Rihanna Issues A Public Statement, Surfaces In LA
Rihanna is finally speaking out publicly in the wake of the alleged assault she suffered at the hands of her boyfriend Chris Brown in the early morning hours of Sunday February 8. Additionally, Rihanna has surfaced here in LA for the first time since the incident. Here is the new pic of Rihanna here in SoCal last night and the full text of her just released statement, by way of her publicist, on the matter of her recent injuries:
“At the request of the authorities, Rihanna is not commenting about the incident involving Chris Brown. She wants to assure her fans that she remains strong, is doing well, and deeply appreciates the outpouring of support she has received during this difficult time.”
As all of you are well aware, this statement comes one day after TMZ saw fit to publish a photo of Rihanna’s injuries that was reportedly taken at the time of the incident that occurred on Feb 8 … today is also the girl’s 21st birthday. My heart just breaks at the thought of everything she has been going thru in the past couple of weeks … I’m glad she knows that so many of us are sending her all of our love and support. I am confident she will be able to one day get her life back to normal … or as normal as can be after enduring what she’s been thru. We love you Rihanna, stay strong!!!
[Photo credit: National Photo Group; Source]
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February 20th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Wow my heart goes out 2 her…
February 20th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Its very sad what she is going thru. I myself have delt with this on a personal level. I know what she is goign thru and how difficult it is to go thru with pressing charges cause the guilt you start to feel and you feel sorry for the other person when in reality there is no reaon to feel bad or guilty for what that person has doen to you. Its not easy to stop loving someone when they make a mistake you wanna be forgiving but doing that only allows them to think they can get away with doing these things to you. No one should ever have to feel this way. I hope she is able to have a grest B-Day!!!!
February 20th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
So sad. You can still make out the bruises on her face. :( I hope she is able to find the strength to follow through with the charges. It will send a strong message to victims of domestic violence that it is not their fault and the justice system is there to protect you. The D.A. better not make some dumb ass plea bargain and let this coward walk with a fine and some community service. That would be VERY wrong!
February 20th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
She is and will always will be beautiful inside and out. She is a strong woman, and I admire her for that.
February 20th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Kristen those arent bruises. she doesn’t have caked on make up. Thats what happens when you’re black and have blotchy skin. My face looks like that without make up lol
She’s looking gaunt though. she probably hasnt eaten much. Thats why she’s looking a little shadowy. Cheekbones darling.
Also. no one is going to jail. You don’t go to jail for beating up your girlfriend. Sorry guys…
February 20th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
This is where the power of celebrity comes in. A normal average guy or husband would be arrested for domestic violence. CB, who is 19, is free. We don’t know the whole story, but he should be locked up right now. His career will never recover, and I’m happy!
February 20th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
My heart just breaks for her. What a horrible way to spend your 21st birthday. I hope people now know pay even more attention to domestic abuse. Something needs to be done.
February 20th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
@ Dahlia Post- You definitely can go to jail for beating up your girlfriend- it’s assault. I’m not too sure where you live, Dahlia Post, where people don’t go to jail for things like that.
I don’t agree with TMZ releasing the photo of Rihanna, I was shocked when I logged on their site and saw her photo at the top of the page. I’m sure everyone was wondering what she looked like after the fact, but I still think this entire thing is so personal and some things don’t need to be released for all eyes to see. I know most of you probably won’t agree with that, but oh well. I hope she can manage to have a good birthday even in the midst of all of this turmoil- everyone is sending her their best wishes!
February 20th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
What an unbelievable way to have to mark your 21st birthday… by issuing a public statement on a criminal assault you suffered. That is just, oh I don’t even know what that is.
I love her as an artist and really hope she’s surrounded by loving and trustworthy people today.
February 20th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Seriously! My heart aches… and I keep hearing people on the radio who are bad mouthing Riri. Saying she must have done something to provoke CB to do this to her.
I can understand a woman in a relationship goin buckwild at times, but under no circumstances did she (or any woman for that matter) deserve to get hit! Unexcuseable (is that even a word?) IMO.
February 20th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
@ Dahlia Post- ARE YOU KIDDING ME??
@ Ibby- I totally agree. Regardless of her celebrity status, the respectable thing would have been not posting that picture at all.
@ Gizelle- I believe it’s “inexcuseable”! ;)
Much love to Rihanna!! <3
February 20th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
It doesn’t look that bad after all or perhaps, she covered the bruises with foundation, her bangs and sunglasses.
February 20th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Yes, poor Rihanna. : (
February 20th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
WOW my girl looks great as always! I pray she’s doing better now I am so pissed about the photo that was the worst thing I have ever seen done in my life. I also pray the person who did it pays dearly, I have a good feeling their life is done.
February 20th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
hope chris pays for his mistakes.
rihanna probably look ok on the pic because she might have some make up on and she covered her bruises with her hair and sunglasses.
crazy to celebrate a birthday with this sad incident. but hope she and her loveones find time to still celebrate her birthday and remember the other blessings she still have.(like career, fans and family)
February 20th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
She looks good, I hope she’s doing OK!
February 20th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Is it jsut me or does se look skinner in the face? I feel bad for her, and I hope she has a good bday today.
February 20th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Dahlia is NUTS. You don’t go to jail for beating up your lover? Ok apparently someone does not watch COPS.
February 20th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Heh people can go to jail for abusing animals, let alone a person.
As a victim of domestic violence, the pain of having someone you love so much do such a devastating thing never goes away. The bruises may fade but the shattering of trust can never be fixed. I hope she finds peace and comfort from her family, friends and fans.
February 20th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Trent, well done for not publishing the photo. I appreciate your sensitivity.
February 20th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
I don’t pretend to know every case of domestic assault… but I am writing my dissertation (for my PhD in Criminology/Sociology) on domestic assault and criminal sanctions/mandatory charging… quite often there isn’t jail time and it’s just probation (especially if it’s a first criminal offense). Even if there is jail time, it’s often not very long considering the damage it does to women and children. I also have read about women who are charged domestic assault often don’t qualify for legal aid b/c there isn’t a risk of jail time (so I’m assuming the same would be for most men charged). It’s also hard to prove prior abuse in court b/c often individuals hide the bruises or evidence out of embarrassment etc.and if you can’t prove a pattern, it could just be written off as an isolated occurrence (which it rarely is). Women abusers get off way too easily a lot of the time. Also, I’ve heard a lot of people bash women who don’t leave violent relationships… and I think we need to be careful to pretend we know what it’s like to live in abusive relationships. Also… look at the stats… they show that violence often goes up when women try to leave (men try to maintain their power and use more violence). It’s really dangerous for a lot of women to leave and themselves and their families often face greater violence once they try to leave.
Also, for the person above who mentioned abusing animals… those criminals usually get only small fines and rarely ever get jail time (I’m also an animal activist). I remember one case in Quebec a 5 years ago where a man dragged a bear cub on the back of water vehicle (after snatching it away from it’s mother) and then chaining it up out front of his house and not feeding it and he only got a 2000 charge and that bear will never be able to be reunited with it’s mother and will need to be raised in captivity b/c it wasn’t an adult bear yet and couldn’t fend for itself in the wild.
February 20th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
To the person who thinks you can’t go to jail for beating up our girlfriend, I don’t want to be in a relationship with you! It’s called ASSAULT and you definitely CAN go to jail for it. I can’t believe people are saying she must have done something to provoke him… OMG. So if a woman (or anyone for that matter) pisses a guy off he should just start wailing on her with his fists until she shuts up? After seeing that pic, it’s obvious that he hit her multiple times, and unless she came at him with some kind of weapon or something he should be man enough to ignore provocation and remove himself from the situation and not beat her face to a pulp.
I hope she will be able to get through this and deal with her undoubtedly conflicting feelings about everything that happened.
February 20th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
I hope Rihanna is healing. I have seen my family be abused and it is hard for the victims.
I think that Chris Brown should go to jail. Just because he is a celebrity, doesn’t mean he should get away with it.
I disagree with the picture being posted. I saw it and wished i hadn’t.
Best wishes to Rihanna on her recovery.
February 20th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Even though Chris Brown beat that up, I find myself wanting to be b@lls deep in that, boyz…………………………………………………
February 20th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
This wasn’t just assault, this was attempted murder. The story is he strangled her until she passed out. That is scary.
I am absolutely disgusted that people chose to post her picture and am very glad to not see it posted here. It doesn’t matter if she’s a celebrity. She’s a person first and deserves more decency than this.
I hope we’ve seen the end of Chris Brown’s career. At least that would be a lesson to other people who choose to act in such disgraceful manner.
February 20th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Hey guys….you get booked and post bail. Thats why there will be no jail time for him. You dont go to prison for spousal abuse. It doesn’t happen unless its considered attempted manslaughter.
Sorry to burst your bubbles but he’s probably seen the LAST of a jail cell.
Psych Major myself, thanks Jennifer.
February 20th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
STORY coco….
We don’t know anything yet. It’s time for everyone to stop acting as if they do.
February 20th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
The fact of the matter is you CAN go to jail. It honestly depends on the judge and the state/city that it happens it as well. For some there is mandatory overnight stay in jail for DV that you can not post bail to get out of.
Sadly though to get any long term jail time against an abuser is really difficult. Hopefully justice will be served appropriately.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Getting booked and posting bail is only the first in a long line of things.
I’m not saying he’s going to jail, but he’ll have to go to court first. That’s why you post bail, it’s like insurance money for the courts to make sure you show up for your court date. Of course, this could all be settled out of court.
He probably won’t get jail time, with over crowded jails and all.
The only even remote possibility of good coming out of posting the pictures are for other victims of abused coming forward after seeing the photos. There is never, NEVER, an excuse for something like this to happen.
February 21st, 2009 at 3:06 am
BECAUSE he’s a celebrity, he should go to jail. He should be made an example of, not given a lenient punishment. The word needs to be sent out that domestic violence is NOT ON, no matter who you are. He probably won’t get any jail time (not that I know anything about the US legal system), but get heavily fined and probably some community service. Big deal.
I know Rihanna will be able to overcome this eventually, she certainly has lots of love and support that’s for sure. And that’s always a good start.
February 21st, 2009 at 3:33 am
i hope she’s fine, that chris asshole,fuck him ,real angry gorilla
fucked up the princess cute face
February 21st, 2009 at 8:21 am
Trent, have you heard cristian (?) ciriano’s take on this situation on TMZ? what are your thoughts on that because I’m a tad miffed at how he’s seeing it.
February 21st, 2009 at 9:43 am
My heart goes out to Rihanna. I saw the picture that TMZ posted. Why on earth would they do that? I know they want to be at the forefront of entertainment news, but this is just ridiculous. This is bigger than “hollywood news”.
February 21st, 2009 at 9:53 am
If her birthday went badly it’s probably b/c people can’t stop posting about her personal troubles, I am quite sure she wasn’t happy on her birthday to wakeup to that photo being posted all over the internet and all over the tv, if people had spent less time obsessed with “finding Out” what went down between her and chris brown, tmz would not have been on a man hunt for that photo, people need to now step back and give her space and peace, get the cameras out of her damn face. Leave the girl alone, she can’t heal with the media all underneath her( same thing the media did to britney) I say back off, and stop talking about chris brown, whatever happens , happens, he’s already been arrested for it and if he gets charged for anything he might end up with some community servce, counseling and be held accountable, I don’t think they’ll throw him in for very long if he does get arrested that’s not how domestic dispute cases work, wether it be celeb or average joe. If you know anything about the legal system you know that, and the LAPD is racist and suspect, trust me , I KNOW that for a fact, don’t trust anything they say or do, they probably handed over that photo themselves. In any case I hope now that the media attention on this can die down so that rihanna can have time to herself. Please I wish people would stop asking stupid questions you already know the answers to, we all know why TMZ posted that picture, b/c they knew YOU would look at it and start posting the same well wishes and such your posting now, they knew it would make you angrier, that’s why they did it, they probably thought they were helping just like you think youa re.
February 21st, 2009 at 9:57 am
Even if you can go to jail for domestic violence, it’s still very unlikely that Chris Brown will face anymore jail time (considering this is his first offence) – unless he gets charged with attempted murder. Domestic abuse is inexcusable. However, with prison overcrowding, CB will probably just get probation and be ordered to take anger-management classes. It’s a sad reality.
I hope Rihanna is surrounded by loving people and that Chris pays for his crime.
Trent, thank you for not posting the picture.
February 21st, 2009 at 10:21 am
umbrella ella ella is racist. Don’t come in here calling black people gorilla’s. What Chris did was very wrong, but we all know that and it’s been said ad naseum, now that thats been addressed, let Rihanna have peace to get her life back on track.
February 21st, 2009 at 11:50 am
I don’t know why you didn’t publish the photo, you seem to find it easy to publish many other photos of other celebs when something bad happens to them? I think showing the world what this man did to her is a good thing and as difficult as it is to see and how hard it is for Rihanna, it proves to the world just how violent this guy was to her!!
CB is not the person everyone obviously thinks he is, you just don’t all of a sudden do this to a woman, it is something that goes on for a while getting worse and worse until it explodes…. i’m glad the photos were released, it can shut up those idiots that have been sticking up for CB and saying that what he did wasn’t so bad, well if you look at the woman’s face in that photo, can you imagine how she must have looked before she was able to “clean herself up” a bit for the photos to be taken…its a horrible vicious beating that looks almost like it could have been live threatening if he would have kept bashing her head……how can you defend a person that does that to a woman, he’s a coward and a violent person that should and hopefully will pay dearly for his actions but he most likely won’t because he will say “he’s sorry” and start crying on tv or something, and probably go on Oprah and go to some sort of rehab or celebrity counselling. I hope Rihanna is strong and she doesn’t hide away from this for very long and goes head on with telling the world what CB did to her and takes him on with all that she has and doesn’t back down. If i were her I’d totally wanna kick his ass back so hard he’d be shitting out his mouth.
February 21st, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Okay, I just hunted up the transcript of the interview Christian Siriano gave about Rihanna and CB. Not only is he a little wannabe designer, but the man is an idiot. He’s so not fierce. More an ignoramus. Boo.
February 21st, 2009 at 12:08 pm
@ debho good someone else saw that. I had to go back and relisten to it and I’m starting to not like him. he’s a good designer but his comments were just dumb.
February 21st, 2009 at 11:41 pm
I fail to see any bruises at all.
February 22nd, 2009 at 1:03 am
See, if she ended up as my lover, she would have received nothing but soft kisses on her hiney.
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:00 am
i can’t believe with all the money and fame that someone would stoop to hiting a woman no mater what happend, what i could do with what they spend on a birthday party or car i could live pretty good with $100,000 get all my debts paid, cris brown if he was any knda man he’d step into a ring with those who challanged him, experance tells me he wont because most men who hit women & children will not fight men becaus ethey are afraid to, if i woke up to her every morning looking like her id be in heaven but i love her voice and music as well as evrything else lol
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:03 am
andCB can’t use the cop out that just because his father hit his mother while he was growing up means he couldnj’t help him self from hitting rihanna i grew up in a violent atmospher and i have never hit a woman or child or anyone weaker than me in my entire life