On February 8, 2009, Barbadian singer Rihanna was scheduled to perform on the Grammy awards. Her performance had to be cancelled because her boyfriend, R&B singer Chris Brown, had beaten her in a rage after a pre-Grammy party. Brown turned himself into authorities, and although LAPD did not name the victim in the case, stating only that she had "suffered visible injuries", TMZ leaked a picture of a badly bruised Rihanna, and the press went crazy.
Brown, who was also scheduled to perform at the 2009 Grammys, immediately withdrew from public life, serving 5 years of probation, and 6 months of community service. His career, you would think, was basically over.
But Hollywood has a way of turning a blind eye when there is a buck to be made, and somehow Chris Brown is back. The 2012 Grammys were held last weekend, and he not only performed but managed to win Best R&B Album.
Now all that beating and bruising seems to be water under the bridge for Brown and Rihanna. It has been rumoured that the two have been seen together on multiple occasions, that Brown recently attended Rihanna's 24th birthday party, and that they will collaborate on a remix of Rihanna's aptly titled Birthday Cake (Remix). Perezhilton.com has denied the rumour, claiming that the producer of the track has taken to Twitter to say that Brown is not the guest artist who will "shock the world." So who knows about the single, but it's clear that the two are spending time together.
What's interesting is how polerizing this situation is, and how public the support/outrage is. Twitter was a-buzz during the Grammy broadcast, with some celebs issuing statements of disgust, and some fans, like @sarahleighlove, claiming "I'd let Chris Brown beat me up anytime ;)" followed by the hashtag #womanbeater.
Of course the internet is not necessarily a great representation of public opinion. At best it's usually a place where the more outlandish get attention, and I find the mix of support, forgiveness, outrage, and even perversion interesting. Here is someone who has a physically violent past being somehow lauded by fans, and obviously receiving industry support, including that of his most famous victim. Brown is very vocal on Twitter, and despite his initial withdrawal from public life, he has managed to stage a huge comeback despite the fact that he so publicaly hurt and humiliated another huge star.
Is it the fact that, because Rihanna is so huge herself, her trauma is somehow negated by the fact that she's managed to thrive while Brown has worked so hard to get back on top? Is there a sense that it's not fair that one singer should prosper while the other pays for a crime that he committed when he was barely an adult, and is in fact the child of an abuser himself?
I can't help but feel that, when it comes down to it, money is a huge factor here for all parties. The amount of attention that both Chris Brown and Rihanna are getting as this bizarre soap opera plays out can do nothing but draw attention to their respective and careers. And if it's actually happening, what better way to launch a new single than by putting together the two people who should never be in the same room again?
But ultimately what does it say about physical abusers in general? On the one hand, hurting another human being in anger is repugnant. On the other, people are the product of their environment, and make mistakes that they often have to carry for the rest of their lives. No matter what Chris Brown does in the future, how sucessful that might be, he'll always be known for beating Rihanna. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to deter either one of them from working together, and I'm not sure what sort of message that sends out to impressionable fans.
You see, the film deals with one of my all-time biggest fears: airborne killer viruses. As a germaphobe the thought of an inescapable viral plague is my worst-case scenario. I’d say it’s my cinematic Tower of Terror for all those Disneyland fans out there
LEOPARDS DON'T CHANGE THEIR SPOTS---EVER!! This will NOT end well!!!--I am not a fan of EITHER of them! But! I fear for this young lady's safety!!! Remember Whitney!!!
Eeeek! Rihanna has gotten ugly and greasy looking hasn't she? The blonde doesn't fit her at all. Go back to Black hun, that was the best hair cut you ever had.
OMG.... I hope they don't collaborate. But anyways, I thought I was the only one who noticed that there is something strange about Rihanna and her wanting to go back to Chris. Makes me believe she isn't so innocent. To the people below me, you are definitely right. Chris has been seen as the bad guy for wayyy to long. Why is it that when someone has something positive to say about him, it never gets reported by the "big dog" media? I guess it goes to show people would rather hear about the negative than the positive.
Rosedale, I actually watched that interview Draya Michele did with Wendy Williams, a popular talk show, and I am surprised that no one noticed that this woman is another woman that Chris had a long term relationship with Chris and she said he never put his hands on her. She is the most honest woman you will ever see on television. She was the most open woman he ever dated and she made it clear that Chris would never harm her. She said not to listen to the media. I am glad I saw that because it is clear that these people know nothing about Chris Brown. he is not a real woman beater these people need to stop saying that. In fact, in his rebuttal interview with Robyn Roberts he clearly stated that he never hit his past girlfriends. Just the way he said it, you can tell he was hinting towards the fact that Rihanna wasn't so innocent that night. Oh well... who knows. We can't judge him though.
WOW, Rihanna is actually very violent. I remember she said that she hit her brother over the head with a bottle and used to get into fist fights. This girl is no good. I am not surprised that Chris never abused any other girl. He's a sweet kid who learned his lesson. Hopefully he doesn't ever mess with her again. She's troubled.
CHRIS BROWN!!! I LOVE HIM ! I'M HIS #1 FAN! SOME FACTS ABOUT CHRIS BROWN THAT WILL SHOCK ANY HATER ON THIS PLANET.
DID YOU KNOW?
1. CHRIS HAS A NUMBER 1 ALBUM CALLED F.A.M.E
2. HE WON A GRAMMY FOR BEST R & B ALBUM
3. HE HAD A SOLD OUT CONCERT IN TORONTO LAST SEPTEMBER
4. HE DATED AT LEAST 3 WOMEN SINCE THE 2009 INCIDENT WITH RIHANNA AND NONE OF THEM REPORTED ANY TYPE OF ABUSE, (Draya michele, Jasmine Sanders and Karrueche Tran)
IN FACT DRAYA MICHELE, A MODEL AND STAR OF THE HIT TV SHOW SERIES BASKETBALL WIVES, DID A FEW INTERVIEWS, INCLUDING ONE WITH WENDY WILLIAMS AND SAID CHRIS WAS NEVER ABUSIVE TOWARDS HER AND THAT SHE NEVER WITNESSED ANY TYPE OF ABUSE FROM HIM. SHE HAS RESPECT FOR HIM.
RIHANNA IS THE ONLY ONE HE HIT BECAUSE SHE STARTED IT
Jeff, I have news for you. If CB was delivered gift wrapped to my door I'd toss him in the trash (a compacter). Same with any man who lifts his hand against anyone or anything not as strong as himself.
@Molly ... well, Molly, I don't know why you'd hate to say it because it is a fact - yes, I know Mel is white and Chris is black ... but the fact is that difference didn't factor into my comment because it wasn't relevant in any way. Colour isn't an issue here. (Maybe for you it is .. but that's your problem).
Why Rihanna cant forget about Brown and cant see the violence he did to her?.. Because she cant resist the fact how she felt epic and she intercourse with him.
REALLY... WELL WHAT EVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT. BUT THE NEXT TIME HE USES YOU FOR A PUNCHING BAG. PLEASE DON'T COME CRYING TO YOUR FANS.. BECAUSE THIS BIT IS GETTING REALLY OLD
Neo doesn't understand the industry.
Those that become more like cheap Vegas strippers on stage disappear within a few years.
Whitney Houston didn't strip to get attention,nor Adele, nore Alicia, nor Jennifer Hudson, nor Beyonce. These entertainers will last; the sleaze gets boring.
Abusive women have been known the world over to return to their abusers. They both need counselling and Rihana needs some self-respect.Otherwise you will both go downhill fast!
Leah, I hate to say it but Mel Gibson is white and Chris Brown is black. People dont like saying anything bad about blacks because they will be called racists if they do. But with white people they can bash the hell out of them and its alright.
As for Rihanna I guess she is walking in the same footsteps as Whitney and as someone has said look how that ended.
We know why the stupid biotch will do this to herself, and that being NO other man on this planet would want to sleep with her sorry fat ass! She deserves what she gets, and that being the other sorry fat ass!
The biggest issue I have with this story is his lack of remorse. If he was truly sorry and intended to make every effort to address his problem (i.e. his hostile nature and violent outbursts), and he consistently demonstrated this, that would be one thing. But it seems he's adopted an attitude of "everybody makes mistakes, get over it 'haters'". Dude, you didn't accidentally run a red light or cheat on a test - you smashed your gf's face in. No one should "get over" that, and if you really loved Rhianna and were truly sorry, you would never get over doing that to her either. If he really understood the magnitude of the issue, he wouldn't be so defensive and, ironically, hostile every time someone brought it up.
The unfortunate thing is, it isn't a matter of IF he does it again (to her or someone else), it's only a matter of when. And unfortunately it looks like it will take the next episode to convince everyone that this guy can't be trusted.
Why are so many of you surprised or even upset over this. I could have told you right from the beginning that these two would end up making music together. Of course, megabucks will be made from all parties involved, BUT before RiRi was discovered, her one big dream was to make a duet with her heartthrob Chris Brown. Just leave them to it already. How long are we going to keep playing the "bastard Chris Brown" tune. If Rihanna has gotten over it, who the hell are you to continue to fight her battles.
Ri, please don't make the same mistake twice. While I prefer not to judge as her life is her choice, sometimes we can forgive, but not forget. REality and spritiuality is really about using common sense. Lower end people basically destroy anyone they think are above them and have a basic jealous and why should you get ahead attitude. People are what they are and we cannot judge I know, but thaty does not mean we must waste our lives so others can learn. Given that you end up only being criticized and attacked for making choices others think you should not, sometimes our Maker sends others to guide us when we are going in the wrong path. For Ri she rebounded due to public sympathy and her exquisite voice. But bad choices will lead to her downfall and although she works with many musicians this is one she may want to skip.
I could not agree more with Disgusted. My thoughts exactly. Rihanna, please look at Whitney and see what happened to her because if you stay with Chris Brown this is your future.
You see, the film deals with one of my all-time biggest fears: airborne killer viruses. As a germaphobe the thought of an inescapable viral plague is my worst-case scenario. I’d say it’s my cinematic Tower of Terror for all those Disneyland fans out there
Posted by: louis vuitton | 03/26/2012 at 01:00 AM
LEOPARDS DON'T CHANGE THEIR SPOTS---EVER!! This will NOT end well!!!--I am not a fan of EITHER of them! But! I fear for this young lady's safety!!! Remember Whitney!!!
Posted by: vince anderson | 02/20/2012 at 06:02 PM
Eeeek! Rihanna has gotten ugly and greasy looking hasn't she? The blonde doesn't fit her at all. Go back to Black hun, that was the best hair cut you ever had.
Posted by: Man Down | 02/20/2012 at 11:25 AM
Go get an education Rihanna! You slutty baboon!!
Posted by: Ryan | 02/20/2012 at 11:11 AM
OMG.... I hope they don't collaborate. But anyways, I thought I was the only one who noticed that there is something strange about Rihanna and her wanting to go back to Chris. Makes me believe she isn't so innocent. To the people below me, you are definitely right. Chris has been seen as the bad guy for wayyy to long. Why is it that when someone has something positive to say about him, it never gets reported by the "big dog" media? I guess it goes to show people would rather hear about the negative than the positive.
Posted by: Cindy | 02/20/2012 at 11:08 AM
Rosedale, I actually watched that interview Draya Michele did with Wendy Williams, a popular talk show, and I am surprised that no one noticed that this woman is another woman that Chris had a long term relationship with Chris and she said he never put his hands on her. She is the most honest woman you will ever see on television. She was the most open woman he ever dated and she made it clear that Chris would never harm her. She said not to listen to the media. I am glad I saw that because it is clear that these people know nothing about Chris Brown. he is not a real woman beater these people need to stop saying that. In fact, in his rebuttal interview with Robyn Roberts he clearly stated that he never hit his past girlfriends. Just the way he said it, you can tell he was hinting towards the fact that Rihanna wasn't so innocent that night. Oh well... who knows. We can't judge him though.
Posted by: Cindy | 02/20/2012 at 10:59 AM
WOW, Rihanna is actually very violent. I remember she said that she hit her brother over the head with a bottle and used to get into fist fights. This girl is no good. I am not surprised that Chris never abused any other girl. He's a sweet kid who learned his lesson. Hopefully he doesn't ever mess with her again. She's troubled.
Posted by: Howard | 02/20/2012 at 10:51 AM
CHRIS BROWN!!! I LOVE HIM ! I'M HIS #1 FAN! SOME FACTS ABOUT CHRIS BROWN THAT WILL SHOCK ANY HATER ON THIS PLANET.
DID YOU KNOW?
1. CHRIS HAS A NUMBER 1 ALBUM CALLED F.A.M.E
2. HE WON A GRAMMY FOR BEST R & B ALBUM
3. HE HAD A SOLD OUT CONCERT IN TORONTO LAST SEPTEMBER
4. HE DATED AT LEAST 3 WOMEN SINCE THE 2009 INCIDENT WITH RIHANNA AND NONE OF THEM REPORTED ANY TYPE OF ABUSE, (Draya michele, Jasmine Sanders and Karrueche Tran)
IN FACT DRAYA MICHELE, A MODEL AND STAR OF THE HIT TV SHOW SERIES BASKETBALL WIVES, DID A FEW INTERVIEWS, INCLUDING ONE WITH WENDY WILLIAMS AND SAID CHRIS WAS NEVER ABUSIVE TOWARDS HER AND THAT SHE NEVER WITNESSED ANY TYPE OF ABUSE FROM HIM. SHE HAS RESPECT FOR HIM.
RIHANNA IS THE ONLY ONE HE HIT BECAUSE SHE STARTED IT
EDUCATE YOURSELVES PEOPLE!
Posted by: Rosedale | 02/20/2012 at 10:47 AM
She will deserve anything that she will get.
No more pitty for that IDIOT.
Posted by: nounou | 02/20/2012 at 03:58 AM
Jeff, I have news for you. If CB was delivered gift wrapped to my door I'd toss him in the trash (a compacter). Same with any man who lifts his hand against anyone or anything not as strong as himself.
Posted by: Violet | 02/19/2012 at 11:34 PM
@Molly ... well, Molly, I don't know why you'd hate to say it because it is a fact - yes, I know Mel is white and Chris is black ... but the fact is that difference didn't factor into my comment because it wasn't relevant in any way. Colour isn't an issue here. (Maybe for you it is .. but that's your problem).
Posted by: Leah | 02/19/2012 at 11:28 PM
Why Rihanna cant forget about Brown and cant see the violence he did to her?.. Because she cant resist the fact how she felt epic and she intercourse with him.
Posted by: Jeffrey | 02/19/2012 at 10:53 PM
REALLY... WELL WHAT EVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT. BUT THE NEXT TIME HE USES YOU FOR A PUNCHING BAG. PLEASE DON'T COME CRYING TO YOUR FANS.. BECAUSE THIS BIT IS GETTING REALLY OLD
Posted by: CHRISTA | 02/19/2012 at 10:06 PM
One word explains it all "MORON".
Posted by: Rob | 02/19/2012 at 09:32 PM
Hey,Rihanna,remember WHiTNEY
and what Bobby did to her life?
Posted by: nounou | 02/19/2012 at 08:13 PM
Neo doesn't understand the industry.
Those that become more like cheap Vegas strippers on stage disappear within a few years.
Whitney Houston didn't strip to get attention,nor Adele, nore Alicia, nor Jennifer Hudson, nor Beyonce. These entertainers will last; the sleaze gets boring.
Posted by: DGH | 02/19/2012 at 06:24 PM
Abusive women have been known the world over to return to their abusers. They both need counselling and Rihana needs some self-respect.Otherwise you will both go downhill fast!
Posted by: Amicable | 02/19/2012 at 05:04 PM
Leah, I hate to say it but Mel Gibson is white and Chris Brown is black. People dont like saying anything bad about blacks because they will be called racists if they do. But with white people they can bash the hell out of them and its alright.
As for Rihanna I guess she is walking in the same footsteps as Whitney and as someone has said look how that ended.
Posted by: Molly | 02/19/2012 at 03:27 PM
We know why the stupid biotch will do this to herself, and that being NO other man on this planet would want to sleep with her sorry fat ass! She deserves what she gets, and that being the other sorry fat ass!
Posted by: Daniel | 02/19/2012 at 03:25 PM
The biggest issue I have with this story is his lack of remorse. If he was truly sorry and intended to make every effort to address his problem (i.e. his hostile nature and violent outbursts), and he consistently demonstrated this, that would be one thing. But it seems he's adopted an attitude of "everybody makes mistakes, get over it 'haters'". Dude, you didn't accidentally run a red light or cheat on a test - you smashed your gf's face in. No one should "get over" that, and if you really loved Rhianna and were truly sorry, you would never get over doing that to her either. If he really understood the magnitude of the issue, he wouldn't be so defensive and, ironically, hostile every time someone brought it up.
The unfortunate thing is, it isn't a matter of IF he does it again (to her or someone else), it's only a matter of when. And unfortunately it looks like it will take the next episode to convince everyone that this guy can't be trusted.
Posted by: J | 02/19/2012 at 03:07 PM
Get the hurst ready Mister Undertaker. Another IDIOT named Rihanna, will be coming by.
Can't wait to see who shows up for her funeral after Chris does a number on her.
Where's her parents? People who ACTUALLY profess to CARE about her? They all out shopping for morners clothing?
They deserve each other. Just hope they never have kids like so many other "misfits" seem to.
Rihanna - you're a younger version of Whitney Houston and sadly, will end up where she is today.
Posted by: Baglady | 02/19/2012 at 03:05 PM
Why are so many of you surprised or even upset over this. I could have told you right from the beginning that these two would end up making music together. Of course, megabucks will be made from all parties involved, BUT before RiRi was discovered, her one big dream was to make a duet with her heartthrob Chris Brown. Just leave them to it already. How long are we going to keep playing the "bastard Chris Brown" tune. If Rihanna has gotten over it, who the hell are you to continue to fight her battles.
Posted by: Cat Woman | 02/19/2012 at 01:18 PM
all you people and your 2 cents.. Is you rlife any better? if it is then why do ou care?
I couldn't care less about neither of them myself
Posted by: Sid | 02/19/2012 at 01:11 PM
Ri, please don't make the same mistake twice. While I prefer not to judge as her life is her choice, sometimes we can forgive, but not forget. REality and spritiuality is really about using common sense. Lower end people basically destroy anyone they think are above them and have a basic jealous and why should you get ahead attitude. People are what they are and we cannot judge I know, but thaty does not mean we must waste our lives so others can learn. Given that you end up only being criticized and attacked for making choices others think you should not, sometimes our Maker sends others to guide us when we are going in the wrong path. For Ri she rebounded due to public sympathy and her exquisite voice. But bad choices will lead to her downfall and although she works with many musicians this is one she may want to skip.
Posted by: beverly | 02/19/2012 at 01:06 PM
I could not agree more with Disgusted. My thoughts exactly. Rihanna, please look at Whitney and see what happened to her because if you stay with Chris Brown this is your future.
Posted by: Lisa | 02/19/2012 at 12:42 PM