Rihanna Opens Up On ‘Good Morning America’ Again

"He had ... no soul in his eyes. Just blank."
Friday, November 6th, 2009

Yesterday we saw part 1 of Good Morning America’s interview with Rihanna, her first televised interview since being assaulted by ex-boyfriend Chris Brown back in February, and today we get to see part 2 of GMA’s interview. Today, Rihanna spoke specifically about that fateful night when she was beat bloody and reveals what the circumstances were that led to the assault. Here are a few screencaps from her interview and some excerpts from the piece:


Rihanna is breaking her silence about the night then-boyfriend Chris Brown beat her, telling Diane Sawyer that he had “no soul in his eyes.” “It wasn’t the same person that says I love you. It was not those… eyes,” she told Sawyer in an exclusive interview. “He had … no soul in his eyes. Just blank. …He was clearly blacked out. There was no person when I looked at him.” The February 2009 assault left the 21-year-old battered and bruised, and Brown was sentenced to five years of probation, community labor, and one year of domestic-violence counseling. “All I kept thinking all the time: When is it going to stop? When it is going to stop?” she said. After the attack, Rihanna briefly reunited with Brown, but said that she never forgave him. “I just said to him, ‘I can’t do this.’ I resented him. I resented him so much. And I always put the tough face on and try to, I can do anything face, and just try to play it off. But he knew. He knew it. He kept asking me, ‘You hate me, don’t you? You hate me,’” she told Sawyer. “And I would lie and I would say, ‘No, no. And … I did hate him. … Everything about him annoyed me. So finally … I just said, we can’t … we can’t do this. I cannot continue to do this.” Before the dramatic incident, the couple’s seemingly fairytale relationship began as a friendship. A 16-year-old Rihanna — with a growing empire of endorsements, fashion spreads, and a bank account in the multi-millions — said she was attracted to 15-year-old Brown’s personality, humor and charm. “We were just friends. We always played. So it was … a good feeling to come out of the adult lifestyle and just, when you’re in your room, just be yourself,” she said of their year-and-a-half-long romance. “He was definitely my first big love.” But the starlet said that the deeper they fell for one another, the darker their relationship became, bordering on an “obsession.” “To fall in love with your best friend it … can be scary because the … the emotions get really, they get the best of you. Like it takes over,” she said. “The more in love we became, the more dangerous we became for each other, equally as dangerous.” Rihanna recounted the details of the “ugly” night, describing how she and Brown got in a heated argument over a text message on Brown’s phone. “I caught him in a lie. And he wouldn’t tell the truth … I was being more annoyed at that point in our relationship he had to lie about something so stupid,” she said. “I couldn’t take that he kept lying to me. And he couldn’t take that I wouldn’t drop it. And … it was ugly.”

Yes, that fateful night got very ugly from there :( After the jump, read more of Rihanna’s interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America today and watch video of the popstarlet telling her story, in her own words …

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Rihanna Opens Up On ‘Good Morning America’

"It's humiliating to say this happened. To accept that? It's ... traumatizing"
Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Yesterday we learned that pop star Rihanna would be appearing on Good Morning America today and tomorrow and on 20/20 tomorrow night in order to talk publicly about the physical assault that she suffered at the hands of her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown back in February. In part I of her interview this morning, Rihanna talks a bit about the physical violence she endured and expresses embarrassment for enduring it for as long as she did. Here are a few screencaps from her interview on GMA with Diane Sawyer and some deets about this part of their interview:


Pop sensation Rihanna is speaking out about the night her then-boyfriend Chris Brown beat her, saying it was “humiliating” and “traumatizing” to admit the assault took place and that it was “wrong” that she went back to Brown afterwards. “It was a wake-up call. It was a wake-up call for me. Big time,” Rihanna told “Good Morning America’s” Diane Sawyer in her first television interview discussing the assault. “I will say that to any young girl who is going through domestic violence, don’t react off of love. F love. Come out of the situation and look at it in the third person and for what it really is.” The pop star said it was “embarrassing” that Brown was the type of person she fell in love with. “So far in love. So unconditional that I went back. It’s humiliating to say this happened. To accept that? It’s a traumatizing experience,” she said. Her decision to go back to Brown, she said, was a mistake. “I stayed. I even went back after he beat me, which was wrong,” she said. “But again … I’m a human being and people put me on a very unrealistic pedestal. And all these expectations, I’m not perfect.” The 21-year-old star acknowledged that Brown held her in a headlock twice that night and bit her on the ear and fingers. After months of silence since the February beating, Rihanna decided to speak publicly about the ordeal so she can be a voice to help others who may be in danger of returning to abuse. “It’s completely normal to go back. It’s not right. I learned the hard way, but again, this is what I want people to know,” she said. “When I realized that my selfish decision for love could result in some young girl getting killed, I could not be easy with that part. I couldn’t be held responsible for going back. “Even if Chris never hit me again, who is to say that their boyfriend won’t? Who’s to say that they won’t kill these girls?” she said. “These are young girls and I just didn’t realize how much of an impact I had on these girls’ lives until that happened.” After a nine-month hiatus, Rihanna is back on the music scene with a new hit album, “Rated R,” signaling a return from a time of intense loneliness following the assault. “One of the most lonely times I’ve been was in the past few months because nobody understands what it’s like,” she said. “There are a lot of women who’ve experienced what I did, but not in the public. So it made it really difficult. I just felt like, ‘Oh my God, here it goes, my little bit of privacy.’” In August, Brown was sentenced to five years of probation, six months of community service and one year of domestic violence counseling for assaulting the 21-year-old pop singer the night before the Grammy Awards. Portions of ABC News’ exclusive interview with Rihanna will air on “Good Morning America” at 7 a.m. E.T. Thursday, Nov. 5. Her full interview will air on “20/20″ at 10 p.m. E.T. Friday, Nov. 6.

So many people are so divided on Rihanna’s decision to speak out … hell, people are so divided on the issue of domestic abuse. I personally feel that any time, no matter the circumstance, a person decides to open up publicly to talk about the abuse they endured at the hands of another person is the right time to do so. It is not anyone’s place to put time limits on when someone should open up, it’s not anyone’s place to question the reasoning or to immediately assume there is an ulterior motive … I can’t even begin to fully understand the emotional impact an abused person feels when they are finally ready to talk about their abuse. I fully expect the detractors will have more negative things to say about this new interview but if Rihanna’s message is heard by just one person who learns from that message and saves themselves from an abusive situation then all of this is very much worth it. After the jump, watch video of Rihanna’s interview on Good Morning America and hear her message from her own lips …

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Rihanna Plans To Share Her Story On ‘Good Morning America’, ‘20/20’

"This happened to me. ... It can happen to anyone"
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Yesterday we got our first look at Rihanna on the cover and in the pages of the new issue of Glamour magazine wherein she opened up for the first time about being physically assaulted by ex-boyfriend Chris Brown and today we get our first look at Rihanna’s first television interview about that very same incident. Good Morning America, helmed by Diane Sawyer, sat down with Rihanna recently to do an interview set for air tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday morning on 20/20 on Friday night. Here is a screencap from Diane’s interview with Rihanna and some info about their chat:


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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Whitney Houston Brings Bobbi Kristina To The ‘GMA’ Stage

"I never left, I never left."
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

Yesterday we saw photos from Whitney Houston’s “comeback” concert performance in Central Park, NYC which was taped live yesterday for airing on Good Morning America today. Taking a page from Madonna’s playbook that says it’s cool to bring one’s daughter on stage during live performances, Whitney brought her daughter Bobbi Kristina onto the GMA stage with her to the delight of all her fans … behold:


It took nearly a decade, but Whitney Houston made her comeback to television in a four-song concert in Central Park broadcast on Good Morning America on Wednesday. “I’m overwhelmed,” Houston said after performing her opening number, “Million Dollar Bill,” written especially for her by Alicia Keys. “I love you all saying hello to me. I never left, I never left.” Wearing tight black pants and a tan trenchcoat over a grey blouse, the 46-year-old wowed a crowd of 5,000 who had waited hours to see the singer make her long-awaited return. She hadn’t been on television in seven years, and hadn’t made a major live appearance since 2004. “You never left,” GMA host Robin Roberts said during a break in the concert, which was prerecorded on Tuesday. “You can see the love here.” But Houston said it was the love she felt that brought her back – and that guaranteed that observers worried about her onetime drug use and personal problems need not have worried. “I was worried for you,” Diane Sawyer said. “Well, don’t be worried anymore,” Houston responded. Asked by Sawyer what brought her back to the stage after such a long absence, she answered, “My faith, the love and support of my fans, which I do have. That’s basically what it is.” Family was close in more than words – Houston serenaded her mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston, during “I Look to You,” the title track to her new album. During “My Love Is Your Love,” she proudly brought her 16-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina onstage to join her in singing. But the emotions – and interviews – that accompanied her comeback evidently fatigued the former concert-circuit stalwart. After four songs, Houston apologized to the audience and signed off. “I’m so sorry. I did Oprah. I’ve been talking for so long. … I talked so much, my voice,” she said. “I shouldn’t be talking. I should be singing.”

I watched Whitney’s performances on GMA this morning and I have to say, I thought Diane Sawyer was really rude to say “I was worried for you” to Whitney’s face. Yes, we were all worried but I don’t think it was the right time/place to bring up the matter … especially when Whitney is trying to make people forget about those dark days and focus on her comeback. After the jump, check out video of Whitney performing the first single from her new album Million Dollar Bill and see for yourself if Whitney is back on track …

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Whitney Houston Films A Live Performance For ‘Good Morning America’

Which will air tomorrow morning
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

Whitney Houston will appear tomorrow morning on Good Morning America performing a song off her new album, I Look To You (which was released yesterday), but was performed and filmed today in NYC. Here are a few pics from Whitney’s performance at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park earlier today and which can be seen in full tomorrow morning on GMA:


Considering how long it’s been since Whitney has performed live on national television, it’s understandable that the powers that be decided to film this performance for editing before it airs “live” on TV. I can’t wait to see/hear how it turns out tomorrow morn … excited?

UPDATE: After the jump, check out video of Whitney Houston performing I’m Every Woman during today’s performance in Central Park

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‘Good Morning America’ Airs Personal Michael Jackson Home Video

Happier times at home with his children and then wife Debbie Rowe
Friday, July 3rd, 2009

Good Morning America aired some very special, previously unseen home video footage of Michael Jackson in happier times with his young children, Prince Michael Joseph and Paris Michael Katherine in the years between 1999-2003 … at a time when he was still happily married to his second wife Debbie Rowe, was still living at the Neverland Ranch, before the birth of his third child (Prince Michael Joseph, II aka Blanket) and before he was brought up on a second round of charges of child molestation. The home video is painfully sweet and gives us a different look at the man that we believed we knew. Here are a few screencaps from the GMA footage that has been made available:


Those of you who remember this period in MJ’s life know that he was absolutely private and generally out of public eye for some time. It was ages before we saw him out and about with his children. It was not until he agreed to do the interview with Martin Bashir, Living with Michael Jackson, (after the birth of his third child) that he really opened himself up to the media (and, as you may recall, it was one of the young boys who was featured in that interview that leveled the second round of child molestation charges against him). The home video comes from an earlier, more innocent time. It really is something to see — after the jump, check it out in full …

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Morning In The Big Top

The TV Guide
Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

So … because Good Morning America tapes live here in NYC from 7 – 9AM guests for this morning’s show had to be in the tent at Lincoln Center by 6:45AM. David and I had a difficult time waking up, getting ready and getting out of the apartment … we were up before the sun was. But once we got uptown to the Big Apple Circus, we were rearin’ to go. The tent was full of really excited fans and you could tell that everyone was really looking forward to seeing Britney Spears perform. We were told repeatedly before getting inside the venue that if we were seen taking photos we’d be removed … but as soon as we all got in, the cameras came out and there was nary a word said. Here are a few pics that I managed to snap from my seat:


When Mama Lynne Spears, Bryan Spears and the little ones Sean Preston and Jayden James came in and took their seats the place went wild. Little JJ was waving to people in the crowd, it was really cute. Despite what some folks continue to say about Britney’s performance, I can assure you it was very cool to see in person. Every single person in that Big Top tent had a blast … it was electric. I’m very much looking forward to seeing Britney out on tour next year. Here are a few pics of David and me with the signs they handed to us as we entered the tent and a pic with Pink reader Michael who I got to meet this morning:


I also got to meet Joe, Julie and Meg as well this morn … it was a pleasure meeting you all :)

Again, I have no interest in arguing with people about what they think about Britney Spears and what she gives or doesn’t give them or what she offers and doesn’t offer them. I’ve been a fan from the beginning, I’ll be a fan til the end. I dunno why that makes some people so angry and negative. If they aren’t diggin’ what she’s doing, I don’t get why they have to be so vocal in their displeasure. I’m not sure who they’re trying to convince … mebbe themselves? In any event, I’m glad that things are going so well for our dear Britney Spears these days. Even tho some folks take issue with her music she still manages to get to #1. Even tho some folks take issue with her live performances she still manages to win huge ratings for her TV appearances. Even to some folks claim her upcoming tour will be “boring” or whatever she still manages to sell thousands upon thousands of concert tickets. I’m happy to support her and will continue to do so. It’s gonna be a great year ahead, I can already feel it.

Tonight, David and I are taking his sister Eden out for an early birthday celebration (she turns one year older tomorrow) … we hope to make a great night of it, it’s my last visit to NYC until after Xmas.