Chris Brown says he still loves Rihanna

FILED UNDER: Interviews, News | PERMALINK

August 31st, 2009

UPDATE: Click Here To View A Priview of the interview.

R&B singer Chris Brown spoke exclusively with CNN about his arrest and sentence for assaulting Rihanna. You can watch the full interview on Larry King Live, Wednesday September 2nd at 9 p.m. ET.

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) — Pop star Chris Brown has admitted guilt and apologized for assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna in February, but he does not remember hitting the singer, he told CNN’s Larry King.

Looking at police reports about the incident makes him feel like he’s reading about a stranger, Brown said in his first television interview since the arrest.

“I’m in shock, because, first of all, that’s not who I am as a person, and that’s not who I promise I want to be,” he said in an exclusive interview that airs Wednesday night.

“I just don’t know what to think. I’m just like, wow,” Brown said. “It’s crazy to me.”

Brown, 20, said he still loves singer Rihanna, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty.

But, he added, it is tough for him to look at the photo showing Rihanna’s battered face, the one image that might haunt and define him forever.

“When I look at it now, it’s just like, wow, like, I can’t believe that that actually happened,” Brown said.

He now has to keep his distance from Rihanna, because of a judge’s restraining order.

“We have to be like 10 yards away from each other,” Brown said.

The February argument began over an incident at a Beverly Hills party, according to Brown’s probation report.

An earlier, sworn statement by Los Angeles Police detective DeShon Andrews said the incident began when Rihanna found a text message on Brown’s cell phone from “a woman who Brown had a previous sexual relationship with.”

The pair argued while in a sports car driven by Brown, the police statement said.

It went on to describe the assault in great detail, saying Brown punched Rihanna — identified in the statement as Robyn F. — numerous times and put her in a head lock, restricting her breathing and causing her to start to lose consciousness.
Don’t Miss

He threatened to beat her and kill her, according to the statement, and he bit her ear and her fingers.

The detective said Brown sent a text message nine days later, apologizing.

Rihanna’s injuries included cuts and bruises inflicted by a large ring on Brown’s right hand, which he used to punch her, the probation report said.

Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault on June 22. A plea deal kept him out of jail. A second felony charge, making criminal threats, was dropped. He was sentenced to five years probation and six months of community labor.

“It means he walks the straight and narrow for five years,” said Mark Geragos, Brown’s attorney.

“I’ve grown to love this kid like a son or a nephew. I have a high degree of confidence — I’ll say it now so that you can play it back if he ever does anything — but a high degree of confidence that he’s not going to do anything like this in the future.”

Brown called the sentence fair and agreed that everything comes with consequences.

“They want me to pick up trash, remove graffiti,” he said. “I’m a hard worker, it’s something I’m willing to do.”

Why did it happen? How did it happen?

Those are questions Brown and his mother, Joyce Hawkins, have been asking.

“Chris has never, ever been a violent person, ever,” Hawkins said.

However, CNN obtained a probation report for Brown last week that said he and Rihanna were involved in at least two other domestic violence incidents before the February attack for which Brown was sentenced.

“The first incident occurred in Europe about three months before the present offense,” the report said.

“The victim [Rihanna] and the defendant [Brown] were involved in a verbal dispute and the victim [Rihanna] slapped the defendant [Brown]. He responded by shoving her into a wall.”

Another incident happened in January, three weeks before the Hollywood incident, when Brown and Rihanna were visiting her home country of Barbados, the report said.

“The defendant [Brown] and the victim [Rihanna] were visiting Barbados and were driving a Range Rover loaned to them by a local dealership,” the investigator wrote. “They had an argument inside the car. The defendant [Brown] exited and broke the front driver and passenger side windows of the car.”

Brown’s mother remembers being shocked and upset when he came to her after the attack in February and told her about it.

She said her husband was abusive — and Brown knew it. “I used to be scared to go to bed,” the pop star said.

Brown said he is not blaming that history for the attack on Rihanna. But, he added, nobody taught him how to control his emotions and anger.

Rihanna calls Brown’s mother “Mom.” The two have spoken and seen each other periodically since the incident. The court order that prevents her son from seeing Rihanna does not extend to Hawkins.

“I let her know that I was very, very baffled, what had happened and apologized for my son, along with I’m so sorry what happened to you,” Hawkins said.

“And I didn’t know what — I didn’t know what else to say, and I gave her a hug and she hugged me as well.” Hawkins started sobbing at this point in the interview.

The singer has not seen Rihanna for a couple of months, and said the separation has been difficult, especially when it comes to her dating others.

“I definitely would be affected by it, but at the end of the day, I mean, we’re not together, so if she’s happy, I’m cool.”

But they will always be friends, Brown said.

width=300 height=250 border=1>

Melanie

Where is the rest of the video interview? Why is he answering a few questions on tv, but the rest is in the article?
Melanie

Oh nevermind this was just alittle preview, it airs Sept. 2nd, okay.
Christina

In the report it says that Rihanna found a text message on Brown’s cell phone from “a woman who Brown had a previous sexual relationship with.”

What does that mean exactly? Did he cheat on Rihanna, and had sex with another girl while they were still together or did it happen way before Chris and Rihanna started dating?
Tamie

i watched some of the interview and he still seems to not want to expose what happened..he kept studdering and when asked does he remeber what happened, he said he doesnt remeber…come on chris, honesty is the best way to go out
iLoveCB

this interview brought tears to my eyes , and i jus read it . I feeel so bad for his mom , and him . Its sad , but i had a friend who knew this guy that said one time when him and his girlfriend fought after she socked him in the face , he blacked out and next thing yu knoe she was pickin herself off the floor so its not the first time i heard about something like this , but its still sad . I hope Chris can jus get past this . And ppl really need to stop holding this over his head , i mena he apologized , he got sentenced , i mean what more do they want from him ? smh . . .
iLoveCB

wait one more thing , i love Chris , but wth do he got on ? lol i mean the bow tie is ehhh . . .
Regina

We all need to wait until wednesday you guys, but its funny bcuz..
He said he don't remember, but i still luv him regardness what he
say. Hold your head up baby boy luv ya God Blessed You!!
No comment

I am sure Rihanna still loves him as well. I dont think she thought they were going to be over for good behind that text she was just mad and was going off emotions. I pray they have both learned their lesson and can move on and again I dont think that stay away order is going to last 5yrs.
Tavarnai

in which part exactly did he say that he still loves her?? those were not his exact words! awww Chris baby dw u will be fine and will have moved on soon. i know u will find some1 better for u x <3
Liz

Well just wait until you see the actual full interview with Chris Brown, and see if he really said that..that he still loves Rihanna.
Liz

It said in the report that Rihanna hit the dashboard with her hands, then Chris Brown tried to force her out of the car, but couldn't b/c she had a seatbelt on, so then he shoved her head against the window, or somethin like that. So if everything in the report is really what happened then he hit her first.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Tima1 Tima1

This is just my initial response but I'm sure after I hear the full interview, I will feel differently. By saying he doesn't remember, indicates a deeper problem of violence related blackouts. This usually happens when a person becomes so enraged that they blackout or "see red" and that definitely requires immediate medical attention.

I believe that Chris didn't get the therapy required fm growing up in a dysfunctional domestic violence environment. If he did those things Rihanna said he did in the police report, it's a sign of him needing immediate psychological help. Chris is saying he doesn't want to be this person & can't believe that he is. But since he believes the evidence & pictures of Rihanna, he realizes something in him requires fixing.

What's even more amazing is Chris said this: “We have to be like 10 yards away from each other,”. Unless this is a typo, he's not understanding that only applies if their at the same event. THE REGULAR DISTANCE IS 100 YDS. A grip on that needs to be gotten right away because he’s still in love with Rihanna & doesn't want to see her dating someone else (jealousy) & even though he says if she’s happy he is too, it doesn’t quite work that way. If left alone with what he believes to be “undying love,” this can be a probation violation waiting to happen. The possibility of being sent to prison my turn into another “I don't remember what happened" situation. The courts of law & public opinion, will judge a lot harder next time around!

I still love & support Chris but this time on a deeper level. I feel he needs MORE love & support than ever now, from every direction in order to evolve into who he truly is to become as man…<3

BTW- They will always be friends- WOW!=/
http://intensedebate.com/people/Tima1 Tima1

Did any1 notice how really HUGE Chris' arms & shoulders looks? He look like he been working it out! Look like THE HULK, aha lol
Sam

Tavarnai : he did 2 interviews, one with People and the one with Larry King. He says "I never fell out of love with her" in the People interview.

I suppose it is POSSIBLE that he doesn't remember what happened that night, but I think this is going to just be horrible for him. The media is already tearing him apart for supposedly "not remembering". I just feel like there's one obstacle after another after another…. *sigh* This whole thing was just so crazy. I wish Rihanna would speak out in his defense, but I doubt that'll happen.
http://intensedebate.com/people/KiDbreezy_x3 KiDbreezy_x3

this makes me wanna cry
Melanie

I hope that interview with PEOPLE is real and not made up. B/c I've only heard about him doing 1 interview and that was with Larry King. I never heard that he was gonna do an interview with PEOPLE.
Nananaz

Wow everything you said makes so much sense I agree with everything. I hope Chris gets the help, love and support he needs.
http://intensedebate.com/people/annie92 annie92

first off, i hate that bowtie (i just felt the need to say that lol).
anyway… awww, it's so sweet that he still loves her and that they're still friends. he seems really sad though

i just can't wait til the whole interview comes out.
LadiiVa

i'm just going to wait until wednesday until i say anything.
but you can tell that there is something that he isn't saying.
you can tell in his body language and in his eyes.He remembers.
its like don't know if he's just trying to do the take full
responsibility for the whole situation(which he already has)
or something else i just don't know what it is.
& there is a difference between you LOVE someone & being IN LOVE someone.so yea sure he can always love her.
i still support him and his music.
keeping him and his family in my prayers.
dneshaisforeal

I PRAY THAT HE WILL BE OK AND THAT MY HEART GOES OUT TO HIM ,HIS MOTHER AND RIHANNA ,WE LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU ALL!
dneshaisforeal

I JUST HOPE AND PRAY HE WILL BE OK MY HEART GOES OUT TO HIM HIS MOTHER AND RIHANNA,THEY WILL ALWAYS HAVE MY LOVE AND SUPPORT.WE LOVE YOU CHRIS BROWN!
daisy

this is a preview the full interview comes on tomorrow at cnn at 9
carly

Using amnesia as part of his defense on Larry King is very uncool. Why does someone like Brown get to walk while almost everyone else would be sitting in jail? There is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?page_id=588
Abby luvs CB

I cnt do it. I hope I make it through the interview 2moro. God wil work it out.
Bianca

woow, you put that together well. lol
But I agree with everything you just wrote.
http://intensedebate.com/people/iSOUL iSOUL

@ Tima1 I love you! LOL. No need to get worried. A lot of time you seem to say what I've been thinking. It's great because I'm too lazy to type as much as you do sometimes.

And also, are you a psychology student? You speak like one of us =)
http://intensedebate.com/people/iSOUL iSOUL

I'm going to refrain from further comments until I see the entire interview.
http://intensedebate.com/people/aniya aniya

Insulting our favorite male artist and simultaneous, shameless plugs are uncool.
Lizzie

i luv u chris and i will continue to pray for u and your family!!!
http://intensedebate.com/people/ilovebreezyx ilovebreezyx

Wow i Just Gotta Say That This Is Seriously Making Me Feel Sad And Wanna Cry:( Bless Him i Think Tima 1 Is Right In A Sense Cos' He Dont Remember What Happened i That Is Possible Cos' After One Person Does Spmething Wrong And They Can Not Just Believe It Then They Just Forget Everything What Had Happend He Needs More Support And Love And Well Definetly Give That To Him All His True Fans On This Page:D He Said He Still Loves Rihanna Well Of Course Hes Feeling Hurt Inside And He Said He Dosent Want Her Seeing Anybody Thats Normal Cos' Really He Wants Her Back But If YOU LOVE SOMEONE YOU HAVE TO LET THEM GO :(:'( Because If They Get Back Together Then There Just Not Gonna Work Out Again Maybe There Just Not Meant To Be :/ This Is Really Sad Am Just Going To Wait For The Interview Is Eht' On You Tube?
i Love You So Much Chris Brown <3
Redcupcake

U can black out if u are very enraged. It has been proven many times before, and maybe he says he dosent remember because he dosent want to answer the question or say anything to hurt anybody or throw anybody under the bus. I looked at the clip and it seems to me like he remembers some of it but he dosent want to remember it because I know it hurts him alot to even talk about it. And if anybody thinks he isn’t remorseful then they really should re read this post cuz it seems to me that he really is sorry that it got that far. I don’t know what made him so mad but I also know that he won’t tell either because he wouldn’t want to blame it on anyone else. If she really did beat him in the head with a shoe then that could also affect his memory but like I said I don’t know what to think because I haven’t heard many facts and they haven’t said anything. I will just wait for the show.

I also can’t belive that ppl are getting mad that he says he dosent remember. Like how could you base the whole interview on a 30 second clip? Maybe he dosent know how to deal with it and he dosent want to answer that question because the next question would have been then what happened? And he knows that if he would have answered he would be doing more damage and possibly “snitching” as some ppl would say. But like I said u can’t judge something like this off of a 30 second clip. So maybe if ppl watch the full interview then they will have a better opinion. I just hope this dosent backfire in his face but I know that he will be okay. Ppl are just waiting for some new music.
GoCBreezy

What time would this be on in the UK? I wanna watch this real bad
Go C Breezy…lol
xxxxxxxxx
http://intensedebate.com/people/utgrl91 utgrl91

I agree. With everything. And speaking of new music, have you heard his new song, "Can't Let You Go" featuring Bow Wow and Pleasure P? I swear that it is NOT about Rihanna. I love the music. Check it out on YouTube
http://intensedebate.com/people/Tima1 Tima1

@Christina
At his point no one knows what triggered the altercation. Everything we've heard & read so far, is conjecture. The affidavit you hear many people speaking of, is a sworn statement by the investigating officer who obtained that information from Rihanna.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Tima1 Tima1

@iLoveCB
LOL:D
dat-chris-chic

i totaly agree with u to the fullest!
http://intensedebate.com/people/Tima1 Tima1

@Bianca
Thanks for understanding:)
http://intensedebate.com/people/Tima1 Tima1

@Nananaz
Thanks for understanding:)
No comment

There have been reports on the internet that I didn’t remember what happened that night with Rihanna. I want to try and set things straight.
No comment

That 30 seconds of the interview they used of me was taken from a one hour interview during which that same question was asked something like 4 or 5 times — and when you look at the entire interview you will see it is not representative of what I said.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Tima1 Tima1

@iSOUL
Thanks & I knew you would understand & say like wise. I didn't know how you felt about typing tho, aha lol.

I was a psych major but I felt I would better serve patients as a Psychiatrist. As you know, that requires full participation in med school which for me, is too emotionally draining. I find dealing with the grief of decedents families, too depressing & constant. I know you may say "psych" is just as emotionally draining, however, I find it both easily understandable & challenging at the same tie. Go figure that, lol.

I chose to be a writer instead. So here I am, seemingly writing dissertations on blogs, aha lol. But it helps my writers block with subjects at hand.
cb4life

To Tima1: Wow, i was gonna write my own response, but after reading yours, everything that needed to be said WAS, AND the way you wrote it was really gud!

But in my own words: I do believe in blackouts, but I don't believe that was the case in this incident, I believe Chris acted out of uncontrolled anger, literally (HE LOST IT) and we have all come to that point, however I DO NOT BELIEVE it is in chris's nature to be violent, i know this was an isolated incident, and whether it comes from his childhood oR WHATEVA, HE made a mistake and is taking responsibilty for his actions.

Don't realli knoe how i feel about him saying he still loves Ri…did he mean like i'll always have love for her, or I still love her, like i wish we were still in relationship?? And I do sense a lil bit of jealousy w/ the whole don't wanna c hur dating other guys, (not a gud sign). Chris I KNOW YOUR HEART STILL HURT, but their were problems in the relationship before feburary ObViOuSly, and i think it will take time… but a BREAK-UP was imminent, i jst wish it wouldn't have took a violent incident for them to realie it….love&support alwayz cB!
LadiiVa

y did u even come on here to insult him.
if u don't like him don't go on a
CHRIS BROWN FANSITE!
duh!!!!!!!!!
LadiiVa

i agree with everything you said
"sometimes if you love someone you have to let them go ". one of the smartest things i've seen on here so far;)
Christina

But, I was asking..

In the report it says that Rihanna found a text message on Brown’s cell phone from “a woman who Brown had a previous sexual relationship with.”

What does that mean exactly? Did he cheat on Rihanna, and had sex with another girl while they were still together or did it happen way before Chris and Rihanna started dating?
http://intensedebate.com/people/Tima1 Tima1

@Christina
No it doesn't mean that. Once again, if this is true, she MAY have ASSUMED something was happening like that. I'm sure we all know that a text message is simply that, a message. The only ACTION it carries is sending a message.
http://intensedebate.com/people/iSOUL iSOUL

@ Tima1

Haha. I find it painfully frustrating to post anything on here sometimes. If you don't "vote Chris" everytime, then you're not a fan, or you're a hater. Off my soap box now! LOL.

Oh wow, no wonder why I gravitated towards you. I am majoring in Psychology, but I initially wanted to become a Psychiatrist. Long story cut short, I didn't get into med. school, so I settled.

LOL @ "seemingly writing dissertations on blogs". I write a fan-fiction on blogspot. It keeps my mind from going numb. Go figure. =D
Heather

I LOOOOOOVVVEEEE U CHRIS BROWN IM GLAD THAT U AND HER GOTTA KEEP UR DISTANCE CUS SHE IS CRAZY I CANT STAND HER….PPL CANT WAIT TO HEARHER MUSIC OH PLZ HER MUSIC WILL ALWAYS GET A MUTE I CANT WAIT TILL U COME BACK OUT CHRIS BROWN I BELIEVE IN U 100 PERCENT MICHAEL JACKSON IS THE KING OF POP and YOU IS THE PRINCE OF POP I LOVE U AND I PRAY THAT U DO A NATIONAL TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON CUS U DESERVE AND U IS THE CLOSEST ON HAVING MICHAEL JACKSON MUSIC DOWN PACK AND UR MUSIC IS TIMELESS LIKE MICHAEL JACKSON I LOVE U AND HIM YALL THE BEST
alexis

CHRIS A PART OF GROWING UP…IS KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE ABOUT LOVE…WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEONE YOU WILL NEVER WANT TO HIT THEM..YOU WILL FIND A BEAUTIFUL GIRL WHO YOU COULDNT FATHOM EVER HITTING..NOW THAT IS TRUE LOVE..AND YOU WILL FIND IT….now you need to get cleansed and get them island roots off your ass..
Tameka

So is that why alot of females don't like Rihanna, is b/c she's an Island girl and not an Amercian like Chris Brown?
Tameka

Spellcheck: American*
http://intensedebate.com/people/Tima1 Tima1

@iSOUL
Thats whats up! Wow, I'm always surprised when people like us are drawn toward each other, if just for the company we keep with one another as we travel along our life journeys.

I used to write fan fiction for "Chris Brown Fiction" a fiction writing blog organized by CBWeb. I wrote a story titled "Carlyss' Way". I penned under Tia Marie or TiaMarie1st, I can't remember because it was back in July 2006, lol.

I know what you mean about the brain going numb. I spend time on these blogs advocating for things/people I'm passionate about & teaching young people if nothing but by example, how to present clear & concise thoughts.

Idk what our American school curriculum is becoming, but I do know students aren't learning basic communication skills which is a lifelong survival tool. You've heard that saying '"you can talk your way out of anything", haven't you? I believe that, lol. Ttyl
http://intensedebate.com/people/Tima1 Tima1

@cb4life
Thanks & agree with what you've said. Now it seems our young Mr. Breezy
recalls everything fm that morning, lol. We'll just wait & see the interview later today. I've seen another 30sec clip & it's ind boggling because he's basically saying the same thing =/
Tanisha

i really would like to see them back together.

blog comments powered by Disqus

View Comments