In a tremendously moving and articulate interview with 20/20, Rihanna gave her first full-length statements about her assault by Chris Brown in February. Describing the beating she suffered in a car with Brown, the singer said that when he beat her, “He had no soul in his eyes… It was almost like he had nothing to lose.” Speaking to Diane Sawyer, Rihanna said of Brown’s remorse afterward, “He’d say, ‘You hate me, don’t you?’ and I would lie and say, ‘No.’” That was a chilling moment, one among many. Sawyer showed Rihanna online videos of people — fans? — saying that she must have provoked Brown. Sawyer paraphrased their sentiments: “They say, ‘Did she bait him? Rile him?’” Rihanna said bluntly of such questions, “It’s ignorance.” Demonstrating a maturity and thoughtfulness about her experience, Rihanna noted, “With fame comes a lot of things, and the most dangerous is freedom… no boundaries.” At the same time, she said that when she’s shown the pictures of her battered face from that night, “I get very ashamed, angry… embarrassed… You start lying to yourself, blaming yourself… I didn’t want people looking at me. I felt really lonely.” She claimed never to have heard the song Brown supposedly recorded for her called “Changed Man.” When Sawyer showed her the internet apology Brown issued and asked the singer’s reaction, Rihanna said simply, “It sounds like he might be reading off a teleprompter… I don’t know if he understood the extent of what he did.” Rihanna explained the fight’s source: ”I caught him in a lie,” when she saw a text message from another woman. “I wouldn’t drop it, and he couldn’t take that.” She described their love as “dangerous… It was a bit of an obsession.” The awful pressure that is placed upon celebrities to be role models was made clear when she said, “My selfish desire for love could result in some young girl getting killed. I could not be easy with that, responsible for that.” How terrible that this woman should have to bear that weight in addition to what happened to her. That’s one of the biggest flaws of current pop culture — the notion that celebrities must set an example for others. Rihanna went so far as to say to Sawyer, “I’m glad it happened to me, because now I can help young girls when it happens to them.” Sawyer asked if she “hated” Brown. She replied, “I want him to do well, to have a good career… and to grow up.”

I cannot even express how impressed I was with Rihanna’s interview last night … she was thoughtful, sure, honest and bold in her statements. You could tell how uncomfortable she was talking about certain aspects of her ordeal but you could also tell how confident she was that she was doing the right thing. I am so glad that ABC decided to air portions of Rihanna’s interview over two days and one night … the wider her story is spread, the more likely that her message will reach those who desperately need to hear it. After the jump, watch Rihanna’s entire 20/20 interview online …

A written excerpt of Rihanna telling her side of story regarding the domestic violence done by her then-boyfriend Chris Brown has been unveiled. Sporting a new hairstyle, the Barbadian singer will do a one-on-one interview with Diane Sawyer on “Good Morning America” this Thursday, November 5. “This happened to me. … It can happen to anyone,” Rihanna said in answer to one of Sawyer’s questions. She later on admitted that Chris was indeed her “first big love”, the fact that made the whole coping up situation difficult. The interview will also be aired as part of news magazine, “20/20″ on Friday night. This would be the first time for Rihanna to talk about the battery case on national television. Chris has come forward first on “Larry King Live” to address the incident including why he was violent and what was his reaction upon seeing Rihanna’s bloody picture that was leaked few days after the February case. Rihanna will make a return to “Good Morning America” on November 23 for a performance that celebrates the release of her latest album “Rated R” that day. But she will first debut her new music video for the single “Wait Your Turn” on “20/20″ on Tuesday, November 3.

Well, actually, Rihanna already debuted her music video for Wait Your Turn (The Wait Is Ova) online cuz we got to see it in full yesterday. I am very curious to see these interviews with Rihanna … it’s one thing to read what she has to say but quite another to hear her speak. I will deffo be tuning in to watch her on both Good Morning America and 20/20. It cannot be easy to talk about issues of domestic abuse on such a public stage … I do hope that her message that it could happen to anyone will resonate with other people out there in her same situation.

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Thomas Beatie, the controversial “pregnant man” who gave birth to a daughter earlier this year, reveals to Barbara Walters in an exclusive interview that he is pregnant again with his second child. Thomas Beatie, a transgender, welcomed a baby girl, Susan, June 29. Since sharing the story of Susan’s birth with ABC News, he and his wife, Nancy Beatie, hadn’t spoken to the media until they sat down last month with Walters. Thomas Beatie, who is in his first trimester, tells Walters he did not go back on the male hormone testosterone after Susan’s birth so he could have another baby. “I feel good,” he said. “I had my checkups with my hormone level, as far as the HCG. And everything is right on track.” He says the baby is due June 12. Thomas Beatie also spoke to Walters about Susan’s birth, which was not via Caesarean section. He was in labor for 40 hours; Nancy Beatie cut the umbilical cord.

I mean … why not, right? It sounds like the Beaties are very interested in having as normal a family life as they can (with the 2 1/2 children and all) considering the man in the relationship is the one having the kids. They look really happy and it goes to show that the power of love knows no bounds. I gotta say that I think the fam should be commended for keeping out of the public spotlight for as much as they have. Except for the handful of interviews they’ve done with ABC, People magazine, etc. they’ve really stayed out of the limelight (this is the first we’ve heard from the family since the baby’s birth in July). It gives me great pleasure to be among the first folks to congratulate them on the impending arrival of their second child and wish them all the happiness in the world!!

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Spears to Put Out New Album on 27th Birthday; Watch Video Premiere on ‘20/20′ Oct. 10

Britney Spears’ second comeback is in full swing: She’s due to release a new album in December, on her 27th birthday. “Circus” is set for release Dec. 2, a little over a year after she released last November’s “Blackout,” which was perhaps her most critically acclaimed CD, but came during her infamous year of erratic behavior, rehab, custody battles and at least one hospitalization. She barely promoted it, and the album — though it was certified platinum — was one of her least successful.

Yeah, basically the news report is a reiteration of release info that we already know but we do now have a premiere date for the Womanizer music video. Set your DVRs, y’all :)

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