Nov 7 2009 10:11 AM ET

Chris Brown responds to Rihanna's '20/20' interview

Categories: News

Chris Brown has issued a reaction to ex-girlfriend Rihanna’s candid interview with Diane Sawyer on 20/20. In a statement released to MTV News, Brown says, “While I respect Rihanna’s right to discuss the specific events of February 8, I maintain my position that all of the details should remain a private matter between us. I do appreciate her support and wish her the best. I am extremely sorry for what I did, and I accept accountability for my actions. At this point, I am taking the proper steps to learn about me and grow from my mistakes. I only hope that others in similar situations can learn from our experience as well. Abuse of any kind is always wrong. The rest I leave it to God.” In the interview with Sawyer, Rihanna emotionally detailed the night Brown physically assaulted her after the two had a heated argument. Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault in June.

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  • meg25

    When you beat up your girlfriend I don’t think you get to have a say in whether she talks about the details or not. I mean, honestly, she’s the one that has to deal with the physical and emotional trauma of abuse and the ridiculous accusations of asking for it; as if there’s something you can say to your boyfriend that makes it alright for him to hit you. If you didn’t want details being publicly aired, then you shouldn’t have done it in the first place.

    • dave

      You’re absolutely right. And of course he’s going to want the details to stay private. Why would he want all the details of his crime to be public knowledge? Just another pathetic statement from Chris Brown. I wonder who wrote it for him.

      • charlie

        I HOPE THAT NOTHING BAD HAPPENS TO ANY OF YOUR PEOPLE WRITING THIS CRAZY HYPE….CAUSE YOU WILL BE STANDING IN THE SAME SHOES AS CHRIS BROWN.

      • dave

        I can’t guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen to me. But I can guarantee I will never be standing in the same shoes as Chris Brown because I know how to manage and control my anger in constructive ways. I never resort to violence with anyone.

    • Give Me a Break

      Amen sister.

    • Tika

      Right on, Meg25

    • Joe

      The only thing he won’t hit is a single.

      • Damion

        Whatever…”Forever” was one of the best singles of 2008 and nothing he does in his private life can change that. If his new single is as good as “Forever,” I hope radio will play it, as his personal life should have nothing to do with his professional life. Thankfully, my local radio station took a poll and over 70% said they should play Brown’s new single the moment it’s released. Good!

    • B-

      Question? If the way Rihanna explains what happened is to be believed, and it just went from argument to beating, how did she get bite marks on her feet? And why were her feet anywhere near Chris Brown’s face when he was driving? There is way more to this story and after waiting so long to discuss what happened, she should have just put it behind her. Not suddenly exploit it because she has an album to release in 2 weeks and she is up against Beyonce and GaGa and Spears.

      • Carm

        If you are ever beaten up, it is up to you to talk about it or not. And hopefully you would not be judged they way you choose to judge. If Rihanna wants to talk about it she should. It is her right. I think that if more abused people did speak up it might help.

      • Finn

        Wow nice trying to rationalize this to being her fault *rolls eyes sarcastically*. No matter where her injuries are she has every right to fight back and protect herself. Unbelievable. None of this was her fault. She didn’t and COULDN’T do anything to deserve that treatment. Wake up. Sure you may like his songs, but no matter how you slice it that doesn’t make up for him placing a hand on her. Rihanna is incredibly brave. She said everything right in that interview. How she explained her emotions after the fact says it all. But I guess if you’ve never been in the situation, you wouldn’t know that. I’m not saying anyone should be judging him, because that’s no one’s job. But do NOT put this on her.

      • MD623

        she had bite marks near her feet because she was rightfully trying to kick the sh*t out of his a$$.

    • Priscilla

      Of course he didn’t want anyone to know the details because he is afraid of the backlash to his already tainted career. There is NO excuse for beating someone just because of a disagreement or whatever. Chris Brown is lucky he is not in jail for his actions.

  • mre

    Of course he believes the details should stay a private matter between them. A criminal never wants the details of their crimes to become public!! Let’s hope he truly learns from the experience and gets the help he needs.

  • Carlitos

    “all of the details should remain a private matter between us.”

    You’d like that, wouldn’t you? A-hole.

    • Amanda

      That’s exactly what I said.

    • JA

      THIS – All wife beaters say the SAME thing. It’s no one elses business. When you commit a violent crime, it’s everyone’s business. And that’s precisely why it’s so under-reported.

  • meg25

    Everyone talks about how Rihanna has to think about her position as a role model. I would love to see Chris Brown do more than say he accepts responsibility. I would love to see him become an agent for change, to not just learn about himself, but about why violence against women is so prevalent in our society. While Rihanna apparently bears the burden of showing women that they shouldn’t stay in abusive relationships, why is nobody bearing the burden of showing men that they need to get their act together.

  • meg25

    One more thing and then I’ll stop. Just to avoid any accusations, no, I am not a man-hater. I am aware that not all men are abusive, but I think that the real problem isn’t that women are staying in abusive relationships, it’s that there are so many abusive relationships in the first place.

  • Brenda DuBois

    What a piece of crap. Instead of hanging his head in shame and going back to the gutter from which he came, he dares to “react” publicly to Rihanna’s candor regarding this matter. Most people don’t have to go “learn about themselves” to know that laying their hands on another human being in a violent manner is absolutely wrong. He is obviously and absolutely idiotic, egomaniacal and a coward. That’s all he needs to “learn.”

    • Rich

      I was shocked by his “reaction” too. At this point, he should basically be on his knees, humbled, begging for scraps of forgiveness anywhere he can get them. Not only does he fail to comprehend the grotesque nature of the crime he committed, he seems to have absolutely no concept that the career he had before this all happened has ceased to exist. He may have had a shred of a chance to save something of himself, but his ignorant “reactions” are doing him no favors. It’s official. This cocky, remorseless little fool is done for.

  • Adam

    Maybe you don’t like her talking about it because it embarasses you, Chris. No, wait… that’s too easy. You don’t like her talking about it because it could hurt your ALBUM SALES!

  • LG

    Is it me ,or does this statement sound like it was put together by his PR people?It does’nt sound sincere.

    • dave

      Every statement and apology he has made has sounded like someone wrote it for him. Remember his video apology? It was completely obvious he was reading it off of cue cards or a teleprompter or something.
      People keep saying that we should be forgiving, but I keep telling them that one must earn forgiveness. And so far, he has done nothing but provide Rihanna and everyone else with insincere “apologies” in a pathetic attempt to boost album sales.

      • Golden Rule

        If you expect to be forgiven of your sins you MUST forgiven the sins of others. NONE of us are perfect and WE all make mistakes, or did you not know that Sex before marriage is a sin you WILL die for unless you stop n never do it again. So although beating up someone is very serious, check your own lifestyles b4 U pass judgement.

      • @Golden Rule

        Are you seriously trying to compare immoral behavior to threatening and trying to kill someone? Violent criminals deserve our judgment. How else can they learn? Not to mention wofe beaters and sex offenders are next to impossible to rehabilitate.

  • Jamie

    He is a SICK, SICK individual. Ummm… excuse me dude but remember all the interviews YOU did (Larry King). Rihanna is a strong woman. If you look at her Facebook page you can see stories of women she has helped already. Chris Brown- YOU have spoken publicly & I’m not buying your in- genuine, scripted apologies. You only want to cover your a$$ & salvage your career. Rihanna is entitled to speak if she wants to. The picture of her injuries says it all…. NO EXCUSE!!!!!

    • AT

      You’re right. He released a YT “apology” and even went on Larry King. But once she says something it’s wrong?!?!?

      Oh Chris, you have a lot of work to do for you to actually learn from this.

  • Lila

    How can you expect to keep this situation private when the police had to be called? No person with any type of brain activity will accept your volience. You deserve to be extremely embarassed that you had so little self control that you beat up someone you thought you loved? Chris Brown is so young that if he gets help now he might be okay.Lets hope it happens before he calls someone.

  • BJohnson

    While she went into recovery he was running to Larry King to talk and tell the world that is not the type of person he is. It may not make up the whole person, but it was on that February night Chris Brown. He needs to stop posting YouTube apologies and go get some counseling. Stop listening to agents and publicists telling you to respond to her. I hope he cancels his tour and take the time to get right. It should be more about your public image Chris. He must have not seen that picture of what he did cause that screams help.

  • Teezy

    I think Chris Brown has every right to want to keep the details private. I watched the interveiw and I believe that Rihanna not only provoked Chis but she hit him first. Im not saying that Chris Brown’s actions are justified because a man should NEVER hit a woman but I do feel that Chris was defending himself and he can’t tell his side of the story because it will be seen as an “excuse”. I beleive that they were both wrong and I am tired of people acting like a women can’t abuse a man (I’ve seen this personally) and most men are too embarrassed to speak up. Rihanna knows she was not the only victim in the siuation and she still wants to be Chris (bcuz they are both crazy) but her “empire” prevents her from “taking him back”. Be serious people, she’s just as worried about “album sales” and losing corporate sponsors as Chris is! Domestic violence is wrong, whether its a man against a woman or a woman against a man!!!! I love Chris Brown and Rihanna equally :)

    • Anna

      I certainly didn’t see a picture of Chris Brown’s punched up, bloody face. I’ve gotten into heated arguments with my husband before where we end up pushing each other around. In those cases, I am just as much to blame as him. HOWEVER, if he were to turn around and start punching me in the face so badly that my mouth was full of blood, then THAT is called abuse. Rihanna was ABUSED and it wasn’t a case that they were “both wrong”.

      • Ama

        Abuse does not have to get to the point of someone is bleeding for it to warrant this kind of attention. Physical scars are not the only effects of domestic violence. There are many physically abused women that are without brusies, it does not make it okay. You and your husband should not be pushing yourselves around. That is not right, It is not the healthy way to handle arguments. In this case Chris brown is the wrong one. She did not hit him first, but even if she did he will still be just as wrong for taking it that far. The chris brown and rihanna thing first started small incidents, she slapping him and him pushing her back. When you introduce that into you relationship it starts down a slippery slope. I am glad she spoke up. It is her story to tell and Chris can’t stop her. Hopefully she will speak some more to young people of acceptable behavior in relationships and tell young girls not to wait to the point that they are bruised to do something about domestic violence.

      • Hanson

        I agree with you 100% but i must say i do NOT Support Violence against Women…But After Listen 2 a few Clips of the Interview
        Rihanna’s Motives & Integrity Is Questionable & I know There Is More To This Story than we’ve heard if only the Media(CNN & ABC) could focus On sumthing else & pls Leave The Kid Chris alone He’s doing His Time for The Crime already….

    • dave

      Whether or not she provoked him, all I know is I didn’t see pictures of Chris Brown with bruises and cuts and over his face.

    • niki

      What an absolutely ignorant thing to say, Teezy. Let say, hypothetically, that she, what, slapped him? So she hypothetically slaps him, and to “defend himself,” he beats her head against the window and repeatedly punches her? Right, she totally provoked it and he was “only” defending himself. You’re entitled to love them, but you’re still an idiot.

      • Teezy

        Well Anna, Dave, and Niki, in case you cannot read, I said “Chris Brown’s actions are not justified” and “a man should NEVER hit a woman” but Chris has a right to want to keep things private because he cannot tell his side of the story. I’m not an idiot (I have 2 degrees as a matter of fact and I have been hit my boyfriend) but I do believe that Rihanna has “abused” Chris Brown also… The point is no one should hit anyone ever!!!

      • at Teezy

        Your statements are ridiculous. So a criminal has a right to want to keep his victim quiet?
        I’m sure that a lot of abusers, murderers, and rapists would thank you graciously for that statement.

      • Give Me a Break

        Teezy, why can’t he tell his side of the story?

      • Finn

        oh Teezy…*shakes head*

    • ej

      Funny that I scrolled down to see if anyone was idiotic enough to actually even partially be on his side. And here you are. As a man if a woman hits you..you take it and learn from it and never hit back..there is NEVER an excuse..I’m sorry that you have such low self esteem that you can even consider that it may be ok…hopefully you have no children that can grow up and follow in your footsteps..i hope Rihanna goes on 100 more shows and continues to paint him as the true man that he is..a total disgrace

      • Teezy

        All I said was he has the right to want to keep the details private… I never defended Chris Browns’ actions!

    • charlie

      YES, RIHANNA IS NOT TELLING THE WHOLE TRUTH…SHE PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN THIS FIASCO AND NOW SHE IS PRESSURED TO TELL A STORY BEFORE THE DROP OF HER DOPED ALBUM…CHRIS IS JUST AS MUCH A VICTIM AS SHE IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

      • niki

        Oh my god, you’re an idiot. By NO means is he a victim. Please. You lose your right to be called a victim the minute you raise your hand to another person.

      • Ama

        You do not know that. You were not there. Don’t act as if you have all the facts. Even if she hit him(which she says she didn’t), his actions would still be inexcusable. If he was provoked, the correct action would have been to walk away and not to fight back and beat her to a pulp. He has admitted he was wrong. Don’t make excuses for him.

      • cowboydlo

        Charlie, you and Teezy deserve each other. maybe you can meet and be delusional together for many years to come.

    • cowboydlo

      Teezy, you are one delusional fool. who knows nothing of how the world works, clearly. Wake up.

    • LC

      What exactly does a woman say or do to a man that would provoke him to punch her in the face repeatedly, choked and bitten by a man?????? I’m just curious. Also in the interview she said she did NOT hit him first so where is everyone getting that information from? Since Chris has not spoken up or said Rihanna lied we must assume that she was being honest.

  • Teezy

    I just wanted to add that I was punched in the face by my first boyfriend (for no apparent reason) and I left that situation and he still wants me back so I know how Rihanna feels but I have also seen girls punch their boyfriends in the face for no reason and no one blinks twice… Its a two-way street!

    • niki

      Yes, domestic violence can certainly go both ways, and both sides are in the wrong if they each use violence – I agree. But after you’ve seen girls punch their boyfriends, have their boyfriends then turned around and beat them bloody? There is a line that most ‘normal’ people don’t cross, especially in relationships that are supposed to be based on love. And either way you look at it, if you end up sending someone to the hospital then you deserve to go to jail and feel ashamed and embarrassed. And unless that person had a gun pointed at their head, then that person is NOT the victim, regardless of what ‘provoked’ thier actions.

    • Shel

      Of course, domestic violence can go both ways and it is sad and wrong, no matter what, no matter which person in the relationship is being abused. But why you have decided to assume and believe that Chris is one of those people – an “equal” victim – is beyond me. Sorry, but women who blindly defend men like him are doing it because they have become emotionally invested in this “showbiz personality” and just don’t want to see him as the very flawed human being he currently is.

  • Nathan

    Brownie’s career is done, he won’t be missed.

    • ej

      unfortunately it’s not done..his tickets are selling and his albums are eagerly awaited by fans…sucks but it is true..the judge should order him to never be able to perform again since people are willing to forgive him so quickly

      • charlie

        HOW WOULD YOU LIKE A JUDGE TO DETERMINE YOUR FAITH? BE CAREFUL, KARMA WILL COME BACK TO YOU….HIS TALENT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS PAST ACTIONS. HE APPEARED BEFORE A COURT AND HE IS SERVING HIS SENTENCE. HE IS A TRIPLE THREAT AND IT CNA’T BE TAKEN FROM HIM…LET IT DIE AND GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE.

        PEACE.

      • @Charlie

        Using your caps lock key isn’t helping your argument.

  • Jeff W.

    It’s an insincere statement obviously written by a lawyer. I don’t think Chris Brown graduate from high school. also, when he says, “The rest I leave it to god” what he’s saying is, “The rest I’m leaving to make-believe.”

    • charlie

      DID YOU GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL? IF NOT, ARE YOU MAKING MILLIONS….CASE RESTED.

  • charlie

    LET GOD BE THE JUDGE. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO JUDGE CHRIS BROWN AS ALL. FOR ALL YOU PEOPLE WISHING HIM BAD LUCK AND THE END OF HIS CAREER-LOOK OUT-KARMA IS A B…..

    • cowboydlo

      Charlie, that bible statement about not judging others is abused by you and so many others who don’t understand what the intent of it is. It isn’t saying that we are to be ignorant in the presence of evil or wrongdoing, which is what you are asking of us. Do some research. You are an idiot.

    • @Charlie

      So we are not allowed to judge other people? I guess we should let all the murderers and rapists out of jail because only God can judge? It’s not only our right as citizens, but our moral obligation to protect others from violent offenders.

  • jay

    for all those who support chris brown. i hope you won’t get beat up. lets see if ur face r swollen and blood are dripping on ur face. will u still love chris brown? what chris brown needs to do is shut up! go 2 counseling not clubbing. and stop speaking like a 5 yr old kid. ur embarrasing!!!!! shame on you and what have u done!!!!

  • Kelli

    Here’s an idea, don’t beat your beautiful girlfriend and I guess you won’t have to worry about these kinds of things. Chris Brown is a PIG!

  • JRM

    I highly doubt Chris Brown came up with that statement himself, lol. Anyway, I’m shocked people are still trying to justify Chris Brown’s actions. The man beat a woman. Real men don’t do that. That’s all there is to it.

  • Anonymous

    I am sorry that this tragedy happened but it is over the court
    has made its decision. I don’t know why it has come back up.
    I think they both should go on with
    their lives. Chris is sorry about
    what happened and never has done anything like this before, had a good name.

  • Blue Silver

    Chris Brown = Big horse’s ASS!!!

  • Anonymous

    Teezy and Charlie I agree with you.
    Two very intelligent people.

    • Christie

      Three very ignorant people – you, Teezy, and Anonymous. Bravo.

      • Christie

        Typo. But note that I was so angry that I actually mentioned you twice, Anonymous. People like you, Teezy, and Charlie keep abusive relationships going.

      • Felicity

        Here’s the difference between Rihanna slapping Chris and Chris beating and choking her…Chris’ strength is twice that of Rihanna’s. If he hits him…she is wrong. He can defend himself but holding her wrists together until she calms down. Self-defense means stopping yourself from getting hit again. It does not mean giving the woman a mouth full of blood, choking her until she can’t breathe, all while yelling “I’m going to beat the $h1t out of you when we get home” and “I’m going to kill you”. Besides, no one ever said Rihanna did hit Chris Brown to start that abuse. Girls, don’t fool yourselves by thinking that a woman always provokes a man to violence. There is no such thing. A man who does what Chris Brown did is sick and needs help. No amount of apologies will excuse him.

  • mick

    Rihanna had the right to speak up and tell her side. Chris has certainly made the rounds telling his. Now he needs to just shut up and go away.

  • Mercedes

    He made a huge mistake but what is the point of calling him names and other negativity, he’s said he’s sorry he’s being punished
    what more do you want! let him live and learn and move on if you dont like him dont comment, quit wating your time.
    He is talented and will hopefully come out of this sitution along with Rihanna a wiser and more mature person

    • Hmmm

      Without jail time, I don’t see how he’s being punised.

  • ollie

    oh but its okay for him to talk about she has every right to talk about it and it seems hes still trying to control her what an a-hole and that probably not the first time he hit her

    • Shel

      Ollie – good point, “control.” He no longer has the control in this situation and instead of his “statement” just repeating an apology and perhaps offering a few heart-felt words about how hard it was to see the pain he caused her, he had to go to the place of where he “wished” he could have controlled what she said and when she said it. Very revealing.

  • SaneN85

    Why are people comparing this situation to actual abusive relationships? This was obviously a one-time incident that has been blown up way beyond proportion. There are actual relationships where the abused person is frightened to say or do the wrong thing at the wrong time. This was a fight, an admittedly unfair one, but a fight nonetheless. While Rihanna may have been the one with the bruises, nobody knows what the h*ll went on in that vehicle. For all we know, they could have beaten the sh*t out of each other and Chris’s PR people could have told him to just plead guilty and apologize because people would condemn him either way. I’m not saying it is ever right for a man to hit a woman (or vice-versa), and I think CB acted like an immature, cowardly man-child with no control over his anger. I just think that the situation has been turned into something it wasn’t by the simple fact that the media has gotten involved and both sides have no choice but to try to clean it up.

    There are millions of people who are in relationships where it has become the NORM to antagonize and hit EACH OTHER. Then there are relationships where the abused is so afraid of their partner that they walk on eggshells, where they blame themselves for the abuse they receive, where one person has control over another. These two situations are not the same. Treating the former the same as the latter, is like saying that a person who drove drunk and ended up paralyzed is the same as the person who was hit by a drunk driver and is now paralyzed. Both are tragedies, but one is slightly more self-induced. Just my opinion.
    Disclaimer: This is not to say that CB wasn’t 100% wrong.

  • Samuel Smith

    A interview wasted ….He has a long way to go …. but he is the one that has to look in the mirror everyday ….

  • NickyName

    If Chris Brown ever releases another CD, I hope NO ONE buys it. THIS is the way to teach him that his actions are not to be tolerated. Hit him where it matters.

  • twisted kisses

    there is definitely something wrong when violence enters a relationship but lets be fair.i am a female but that doesnt give me the right to hit a man and think that everything is ok.no one really knows what happen that night but the people in the car. i have a probllem with her speaking out so late after the incident why not speak out sooner? ill tell u album sells!we have all made bad decisions and been allowed to move on

  • mylez

    ….Chris Brown needs to fire his P.R. people. Stop listening to everyone who’s only concern is his(and ultimately their) income.

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