First they vamp-up Dora The Explorer…and now this….

Nickelodeon says it has no plans to remove Chris Brown as a nominee for its 2009 Kids’ Choice Awards, despite the singer’s felony arrest for allegedly beating up his girlfriend Rihanna.

Chris is accused of punching, biting, and choking during an incident in Los Angeles last month.

Who are Nickelodeon’s crack dealers?! We should have known these people were on something when they cancelled Taina.

Chris is nominated for Favorite Male Singer and Favorite Song for his hit single “Kiss Kiss.” He’ll also go up against Favorite Female Singer nominee Ri-Ri for her Favorite Song selection “Don’t Stop the Music.”

The network says Chris was nominated for his work as a performer and that the kids should ultimately decide who wins.

“Like all our KCA nominees, Chris Brown was nominated by kids several months ago based on his work as a performer, and the kids who vote will ultimately decide who wins in the category,” Nick said in statement Tuesday.

An online petition asking Nickelodeon to remove Chris and Rihanna as nominees at this year’s ceremony had 2,166 signatures as of Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.

The 2009 Kids’ Choice Awards are scheduled for March 28.

What do you think? Should Nick drop Chris Brown as a nominee at this year’s Kids’ Choice?