Singer Rihanna Speaks Out To Young Women About Domestic Violence
It's been 9 months since superstar singer and fashion icon Rihanna was thrust in the spotlight for something other than her hit singles. This time it was for something she describes as "embarrassing" and which made her feel "ashamed."
News broke of the incident when Rihanna's scheduled appearance at the 2009 Grammy Awards was canceled. Soon after, reports surfaced of the attack, which happened the night before the Grammys when Brown and Rihanna were leaving an awards party. The fight began in Brown's car, and then spilled out onto a residential street, and was so heated witnesses called police. Brown was later arrested for the attack and making criminal threats. The aftermath and media maelstrom was a disaster for both stars, which included a leak by the LA police department of pictures showing the extent of abuse Rihanna suffered.
While singer Chris Brown spent his efforts looking for every opportunity to excuse his behavior instead of issuing a heartfelt apology, Rihanna remained silent. That was until now, and boy, does she have some compelling and anguished feelings about her domestic abuse.
Speaking exclusively to Diane Sawyer on ABC's Good Morning America, Rihanna made it clear she was not proud of her choice to initially take her abusive boyfriend, Chris Brown, back after the brutal beating.
Rihanna broke the typical cycle of abuse by leaving after the first beating, she told Diane it usually takes a woman closer to 9 beatings before they leave — and some never leave. That's what Rihanna couldn't live with. While strong and definitely resolute during parts of the interview, Rihanna became very emotional and close to breaking down during this quote:
“When I realized that my selfish decision for love could result into some young girl getting killed, I could not be easy with that part. I couldn’t be held responsible for telling them, ‘Go back.’ Even if Chris never hit me again, who’s to say that their boyfriend won’t? Who’s to say they won’t kill these girls?”Rihanna acknowledged she was weak and perhaps even a bit selfish in her initial desire to get back with Brown, but it's obvious she made the right decision for all the right reasons in choosing to walk away from the abusive relationship: Continued on the next page
