It might be a strange coincidence but Chris Brown and Rihanna have decided to tell their stories around the same time. Chris went first with Larry King, Angie Martinez and of course a string of upcoming concerts. RiRi on the other hand has played it pretty close to the vest. We’ve seen lots of her (looking quite fabulous every time), we’ve heard her sing with Jay-Z and Kanye on “Run This Town” but in-depth interviews have been scarce until now. Timed closely with the release of her new album, “Rated R” which comes out November 23rd, the Bajan songstress did a sit-down with 20/20 and Good Morning America —which airs Thursday and Friday—as well as with women’s glossy Glamour, which hits stands November 10th. The magazine named her one of their Women of the Year (along with the FLOTUS).
Okay, I’ve got to give props to Glamour for not only having two black cover girls but also for getting the story everybody wants to read. Maybe there’s hope for print after all. Anyway, Rihanna opens up about having to live through being a victim of domestic abuse in the public eye saying that although she was surrounded by family and friends she was very alone.”It’s a lonely place to be — no one can understand. That’s when you get close to God.” she told the magazine. She also was not happy to have the photographic evidence of her beating leaked all over the world.
“That is not a photo you would show to anybody. I felt completely taken advantage of. I felt like people were making it into a fun topic on the Internet, and it’s my life,” she said.
And she’s right, many were making an intensely private situation a salacious bit of gossip.
But what with Chris Brown having a modicum of success in getting his career on track with his Fan Appreciation Tour, I am happy that Rihanna decided to speak now. Not that there’s need to relive the incident but there’s a danger that it will be minimized when young girls are only concerned about the Chris Brown on stage who has them screaming. Rihanna is hoping to be a voice against domestic violence. And because so many young women idolize her, perhaps she can go a long way to reminding them that it is never okay for a man to hit you.
“Domestic violence is a big secret. No kid goes around and lets people know their parents fight. Teenage girls can’t tell their parents that their boyfriend beat them up. You don’t dare let your neighbor know that you fight. It’s one of the things we [women] will hide, because it’s embarrassing. My story was broadcast all over the world for people to see, and they have followed every step of my recovery. The positive thing that has come out of my situation is that people can learn from that.”
I can’t wait to tune in and read the story to see what else she has to say.
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