In a 5 minute clip on Thursday morning, pop star Rihanna broke her silence about the night her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown attacked her (alternative video here). The singer spoke candidly with reporter Diane Sawyer and said she was “embarrassed and ashamed” that’s why she didn’t speak out until now.
On being embarrased and ashamed:
“That’s embarrassing that that’s the type of person that I fell in love with. So far in love. So unconditional that I went back. It’s humiliating to say this happened. To accept that? It’s a traumatizing experience.”On going back to Brown after the incident:
“I stayed. I even went back after he beat me, which was wrong,” she said. “But again … I’m a human being and people put me on a very unrealistic pedestal. And all these expectations, I’m not perfect.It’s completely normal to go back. It’s not right. I learned the hard way, but again, this is what I want people to know,” she said. “When I realized that my selfish decision for love could result in some young girl getting killed, I could not be easy with that part. I couldn’t be held responsible for going back.
On her influence on young girls:
“Even if Chris never hit me again, who is to say that their boyfriend won’t? Who’s to say that they won’t kill these girls?” she said. “These are young girls and I just didn’t realize how much of an impact I had on these girls’ lives until that happened.”On being lonely & losing privacy:
“One of the most lonely times I’ve been was in the past few months because nobody understands what it’s like,” she said. “There are a lot of women who’ve experienced what I did, but not in the public. So it made it really difficult. I just felt like, ‘Oh my God, here it goes, my little bit of privacy.’”
The full interview will air on 20/20 on Friday night (November 6th).
hmmmm. I wonder how much she will reveal in the full interview.
I’m so happy she realized her mistake and left for good.
And the haters will commence in 3………2……..1
Wow. much better interview than i was expecting. can’t wait for her album to drop.
I wonder if she ever hit him?
Album or no album to promote, I’m PROUD of her for saying that. She needed to speak. Its gonna bring her closure. Chris, too, eventually. & YES I’m proud of her accent havin’ ass 4 saying it all.
As much as I don’t care for Rihanna’s music (and i’m still rather confused how she became a star), I find this part of the interview realistic.
I don’t like the fact the interview comes out a few weeks before her album comes out..sounds more like promotion to me
I honestly didn’t know it was that serious. I believe her and I’m glad she left. Chris career is over. He’s been beating her ass and finally got caught. Good for her for leaving. Love is blind at times and we put up with so much. I’m glad she stepped out of herself and realized it wasn’t worth it. Go RiRi.
Hey Chris…… You got to get over her because after hearing her speak, she’s gone bruh. You fucked up
———What an inspiration to so many older and young females WOW .
I’ll look for this interview & wait for the magazine to come in the mail.
Courageous to put herself out there!!! Good to know the rumors of her going back were true but she didn’t stay and stepped outside the situation to see it for what it was UNHEALTHY. Gotta appreciate her candor. Not many would admit they went back because of LOVE.
F&ck LOVE!!!!
Rihanna is on to bigger and better things to come. I like that her team is not announcing what she has done, just when we can see it and judge for ourselves. That Russian Roulette video is probably gonna be a tear-jerker.
COMMON SENSE ABOUT ALBUM PROMO….
PUBLICITY SELLS. SHE’S NOT THE ONLY ONE TO USE HER SITUATION TO PUSH HER AGENDA AND SHE WON’T BE THE LAST.
PUT YOUR THINKING CAPS ON AND DON’T TAKE THEM OFF!
The fact that this interview coincides with her upcoming album notwithstanding, I applaud her for being honest about why she went back and why she was initially ignorant of the impact her decisions have on her audience. I do wonder about how Chris will react to this interview, as it seems as though she’s kind of throwing him to the lions by saying she’s embarrassed about ever having spent time around this dude. Fair? I don’t know.
People, this is a 21 year old young woman who was in love (and probably still loves) a young man who made a very bad decision. This couldn’t have been at all easy to deal with. At first I too was disappointed that she seemed to not give a crap about the influence of her decision, but I’ve never been a battered woman nor have I ever been in love with an abusive person, so I couldn’t understand. None of what she went through could have been at all easy to deal with.
As for her 9 month silence? I think she needed to block it out and focus on what she does best – expressing herself through music and fashion. Drake said that she needed time away from the incident, and he was right. It’s unfair for any of us to have expected her to snap into “poster girl” mode and start speaking out against domestic violence. She needed time to heal.
Glad she realizes she influential… I hope her actions from now on reflect that statment.
i do not like dis girl at all but that interview left me speechless. i dont kno what to think anymore. im glad she spoke out. this reminds me of ike and tina, bobby and whitney, mariah and tommy, halle berry and wesley. we have seen it so many time, its just that people dont learn.
Go Riri! I really can’t imagine how traumatic such an experience must be on any woman. I’m glad that she kept it real and said the truth — once a man assaults a woman, it’s time to leave! I hope other woman in abusive relationships follow her lead. Bless you Rihanna! Continue to shine!
Rihanna… I think you need your a** whooped again! You know damn well you’re only doing this now because you have an album out! I’m tired of her naive fans saying that it takes time and she can talk about it when she wants, but her actions don’t add up to why she would talk now. First of all, it’s the media’s fault that these two were embarrassed. No matter how bad the situation is with a celeb, it is nobody’s damn business what happens in their personal life. It should’ve been between the police and his and her family.
Second of all, why talk about it when this is the exact time that singers do their interviews… a few weeks before the album drops? I could see if she didn’t have an albums dropping until March of next year.
Third of all, even if she did talk about it later, why now when Chris is starting to promote his album and get back on track? Even when y’all broke up for the final time, y’all still were talking on the phone and decided to remain good friends! You even said it was still for the restraining order on Chris and wanted it removed?
She will never be a good role model for young girls, having naked leaked pics, being damn near naked in her videos, being demonic and RATED R in photos and videos… whatever Rihanna, I aint buying it.
she just seems well coach’d to me! nothing is real about her presence, just my opinion. on the other hand , ppl need to keep their hands to themselves!!! shout out houston baby, we go hard!!! btw, why chics here think its cool to have abortions, im just sayin’ ….i thk we own the sluts for 2010!!!
I can’t with these two.. just can’t.
I find it quite disturbing that Rihana decides to do this interview 9 months after the incident and coincidently the month her CD is dropping. I would have believed her if she did this months ago. I see pics of this girl in the club half naked and in Paris basically naked walking the streets/partying hard and now she’s this sad little innocent girl. I have to admit sympathy CD sales is a good idea but Im not buying it boo! you need more people. I would’ve respected her more if she just left him and let the incident die off (it was almost dead). Im not saying what Chris did was right because it was NOT! point blank! I just don’t get why she wants to talk now!
Kudos to you Rihanna for stepping up…a lot of people keep saying why now? Remember it takes a lot of time for self-healing to come out and speak on such a sensitive subject young people…yes her album is releasing and I’m sure that has something to do with it, but at the same time there is no way that she could promote her album through the media outlet without them bringing up the Chris Brown incident. So she had to go ahead and get that part out the way….
Chris Brown is already forgiven from me, and I hope he grows to be a better person and is still seeking help. Just for the EXTENT that he beat her….he truly has a lot of anger and I hope he is learning better ways to control it. Remember guys she is human, young, and was in love. And we know how that “in love” thing goes. You become so attatched to that person…Some men do you so wrong, come back and tell you all the sweet things you want to hear and all the apologies, gifts, and roses and we women fall for it. Take them back and hope that they won’t do it again. And then some do the same thing all over again. I’m not going to say all (cause there are some good men out there, like 2 LOL j/k). So it’s just a matter of self-worth and letting go…which is really hard to do when you love someone and can’t see yourself w/o them…. but sometimes letting go is better than staying. So I understand her completely. She is human….
ok, she knows her influence on young girls… so why does she continue to dress like a slut and promote this sexual image? Oh please! Over it and I see those acting classes are working for you Riri.
WOW!!! That’s such a shame that she had to go through that or anyone for that matter. Once I figure out that a man has controlling tendencies I bounce and I learned that only after a guy was trying to control me. Like Rihanna says you are blinded. I will be looking forward to the rest of her interview tomorrow. Also, for those wondering why Rihanna was hitting up clubs she also spoke on that too I think in Glamour which is in stores now.
……….atleast she admitted she went back after the beating …..
……. i loved the interview… cant wait till tomorrow… she was honest
……. and thats wat count…… chris will strike again
…….. it just wont be rhi rhi….. PROUD of any woman that can escape
………. its not easy…….
I proud of Rih Rih…
Wish this interview wasn’t being used as promo for her album, because it actually speaks in a very honest and real way. The timing, however, makes it insincere to me. But goodluck to her and hope she heals and moves forward with her life.
Not a bad interview but it seems strange that she comes out with this 2 weeks before her album is to to drop. Also if anyone noticied she really threw Chris under the bus. GMA said it takes about 7 times to leave she said 8 or 9!! So what does that say?? IDK i still think it is way more to the story and there is alwyas 3 sides his, hers, and the truth.
Damn. IDK. I jus don’t believe it. BUT Chris didn’t beat my ass…he beat hers so she if anybody knows she does.
—- I love the facet that she spoke on such a candid level about this event. This interview was far better than all of Chris’s interviews placed together. For the first time I feel really bad at what happened to her…
Amazing I will be watching today and tomorrow! I too wonder how Chris will react to this as he is definately still in love and she seems to be (and has a right to be) very bitter when it comes to him.
Wow, she told a story that many have actually lived. I appauled her honesty and I know first hand exactly what she is talking about.
In the caribbean it is considered normal for your boyfriend and husband to abuse you and the next day he goes out and buy you the world.
I have had that experience, and when I packed my stuff to leave my family look at me like well you will be fine don’t make him angry next time. What??????
I was battered; eyes swollen , lips busted, and I have to wake up and make this fool breakfast. Please don’t get me wrong I am not staying it happens to everyone in the caribbean. My point is if it does happen you are expected to stay with the man.
‘I’ve been physically abused and she’s so right when she says that it’s natural to go back because you do not want that to be the memory you end with. I went back twice because the first time after I was hit my ex cried like I had hit him, he was so apologetic that i believed or should i say I wanted to believe that it was a one time thing, there was no way I wanted to accept that I was in love with someone capable of what he had done and I also couldn’t accept that it was happening to me. So i went back but when it happened again it hit me literally, that okay this is not right i don’t deserve this and if I stay it’ll happen again and again or even worse i’ll end up dead, So like RiRi I said “eff love” and walked away and i’ve never regretted it. I applaud Rihanna for being so candid and may God watch and keep her always.
People kill me questioning why Rihanna is talking now when Chris has had the opportunity to talk 2 times before now 3 tomorrow. There is no expiration date on when Rihanna can tell her story my friend was raped she didn’t talk about it right after. She wrote her story a year later. This happened to Rihanna not you. Just because you’re a fan of Chris’s and you think this is bad for his image just think about that image of Rihanna floating around the internet that will never go away. Rihanna will have to face that incident for awhile and people will always bring it up.
@ Danielle…
You know how hard it is to face MILLIONS of ppl? That takes time…unlike us regular folk that have to sit down with only our family she has to sit down and express her personal situations to the WORLD….that takes time. And like I said it had to be addressed because there is no way she can promote this album without them asking about the incident. So she really don’t have a choice right now. Whether she spoke today or 9 months from now out of all the million ppl in this world, if she just touch ONE young girl in a abusive relationship then that is all that matters….
And just because she been in the club and the streets doesn’t mean that she is not hurting on the inside. That was just a way of her having fun, letting go, and getting used to the single life…
——LOVE THIS ISLAND GIRL ,,, SHE IS SO POWERFUL , I AM JUST CRYING ———-LOOKING AT HER HONESTY , I LOVE THE FACT THAT SHE’S SHOWING THE —–WORLD , THAT SHE’S NOT GOING TO SIT BACK , AND HIDE .
—-THIS IS SUCH A MOMENT , I’M ALMOST READY TO START A campaign ON —
—–domestic abusive relationships ,,,, PPL in the Media Spot LIGHT ,,,like CHRIS B.—–
——-WAS THIS HIS FRIST TIME ?
——-WHY IS HE STILL IN THE SPOT LIGHT DANCEING AROUND , IN THIGH ————–leotards , ON STAGE ? ?? ? ?
—
——-WHY ARE’NT MORE BLACK PPL MALE celebrities SAYING SOMETHING ….
——–ABOUT THIS ? ? ? ? ?
——–
All hateration aside, she spoke the truth. The timing is a bit suspect, since her album is set to be released soon, but in all fairness, she’s back. I do think that this incident just added another 12 years onto her career. She is loving that camera though! Other news and media outlets, gossip blogs and publications are going to have a field day with this one!
Chris-”get help.”
Terrible actress. Those lines could not have taken 9 months to memorize.
GO RIHANNA!!
That clip made me cry, I could see and hear the true pain that this man she loved caused her. It’s just so wrong to see such a smart, beautiful and talented woman become a statistic… makes me mad! My God, she is so strong! She’s lucky to have such great support from friends and family to make her realize that she’s got to use her head and ‘F LOVE’. Most women don’t and stay and think that the abuse IS love. I can’t wait to watch the rest — BRING THE TISSUES!!
Women tend to love men who are bad for them, physical abuse or not. I don’t blame her for going back.
I’m just sorry she had to live her life and make her decisions in the public eye, where everyone scrutinized her choices.
@30 I just read your comments I’m from the islands also and it was like reading my own story in your words, i got no support when I left him, my friends even my family said “just stop getting him vex and you’ll be fine” Oh my God. I’m happy you had the strength to walk away. God Bless You.
Wow….so for all of YOU PEOPLE who originally said all that bad sh*t about her and JUDGED her and was all on the man’s side & had all those STUPID ASS reasons for why he did what he did to her……. you should go find the end of the world and JUMP the EFF off! You have no idea what happens in people heads or why they go back or why they even eneded up the situation. SOME of YOU JUMPED so quickly on Chris’s side and that I can never understand.
Watching just these 5 minutes made my heart hurt because I don’t see Rihanna the superstar. I see a woman who is telling the story of her life and thousands if not millions of other women’s lives. She was strong enough to walk away after an undisclosed number of beatings before her life was taken. We all know that not everyone can do that….famous or not.
Yes he album is coming out and yes this intimate interview will likley boost sales but the bigger picture here is that she knows she’s influeintial and she knows she needed to set an example for the impressionable young minds who follow and crave her every move, word and action.
I’m glad Rihanna is FINALLY speaking out about this. I sort of wished she had done this earlier…9 months later here we are. I’m glad Chris spoke on it too even though he was more private with his. I’m glad they’re rebounding from this situation. God bless them both.
……I’m glad that she wants to set an example, this happens to women everyday
…..and lots of them go back and stay, I only hope that this is not a pattern because
…. some women go through this a number of time, they seem to attract the wrong
…..partners.
—–@9 Danielle —-ASSLICKER’S SHUT THE FUCK UP,, I AM SO HAPPY THAT ———SHE’S TALKING , UR SO FULL OF BLIND HATE , ALL THESE ASSLICKER’S ——–ARE SO SHAMEFUL . WOW
i think its sad people callin her bitches and dissin here he beat her down u understand like truly beat her down and people to back chris brown is sad he beat this girl down words cant describe how bad she looked beat down and people sayin oh she started no regardless he didnt have a scratch on him she looked horrible he needed more then probation because it if it wasnt a celebrity they would got hammer with mad time
You know what else? So many fans think that celebrities because they are held on such a high pedestal are not people….out of all those THOUSANDS of celebrities (singers, actors, rappers, athletes) you are BOUND to find drug users, sex addicts and abusers, rapists, pedephiles, physical AND verbal abusers, drug dealers, theives, homosexuals and everything else in the industry just like out here in your neighborhood….you just don’t know who they are until they get caught in the public….
I actually like both of them as artists and I enjoy their music! I just know BS when I hear it. It just doesn’t make sense that its the month her CD is set to be released. I can almost guarantee Jay Z had something to do with this coinciding the release date. Domestic Violence is a serious issue and it shouldn’t be used to sale CD’s. Months ago when she was in the club smiling with the pasties on told me she was ready to talk! Also we saw all those pics of her looking great after the incident, dressed to kill. When she does this interview she looks a mess! Come on ppl.
@maison martin margiela
How do you know she not lying??? I don’t see her people letting her stay for that long I mean really. Chris was dead wrong but he took his blame and never said anythig bad about her. Her just taking and running with it and I think for the wrong reasons. She out here dressed like the night of the living dead with all that black and gothic looking stuff. How is that being a role model for yound girls?? JMO
wow. definitely uncomfortable and sad to watch. Even if it is a pseudo publicity stunt, it would have taken her some time to have adjusted to all the chaos.
I cannot believe you all are buying this b.s.
this bitch is tryin to demolish chris browns carrer what he did was wrong but provocation is a two way street….a woman shouldnt hit a man and a man shouldnt hit a woman….she a devil worshipper(illuminati bitch)….and cant even hold a damn tune without it bein fixed…kick rocks Robin Rihanna Fenty!
One thing about me is that I’m a positive, and real person. I try my hardest to see the good in people, but something about this whole “finally speaking out” ordeal doesn’t say genuine. I watched the interview this morning, and my heart just couldn’t believe it what so ever. I mean all the times she could have spoken out, why now? Can’t ignore the fact she spoke when she has an album coming out soon. It just seems to me like she doing this, because she’s trying to get some “pity sells”. So people can be like “Awww poor Rihanna” type of thing. Hell, Chris apologized a week after the incident, and on top of that apologized a few months later. He didn’t have to, but he did. Thats the kind of stuff that puts a light in my heart, not this. Even so, I still wish her much success. Everyone deserves a second chance a life. I’m willing, and ready to do the same thing. Hugs and kisses to Chris Brown, and Rihanna. I love you’ll to death, and I will be buying the your albums when they come out. God Bless!….
Can’t believe some of the selfish, hateful people on this blog. I hope some of ya’ll get help. So what if she does the interview close to her album dropping. The girl got beat up! Did you not see the pictures? If doing the interview now will help her album sales and help her gain more confidence in herself and be happy then why is that a bad thing? It doesn’t change the fact that she’s a young woman who went through something very serious that could have ended her life. She’s telling HER story and is allowed to tell it when SHE wants to, not when YOU think she should!
Well Rihanna, could you also set up an interview about your leaked naked pictures and you walking around the streets with a see threw bra, and explain to me how that is appropriate for a young lady to dress since females not only look up to you for this situation, but for your style and image? Oh and don’t forget to talk about this devil worshipers “rumors.”
Rihanna kills me with this publicity for the album. You know, it shouldn’t take an album coming out for her to speak on it. I could see if it was a year later, since she said she needed time. What Chris did wasn’t right, but what my question is, Rihanna what was the argument about? Did you provoke Chris? Do you still fight with your brothers when you visit them back home? Would you take Chris back if it hadn’t been for the protection order against him?
Be strong Rihanna! Your fans love you…
…and success is the greatest revenge…so keep working hard.
Rih should keep her business private but it’s good that she’s speaking out, to help other women and also let the public know about that undercover MONSTER. Chris beater Brown is a wolf in sheeps clothing, he acts all innocent but he’s NOT. Noone is perfect but CB is a sneaky snake.
CB and his stans must be scared…
According to the leaks on tomorrow’s interview she goes into detail about him putting her in a headlock and biting her…PUT HIM ON BLAST RIRi!
1. Chris is serving his sentence and getting rehab.
2. She has hit him before.
3. Both come from abusive backgrounds.
4. IT’S OVER Let them recover.
I must say, I like Rihanna a lot more, she has a very clear mind, and she’s responsible for her celebrity. She know’s she’s an influence. and she’s saving someones life.
I wonder what she had to think about to make those tears come. Maybe the movie “Old Yeller?”
Good for her..I kinda like her now…I cant be mad at honesty..I have noting bad to say
*typo* I will be buying the albums