Rihanna Finally Speaks Out On Domestic Violence
Rihanna granted an interview to Glamour Magazine which was posted online yesterday. In February she was assaulted by her then boyfriend Chris Brown. Rihanna said “Domestic violence is a big secret. The positive thing that has come out of my situation is that people can learn from that. I want to give as much insight as I can to young women, because I feel like I represent a voice that really isn’t heard. Now I can help speak for those women.” Since the time of the assault Chris Brown has begun serving his community service, he apologized for the assault and recently he has returned to the stage. Rihanna does have a fan base that includes teenage girls and young women and hopefully she will become an advocate for this issue, and not merely grant an interview. When televangelist Juanita Bynum was assaulted by her then husband Thomas Weeks she said she would become an advocate and sadly she did not. This is not meant as a criticism, but what both Rihanna and Bynum have in common is access to the big stage. They both are the faces of two groups that we do not hear from. Rihanna represents young women who are abused, and Bynum represented women in the church that are abused. They are two voices that we need to hear and hopefully Rihanna is ready to speak out on this very important issue.
Tags: Black People, Black women, Chris brown, Current Events, domestic violence, Juanita Bynum, Mothers, Rihanna, Women, working women
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November 4, 2009 at 3:33 pm
In my opinion, she should had talked about it sooner, part of the problem is that this is a theme people avoid and hide, she could had given a better example to the silent victims of domestic violence if she had talked.
November 6, 2009 at 12:21 am
I have thought about this for some time because Domestic Violence is not new. What I sometimes see is confusion, because what is to be done when the victim is also the abuser, and the abuser is also a victim?
This all started with Rihanna hitting Chris first as he was driving. That makes her just as responsible as him. You can’t hit anyone and expect not to be hit back. Yes she looked worse off than he did in the photos because he is stronger than her. That still doesn’t excuse the fact that she put her hands on him first. BOTH of them were wrong. Yet, he is the only one who was penalized, the only one who lost endorsements, the only one who America judged and tried.
When did it come to be that a woman can hit a man or anyone and not get hit back? Is that OK to people? Do you feel since a woman is weaker she can hit a man? Men are taught walk away, don’t hit a woman back no matter what. My cousins have had fights growing up when the brother finally had enough and jumped on his sister. Everyone has a breaking point. My Aunt told her too she got what she deserved she was told not to hit her brother he may her back. She tested it again and again!
Domestic Violence should not be accepted by man or woman. Women fought for equality so we have to be on equal footing on some rules too.
Just my thoughts.
November 6, 2009 at 11:44 am
I’m happy she finally decided to talk about this incident and shocked as to how anyone (especially a woman) could actually blame the poor victim. Men are physically stronger than women and should never hit a woman. Don’t get me wrong I am for equal rights and of course against women hitting men but in this case it was Rihanna who was beaten, had her face smashed against the car window, oh and my favourite BITTEN, LORD HE B.I.T HER and only stopped attacking Rihanna when she pretended to call for help. He would have continued assaulting her if she hadn’t used her brain.
By the way how do you know she hit him first? That’s just a rumour and hasn’t been confirmed by both parties. Girl Basher Chris Brown didn’t even have a scratch but Rihanna,… well we all saw the picture. Did she deserve that serious beating for just throwing the car keys out of the window and getting angry and jealous over the fact that her boyfriend was cheating on her? So many Chris Brown supporters act like he just smacked her once, NO he brutally beat her, drawing blood.
I was very disappointed when she went back to him but to be sincere what else could she have done with Will Smith and other huge hollywood personalities forgiving Chris and her own father saying it was ok for her to go back to him? I wish someone would teach girls (especially black girls) not to tolerate domestic violence. It is not ok for a man to hit a woman!!!
November 6, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Rihanna is grown woman who has to be held acountable just like Chris Brown. Noone put a gun to her head and told her to go back to him not once but nine times. When are we as people going to hold women and men acountable for their decision. Did he have the right to put his hands on her no but it was her choice to go back to him after it had the first time. We all know she only doing these intereviews because her new cd is coming out. Can we say media hype!