Black Tie to Black’n’Blue
Posted on March 9, 2009
Filed Under East meets West, Guest Columnist | Leave a Comment
by Susan StackpoleÂ
A Ravishing Rihanna to An Abused Rihanna
7 February 2009, Los Angeles, CA —911 dispatched police officers after witnesses reported hearing a woman screaming for help while being beaten. Robyn Rihanna Fenty was treated for abusive injuries after being beaten by her boyfriend Chris Brown after questioning him regarding a message she found on his cell phone from another woman. The text message was three pages from a woman with whom her boyfriend Chris Brown  had a previous sexual relationship. Her boyfriend, after unsuccessfully attempting to push her from the vehicle, shoved her head against the passenger window, leaving a large contusion on hear head. Fenty turned to face her boyfriend, who then puncher he in the left eye with his right hand, continuing to drive the vehicle and punch her, resulting her in mouth filling with blood, which she spit on her self and in the vehicle. Law enforcement reported finding Fenty “beaten really bad and hystericalâ€, categorizing her injuries as “horrificâ€, including a split lip, bloody nose, contusions on both sides of her face, and bite marks on her arm and several fingers. Fenty was found in her boyfriend’s rented Lamborghini after he had fled on foot from the scene. She didn’t want anyone to touch her because she was in so much of pain.â€
One might assume this is just another all-too-common, domestic abuse report; however, this case has Hollywood stirring. The parties in question are musical artists Fenty, known as Rihanna, 21, and boyfriend, Chris Brown, 19. The incident took place following Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party where Rihanna refused treatment before leaving the scene. Life & Style reported the couple fighting the night before at the Verizon party at Boulevard 3. One onlooker said, “They were screaming… they were right in each other’s face. It was scary.†Both Rihanna and Chris Brown were no-shows at the Grammy awards on 8 February 2009 due to the assault. Brown was quoted on the night of incident, saying, ‘I’m going to beat the s—t out of you when we get home! You wait and see!’ Rihanna attempted to call her assistant, Jennifer Rosales, who did not answer, though Rihanna pretended to speak with her. Brown fumed, “You just did the stupidest thing ever! Now I’m really going to kill you!’ Brown continued to beat her, causing her to place her elbows along side her face to protect herself. She attempted to send a text message to her other personal assistant, Melissa Ford, at which time, Brown threw her phone from the car down an unknown street. As Rihanna reached for Brown’s cell phone, he placed her in a head lock, squeezing her neck until she began to lose consciousness. Finally, Brown stopped the car and continued to beat her before fleeing the scene.  Rihanna was treated and discharged from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, escorted through the back exit some time during the night, using a decoy to confuse the media. Meanwhile, Brown was released from custody on $50,000 bail the night of the attack. Rihanna postponed her appearance at a sold-out concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, citing an “unavoidable†conflict. Brown pulled out of his appearance at the 2009 NBA All-Star Game.
Madly in love
Rihanna requested, through her attorney, that Brown be allowed to have contact with her while he faces felony charges in for assault and criminal threats. Brown issued a statement following the incident, stating “Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired. I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God’s help, to emerging a better person. Supposedly, Rihanna and Brown have reunited, obviously a cause for concern given the seriousness of what has happened. Steven Stosny, counselor and founder of anger and violence management program, Compassion Power, suggests, there is often a “honeymoon†period following the abuse, during which the abuser may profusely apologize and persuade the victim to stay. The violent behavior will return after the honeymoon period cessation. Mark Crawford, a clinical psychologist based in Roswell, Georgia, states, “There are some women who need to be needed so badly they’ll put up with anything. Even if the guy beats the crap out of them, they just feel that responsible for the other person.â€Much speculation continues in Hollywood about whether or not Rihanna should forgive and take Brown back. Oprah and other celebrities are expressing their concern. Oprah, Gayle King, Alexandra Wentworth, and Mark Consuelos had an open panel discussion about TMZ.com leaking a photo of the battered Rihanna to the press. Oprah and King commented that Chris was very kind when he visited Oprah’s schools in Africa, though agreed that he needs to undergo counseling. Wentworth suggested perhaps the singer simply has a darker side. Both Brown and Rihanna stand for role models for millions of teens world-wide. Here’s hoping that Brown undergoes the treatment he needs and that Rihanna makes healthy choices for herself moving forward. The first step to correction is acknowledgement. Let the healing begin.
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