Rihanna Tells Diane Sawyer: I'm 'Embarrassed' I Loved Chris Brown
In the first portion of her ABC interview,
Rihanna tells Diane Sawyer that she went back to
Chris Brown "eight or nine" times following domestic violence incidents, and that she was blinded by love and made the wrong choices. "Don't react off of love. F love," Rihanna emotionally pleads to young girls who may be in her situation. Rihanna also says it was "embarrassing that's the type of person that I fell in love with," referring to Brown.
Watch the Emotional Video After the Jump
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Rihanna Snapshots
NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 03: Singer Rihanna enters the John F. Kennedy International Airport on November 03, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rihanna
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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 03: Singer Rihanna enters the John F. Kennedy International Airport on November 03, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rihanna
Getty Images
NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 03: Singer Rihanna enters the John F. Kennedy International Airport on November 03, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rihanna
Getty Images
NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 03: Singer Rihanna enters the John F. Kennedy International Airport on November 03, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rihanna
Getty Images
NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 03: Singer Rihanna enters the John F. Kennedy International Airport on November 03, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rihanna
Getty Images
NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 03: Singer Rihanna enters the John F. Kennedy International Airport on November 03, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rihanna
Getty Images
NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 03: Singer Rihanna enters the John F. Kennedy International Airport on November 03, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rihanna
Getty Images
NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 03: Singer Rihanna enters the John F. Kennedy International Airport on November 03, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rihanna
Getty Images
NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 03: Singer Rihanna enters the John F. Kennedy International Airport on November 03, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rihanna
Getty Images
NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 03: Singer Rihanna enters the John F. Kennedy International Airport on November 03, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rihanna
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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 03: Singer Rihanna leaves her Gramercy Park hotel on November 03, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rihanna
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During the portion of the interview, Rihanna says that she had troubles coming out with her side of the story because "there are a lot of women who experienced what I did, but not in public. It made it really difficult. Here it goes, my little bit of privacy was exposed. It's something nobody wants anybody to know. So here I am."
She says she was "embarrassed" by the situation because she "didn't want people to think that's the kind of person... I fell in love with that person," a love "so unconditional that I went back," Rihanna said, adding that it's "humiliating to say this happened. To accept that? It's a traumatizing experience." When Sawyer said many women often go back to their abusive boyfriends several times, Rihanna chimes in with her own personal number: "Eight or nine, actually."
There had been reports of previous domestic violence instances between Brown and Rihanna via her police report from that February night, but this is the first time she's acknowledged such a high number.
"I stayed. I even went back after he beat me, which was wrong ... I'm a human being and people put me on a very unrealistic pedestal," Rihanna tells Sawyer. "I'm not perfect. It's pretty natural for that to be the first reaction. It's completely normal to go back and start lying to yourself. The minute the physical wounds go away, you want this thing to go away. This is a memory you don't want to have again."
So what made Rihanna finally see that going back to Brown wasn't the answer? The fact that she has such an influence on the public thanks to her fame.
"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 responsible ... If Chris never hit me again, who's to say that their boyfriend won't ... kill these girls? These are young girls. I just didn't realize how much of an impact I had on these girls until that happened. It was a wake-up call for me, big time, especially when I took myself out of the situation," Rihanna says emotionally.
She also offers advice to "any girl who is going through domestic violence: Don't react off of love. F love. To come out of the situation and look at it third-person and for what it really is, you then make your decision. Because love is so blinding."
Brown is currently serving five years probation after pleading guilty to felony assault charges stemming from the February 8 attack on Rihanna.
The full Rihanna interview will air on ABC's '20/20' on Friday night. Brown will also be doing an interview of his own, which will air on MTV on Thursday night.
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I had to reply as I am a man who for the sake of love and my kids have endured physical abuse and verbal humiliation from my wife.Definition of abuse does not mean that a person has to show scars or bruises,he was probably driving she was jawing at him and started swinging on him,now just cuz he's a man and can take a few punches or slaps don't make it right for her to do it ? women scorned are capable of anything. Before it went too far,I am sure that they both jousted and then ended up having angry sex.
I dont feel badd because there's always two sides to the story. And who's to say we know every detail of what happened. I know after making this comment alot of yu are gonna jump down my throat but ohh well. No matter if its to help others or help themselves, people do things for publicity. And if this so called happened numerous occasions, why didnt she act on it then. And dont give me tht stuff about it takes time to leave, a real women woulda left the first time a man raises his hand to her, the hell wit hitting her.
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did they ever say what kind, if any Drugs
Chris was using ?
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ok...first of all
1. there is no exception for hitting a woman no matter what you do,or wat its for,or when,or how,or why.
2. Rihana is a very strong women, and for her to have the courage to show her wrong doing, I think that should be inspirational to other woman.
3. I Love Chris Brown...although for him to hit a woman, i think he gets everything he deserves if not more.
Lastly, I think every celebrity or evry1 goes through an obstacle in their lives, and I think this is just an obstacle that they went through, and there probably is going to be more but it doesnt matter how many you have its how you handle it.
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Probably not a politically correct comment:
But...
She says all the right things, and obviously made the right decision, but something about her just doesn't seem completely genuine. Almost rehearsed, and "acted" out.
Can't quite put my finger on it.
Maybe I just pick up too many non-verbals.
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Okay...What he did was wrong, he knows and sees that. This is something my mother has always told me. 1st step: if you(woman or man) hit a guy, he tells you to stop. 2nd step: you hit him again, he tells you one more time. 3rd step: you hit him again, he should walk away. 4th step: Just because you are a woman does not mean you cannont get hit. If you hit somebody expect 2 get hit back. If you do something wrong woman or man, you expect to get consequences. DO WE REALLY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED!! WERE WE THERE (actually saw and heard it) we can't rely on what the media says anymore and we certainly cannot rely on what somebody else says. And to those who have commented on this incident who have said they have been victims --->just because it happend to you some way (most common way) does not mean the same thing happened in this case. YOU PEoPLE ARE SO JUDGMENTAL! If a regular person (see how sad we have celebrities in a different category) were to beat somebody up or commit a crime, they would be punished, people would be mad, but after they have served their sentence and paid back 2 society, they are forgiven and everybody is happy. (not all the time though). If I am correct this is his first offense (in the public eye) That we have noted. He paid his debt, he's said he's sorry, no, it may not change anything TO SOME PEOPLE!> just a question though,if your man was snooping around in your business, I believe a lot of you would kirk off on him. Some ingnorant people these days. He entertained the world, and he was always in a good light. But as soon as he messes up (big time)you (those who are probably jealous of his talent) jump all over it and make up stuff. BEcause you finally have proof that he isn't perfect, and that he is "human".
Remember: I didn't say what he did was right.
And I do not support domestic violence
I hope this has opened some of your minds.
I love you Chris Brown, and I will stand by you.
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I have never admired her more. She is a role model, like it or not. I am a victim of domestic violence; many could not believe it. We lived in an upper class neighborhood, all the trappings. When my 15-year-old daughter had to call 911, that was the end. If they hit you once, they WILL hit you again.
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that is soooo ignorant!!!! A MAN SHOULD NEVER EVER TOUCH A WOMEN reguardless of what she did or does!!!!! he does not have any right to lay one finger on her.
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i just find it a little weird that all of a sudden that her album is out that she finally wants people to hear her side after so long, i personally think she is doing this just to boost album sales by telling a sob story, i like rhianna but come on now, this is a little bit ridiculous...the incident happened, now its all over with why keep bringing the issue back up???
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Well this comment couldn't have come from a woman that has ever been abused by the one she loves. I think the guy who wrote this will probaly find hiself behind bars one day. And if perhaps this was actually a woman who did posted this she must be a Rihanna hater soooooo sad.
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I am 19, i have been taught to never hit a girl EVER. it does not matter the situation nothing, a man should never hit a woman. Everyone saying, "oh i want to see how many times she hit him." that is a bunch of bs! even if she did hit him, that gives him no right to do what he did to her. the pictures from that night were disterbing, and not exceptable. if she did hit him (which i dont think she did) chris should have walked away. the man should NEVER hit a woman! NEVER NEVER NEVER!!!
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okay, now that i see rihannas true side of her hurting i feel her pain,but yet in my opinion i think that we still shouldnt hate chris brown,he is young and hes doin what he needs to do to change his ways. everyone has made a mistake(s) that we wish we couldve had an oppurtunity to be forgiven for and we havent,and no matter how truely sorry we were it didnt change. all im sayin is i forgive chris and give him a 2nd chance to redeem himself. and rihanna shouldnt not feel ashamed,she did what she had to do,to be a better role model and to show the world she is strong. this whole deal changed both of their lives and impacted them in different ways.
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Never would I condone hitting a lady....a lady. My wife is a lady, and I treat her like one. My own mother raised me however, that if a woman wants to put herself in a man's place, then she should get treated as a man would. Women want equal rights, right? But not equal if it's negative?
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agreed. the "don't hit a woman ever ever stuff is why some men get abused and even beyond that some women get out of CONTROL. Look if she is 5ft9 he's 5ft5, it happens and she is violent, come on. There is a difference between a lady and someone with behavior problems who happens to be a "female." Asking for it is asking for it and there is one language for that. don't just give her counseling and medication so she goes out and does something worse, i am sick of that. I mean are we also supposed to let our kids kill us and maul our dogs, and say "but hitting them is abuse?" Kinda same concept people sometimes need to learn a thing or 2.
I PERSONALLY THINK THE PERSON THAT WROTE THIS ARTILE DOESNT HAVE A LIFE AT ALL...REGARDLESS OF HIS PAST I STILL THINK CB IS A GOOD ARTIST AND I WILL STILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HIM, THE MAN HAS HIS CONSEQUENCES FOR WHAT HE'S DONE SO WHY WONT PEOPLE JUST LEAVE THE SITUATION ALONE??? YEAH HE'S WRONG, BUT I THINK RHIANNA IS TOO BECAUSE IM SURE SHE PLAYED A HUGE PART IN THE REACTION OF WHAT HE DID, LOOK AT THE BIGGER PIC PEOPLE, IT TAKES TWO...IM SURE WE'VE ALL MADE MISTAKES, THE ONLY REASON PEOPLE DONT KNOW ABOUT THEM IS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT FAMOUS LIKE CB IS, SOME OF US HAVE DONE WORSE..I SAY JUST LET IT GO PEOPLE AND MOVE FORWARD
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I believe Rihanna is saying what others want her to say. What Chris Brown did was wrong. Get over it and move on. There are more important things going on in the world besides their bogus relationship. I don't believe a word Rihanna said. Once again she's going to say what she has to so she doesn't end up playing the fool. I am surprised people haven't figured it out. People are abused everyday but do you see them being interviewed and shocased on T.V? I think not.
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I want to know why she is speaking again? I don't have respect for anyone who feels the need to hit another person for any reason. I also, don't have respect for anyone who uses something tragic to get publicity for themselves. Rhianna wants to help girls, Yeah Right! Rhianna wants to sell her music. Rhianna is doing damage control, making sure she is spotlighted again as the victim. Because she also lost some fans following that incident.
If you look at Chris Brown pictures, before this incident you will see he is mean by the way he holds his mouth.
If you look at Rhianna in her photos they show she believes her own hype. (That people actually put her on a pedestal).
:-)
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she is being put on a pedestal, this interview my case in point, that is the thing about female society i don't get, you form circles around situations and deflect the reality you create in the first place. you ooh and ahh over a female singer and give her titles like queen and diva and when even they start to say "look i am f9879ed right now" it is not best to make them out to be role models at that time y'all go "oh miss priss thinks we are putting her on a pedestal she's a queen" why y'all girls do that stuff?
Rhinona in a vomit session tells Diane Sawyer why she went after some black gansta hood. Thas all there is fo yo woman if'n yo want to date in yo race. All tha otha guys in jail. Don be complainin 2 much.
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Rihanna is a strong young lady to come out on national tv a with something so personal. Hopefully anyone who is in an abusive relationship will get a positive message from her interview.
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