards, where she too had been due to perform, has fuelled speculation that she was the victim.

The couple were last seen together in public on Saturday night, when they were photographed happily sitting together at a pre-Grammy party at the Beverly Hilton hosted by music mogul Clive Davis.

Not long afterwards, police in Los Angeles said they responded to an emergency 911 call from the city's smart Hancock Park neighbourhood, and found a woman who alleged that 19-year-old Brown had assaulted her after they got into an argument in a car at around 12.30am.

LAPD said in a statement that Brown and the woman had started arguing in his car. Brown pulled over, the pair got out, and the argument escalated into an "alleged domestic violence felony battery".

"The woman suffered visible injuries and identified Brown as her attacker," the statement said.

By the time they arrived, Brown had left the scene. But as the Grammys got under way last night in his absence - he had been nominated for two awards - he handed himself in at a police station, and was questioned on suspicion of making a criminal threat. He was released on $50,000 (£34,000) bail.

Sgt Bridget Pickett, of Los Angeles Police, refused to name Brown's alleged victim on the grounds of confidentiality.

"There may be domestic violence charges added later, but that will be up to the district attorney's office," said Sgt Pickett.

Rihanna was high on the Grammy Award’s billing and was up for three gongs but shortly before the ceremony began, organisers announced: "We have just been informed that Rihanna will not be attending tonight's 51st Annual Grammy Awards. We're sorry she is unable to join us."

The 20-year-old Barbadian chart-topper, who became a household name with the song Umbrella, hasn’t commented, but her spokesman released a statement saying simply: "Rihanna is well. Thank you for your concern and support."

Brown has yet to comment on the incident.

Often photographed holidaying together, the couple have always refused to publicly acknowledge their relationship, preferring to tell reporters they are friends.

To fill in for Rihanna's absence, the Recording Academy hastily put together an ensemble of Al Green, Justin Timberlake, Boyz II Men and Keith Urban performing Green's Let's Stick Together, which proved to be one of the most admired performances of the night.

"Things happen, you have to be nimble. We think to ourselves, we've got the greatest musical talent in the world in the same place at the same time," said Neil Portnow, the academy president.

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