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Rihanna Unplugged About Domestic Violence on '20/20'


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Did you see the Rihanna interview with Diane Sawyer the other night on "20/20"? Her pain was still evident as she very aptly painted a picture of how horrible that night was, as well as recounted the pain of her own childhood that was marred by domestic violence. 

It was very brave of Rihanna to bare her soul and inner conflict on primetime. Her angst and reluctance at being the poster girl for domestic violence did not appear to be a role that she relished but bravely undertook. In fact, the most emotion that she showed throughout the whole interview was when she sincerely appeared remorseful for any woman who went back to an abuser 'who could kill her', because they saw her go back temporarily to Chris Brown.

Thank goodness that she was able to leave him. His recent comments after her appearance on ABC, appeared to be proof of his probable controlling nature. A few days ago, he told MTV, "I maintain my position that all of the details should remain a private matter between us". 

What? C'mon Chris, when you got arrested, a public matter was the result. Furthermore, Domestic Violence is never acceptable, and certainly is not be a private matter. Domestic Violence is against the law. That was Rihanna's point! She finally realized that she could not and did not have to protect you.

Her appearance on "20/20," showed that Rihanna decided to in June Jordan's words, 'live her life standing up'. We need to give Rihanna a 'round of applause' and 'a standing ovation'. (her words).

Clearly, Rihanna is still in pain and examining the role of love and the nature of romantic relationships in her life.  

Hopefully, her quiet but strong message against Domestic Violence, and the warning for young women to get out of abusive relationships after the first incident will be listened to.

Thank you Rihanna.

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)



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Anyone know how to do things like this?

 

I too believe that no woman or man should be abused, but from what i've heard and read was she stared the hitting over a text message. Why is it right for her to hit him while he's driving along. In the photos he had scratching on his body too. Now she's a poster child for what?

 

I am in no way saying that I support or agree with Chris Brown's actions, but I think that he does not deserve to be judged as the media seems to be doing. He is human and still has a lot of growing to do. I do not think that he should be penalized for his words or actions after the fact. Rihanna is a victim and I do not take her situation lightly; my heart goes out to her. But she is still young also. I think that the attacks on his character and all of that needs to cease. He has aplogized repeatedly; so much so that I am honestly tired of him saying he's sorry. Let him be. He is getting help and so should she.No woman deserves to be hit, period. But noman deserves to be judged repeatedly for the same act. I think that we need to move on and try to resist the temptation to pass judgement. This should not be what either of them will be rememmbered for.

 

I so agree with Cim. No1 knows what happened and we cn all hv an opinion. However none of us hv a fact based opinion. Unless you were in the car that night you cny really say who did what to whom or how it jumped off. Was he wrong for hitting her yes but what did she do to aggravate the situation? Hv to look @ both sides and they are the only 2 that know both sides of the story.

 

mined!mortification information amortizing perchance .

 

@Regina

No, sadly Chris is a victim too. If this were 11 years ago when he was a nine year old boy urinating in the bed at the sound of his mother being beaten, we would be saying 'poor child.' However, now that he is an adult and some of what he witnessed has manifested itself, we want to call him and 'evil coward.' This is not right. Today is Novemeber 11, and on this day an into the night millions of women will, unfortunately, be beaten by men. Do we look at the little children that are witnessing this or crying as they hear this as evil monsters? If you are a human you should not because these chidren are VICTIMS. Chris is an adult who now realizes he has a problem, and he's getting help. At least, stop being God and trying to judge and let this guy get out of his pit. None of us has a right to say he can't change or at least let him try. If we continue to see him act a fool then I and other supporters will just have to eat crow. For now I want to give him and Rihanna, who both witnessed domestic violence, a chance to get help and heal. You on the other hand can sit back and consider the 7 year old who is watching his mom be beaten tonight an 'evil monster.' That kid is not evil he is a VICTIM, who sadly may become an abusive man (or insecure woman) if he/she does not get help. I'm not advising anyone to excuse abuse but consider all angles so no one is left in the pit. Remember it is not Gods will that any one of us perishes.

 

@ Sandy and people who think we are wrong for having some sort of support for Chris Brown.

There is a big difference between a victim of abuse and a drama queen. My life experience in watching many girlfriends create DRAMA and then cry wolf when something happens to them has brought me to the conclusion that WE (women) do a lot of things (mess up cars, hit, break windows, etc. - and this is the behavior I see from PROFESSIONALS) to put ourselves in certain positions then cry victim when something happens. Victims of abuse don't buck up to men and talk crazy. They are too afraid to do that because they know what will happen. Drama queens, on the other hand, check text messages and start going off even if the guy is trying to "drop it" as Rihanna said Chris was doing while they were in the car. What really bugs me is many women use the fact that we have emotions as an excuse for us to be drama queens. Just like he has NO right to hit her, she has no right to hit him OR to continue to press an issue he wants to drop because now SHE IS EMOTIONAL. Maybe him asking her to drop it was his stopping mechanism. I hate the fact that she gets some sort of pass for acting up in the car just because she was emotional. No, a man should not hit a woman but anyone, including women, can be pushed too far. I am not saying Rihanna had no right to express herself to the guy she considered her boyfriend. We do not know, however, if she was saying or doing things that really made him feel threatened as well. Based on what he (Chris) has seen, a person reacts violently when they are upset. This is not right but it is what he knows. He needs help, of which he is getting, and he needs to be left alone so he can go on hopefully have a healthy life. As for the statements about the women supporting Chris having low self esteem and standards being and expecting our men to hit. I think we are just being honest with ourselves and realizing that females are not always right. Those of you think this are like Oprah - eternal victims never taking accountability. My husband has never acted violently towards me and I pray it never happens. I do understand that he is stronger than me, so will I run around the house testing him, no. I treat him respectfully and vice verse. I would have no right to push and push and push and push and push and when he breaks and knocks me upside the head be able to cry victim to the police. Would he be wrong for hitting? Yes. But am I wrong? Yes as well. Closing note: I AM IN NO WAY SPEAKING TO WOMEN WHOSE HUSBANDS OR BOYFRIENDS ARE DOMINANT OVER THEM AND WHO LIVE IN FEAR OF DYING DAILY. THESE ARE THE TRUE VICTIMS. THESE LADIES ARE NOT DRAMA QUEENS BUT LIVE WITH MEN WHO HAVE CONTROL ISSUES AND THEY HAVE LOW SELF ESTEEM. I PRAY GODS PROTECTION OVER THESE LADIES. I can not say the same for women who are acting crazy with their men, and yes, there IS A DIFFERENCE!


 

This forum is for people to place their OPINIONS. For anyone to call anyone STUPID says a lot about that person. It's unnecessary and ignorant. I don't believe anyone here was making excuses for Chris Brown. Sure there were some inappropriate comments, but for the most part I believe the point people were getting at is that there is always more to the story, always something that is not being said. And no one has the right to crucify anyone. So unless you were an eyewitness to the situation, who are you to call anyone stupid? I'm just saying.

 

I agree with Regina. No one ever said that Rhianna hit Chris. Most of Rhianna's critics are, sadly, black women. This seems to make the statement that many black women feel as though beatings from a spouse or lover are acceptable and commonplace in relationships. It also says something about the self-esteem of most of these women. If you are a woman and you hit your spouse/lover, he should let you know you need help and walk away. There is no excuse for him to slam your head into a car window, put you in a head lock until you can't breathe, bite you, or shove you into something. Ladies, get your self-esteem out of the garbage and realize your worth. Domestic abuse is not normal, and abusers rarely need a good reason to hit you. Stop making excuses for woman beaters!

 

Where do you people get the NOTION that a Rihanna hit Chris, in this case and Chris knows that Rihanna didn't hit him, so That's the reason that he is ashamed to go into details. I notice it's mostly black people claiming that stupid Theory, It's ashame that a woman is beaten and so many black spend time trying to claim she must of hit without proof.

It seems like you stupid people are trying to makeup stories for this case, to excuse Chris behavior.

Black people get a clue and stop blaming the Victim, Chris is a evil coward.

 

Sorry for mistakes in last comment. I meant to use the word, can't. Oops.

 

Sorry Chris, but it's called revenge. RiRi can necessarily physically beat him back down with her fists and women, so women use what they can.

 

Sorry Chris, but it's called revenge.

 

If she's milking it, that' wrong. But after that vicious beat down, she deserves to milk it all the she wants. Chris B. is young and made a mistake. We ALL made mistakes when young. But, RiRi let him off easy cause after that very public beat down, I'd be milking it for YEARS to come.

 

Am I the only one that's over Rihanna? She appears to be a drama queen and she loves the spotlight. Chris had no business hitting her PERIOD. But this story is OVER and she's milking it. Her voice is not that great --her stardom is about her beauty and fashion. Sorry but she's overexposed. Enough already.


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