Thursday
Feb192009
Rihanna Photo Release Terrible Invasion of Her Privacy-Chris Brown's Career NOT Over
Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 10:03PM The Blogmother
I found out via email blast that Rhianna's photo had been released. You can do your own dirty work and find out where. Although I doubt there is a gossip blog that hasn't posted the pics at this point.
I think its a terrible invasion of her privacy at this point and time. Domestic violence is ABSOLUTELY A PUBLIC ISSUE. Anytime someone touches your body without consent, there is a legitimate state interest in the matter. This isn't about them never being released. It isn't about Rihanna having any reason to be embarrassed by her wounds. Its about timing. Could we have not let her bruises fade before we gawked at the damage? Could we have waited for the criminal process to commence?
Chris Brown is safely ensconced in the bosom of his Mama and Preacha'. Rihanna has been stripped bare for all the world to gawk at and I doubt her injuries have healed.
If I hear one more fake celebrity say they're "praying" for the both of them. Or "there's two sides"to every story, I'll scream. These same fake celebrities are the first ones to hop on someone's red carpet to snap a photo as they walk into a fundraiser for domestic violence awareness.
I'll continue to wait for the public statements by law enforcement and prosecutors because if they have kept this quiet for this long, they are working this case. They wouldn't invest this kind of time in a case if they weren't trying to throw him UNDER the jail.
Regarding Chris Brown's career... of course it's not over. Sure maybe the teeny bopper set might be through with him, but since when has a violent criminal history foreclosed a successful music career for a Black Male artist? I'm sure he will be singing on hooks in about 3 months.
I think its a terrible invasion of her privacy at this point and time. Domestic violence is ABSOLUTELY A PUBLIC ISSUE. Anytime someone touches your body without consent, there is a legitimate state interest in the matter. This isn't about them never being released. It isn't about Rihanna having any reason to be embarrassed by her wounds. Its about timing. Could we have not let her bruises fade before we gawked at the damage? Could we have waited for the criminal process to commence?
Chris Brown is safely ensconced in the bosom of his Mama and Preacha'. Rihanna has been stripped bare for all the world to gawk at and I doubt her injuries have healed.
If I hear one more fake celebrity say they're "praying" for the both of them. Or "there's two sides"to every story, I'll scream. These same fake celebrities are the first ones to hop on someone's red carpet to snap a photo as they walk into a fundraiser for domestic violence awareness.
I'll continue to wait for the public statements by law enforcement and prosecutors because if they have kept this quiet for this long, they are working this case. They wouldn't invest this kind of time in a case if they weren't trying to throw him UNDER the jail.
Regarding Chris Brown's career... of course it's not over. Sure maybe the teeny bopper set might be through with him, but since when has a violent criminal history foreclosed a successful music career for a Black Male artist? I'm sure he will be singing on hooks in about 3 months.
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Domestic violence is a serious issue indeed. However, I am appalled at the media sensationalism associated with this story. I for one thinks it's inappropriate to release these picks as you said at this time. A woman is physically abused every 9 seconds in this country, but yet before now, nobody ever "cared" enough to release photos of the victim and their injuries.
If I hear one more fake celebrity say they’re “praying” for the both of them. Or “there’s two sides”to every story, I’ll scream. These same fake celebrities are the first ones to hop on someone’s red carpet to snap a photo as they walk into a fundraiser for domestic violence awareness.
Amen.
Keeping speaking the truth, Gina! This is so sad.
this just adds one more character to my list of stupid black male "celebrities' that are on my sh*t list, i would say right on the same level as r kelly, may they both get lost in the ocean somewhere, pervs (sp?)
You know, maybe it is best for some black men to just become extinct...This is a very radical thought, and may cause a lot of anger toward me for saying it, but sometimes when you see things as grim as they can be for black women all over the world, and here in the U.S., I think if these type of males were suddenly extinct, everyone could just take a deep breath of fresh air and move on. Revealing the pictures was way out of line, and my heart aches for Rihanna right now. Chris Brown could jump from a cliff and I wouldn't blink an eye. No need for rehabilitation in my humble opinion. Just do away wit' em.
Its hard to see her bruised. Each bruise I imagine that guy, CB, hitting her. (I'm sure it didn't go down the way I imagined.)
You know, I once (dated) knew a guy who was a "hit man" for a religious leader. If a guy didn't want to sign papers for a divorce, they sent this guy to bust a knee cap....
I wish there was something fearful to men so they would think twice about beating down a woman.
My sentiments exactly. How heartless and opportunistic are we going to allow our society to become?
There should definitely be an investigation into who stole this picture, and charges should be pressed.
My prayers are for this young woman ONLY. To hell with the man who battered her; let him receive the full recompense for his actions.
I believe this may affect C. Browns career because people are giving this story much more consideration because the victim is Rihanna-- a celebrity with what appears to have a slightly more successful career. The backlash from her fans is palpable. If this was some regular black woman he met in a club, he would still have his endorsements and everyone would be labeling the victim a groupie or gold digger. I also believe that if the victim was even another black celebrity who wasn't as successful or considered as attractive as Rhianna, people would be attacking her as well.
There are people who are outraged just because he hit a woman period, but there are a lot of people who are outraged, because he hit Rhianna and could probably care less if the victim was a nobody. It's almost as if people are saying "it's okay to hit a woman, but you hit the wrong woman". While there is some backlash toward Rhianna, I think the fact that she's a celebrity is the only thing holding off the full "black community embrace" of Chris Brown.
People are saying they want to hear both sides of the story b/c people think that black women have really bad tempers (and especially Carribean women which Rihanna is) and are likely to hit a man. Black women can never be victims is some people's eyes, even other black women
I was waiting to hear both sides of the story before I saw this picture, not because I believe black women have really bad tempers but because I just couldn't wrap my head around the fact that he would be stupid enough to beat a woman -- let alone Rhianna -- in THAT neighborhood. If it had happened in private I would have been more apt to jump on the band wagon. But it was supposedly an affluent neighborhood. How stupid do you have to be to act a fool in an area where you KNOW they ARE NOT having that? By the looks of this picture, it looks like he just snapped and beat her like she was a man. Inexcusable. And he could have kept that half-tail apology. He was bascially given the world and he threw it away for what? It's very dissapointing and I am praying for both of them. I hope she is able to learn from this experience and move on. And I hope that he is able to make good on his promise of becoming a better person AFTER HE IS PUNISHED SEVERELY FOR HIS ACTIONS.
The only acceptable reasons for hitting a woman imo are: 1) she has a weapon posed to use it and/or 2) she's attacking the young or ill or feeble minded.
Too many people have created degrees of acceptance re: domestic violence. I wonder out loud if those that empathize with Brown would do so if he was not Black; or if it was your mother, sister, daughter, best friend? We all can rationalize and/or justify when we want.
He and others like him are scum for making a poor decision.
I agree that releasing this photo was an invasion of privacy, but I also think this might put a real face on domestic violence, plus shut a lot of folks up who thought Rihanna "deserved it."
Now people can SEE the damage done to her, I mean she looks like a boxer who's gone six rounds. I'm sorry to say this but today people need to see this, they need to see that DV is ugly and hurtful. What got to me about this photo is her expression, her face looks so sad, so destroyed. The picture made me afraid for her.
Idk if the picture circulating is of Rhianna. I've been duped before to a much lesser extent by judging things circulated on the web. I'll feel a little bit better once the NYT or LA Times confirms it's authenicity.
But I don't need to see any picture to know that domestic violence exists and is wrong.
Chris Brown is a monster. I'm sorry but this is just unacceptable on a lot of levels. He is OJ. He is Ike Turner. He is all of that and the black community continues to cradle and coddle these fools. I'm sure the NAACP will be giving him an Image award next year. BET is still playing his videos as we speak.
Gina is right black men and women will line up to give him opportunities and chances to redeem himself without any proof that he is doing the work to get himself better. So, he will batter again ladies. Mark my words. Rihanna needs to get help. This is not the first time he beat her down but hopefully it will be the last time. She needs to stop being attracted to men that give off this abusive energy. Trust me, ladies there are always signs. Controlling behavoir is not cute and it's a sign of worse to come. Look into a man's past because it's an indication of his present. Men who come from abusive homes tend to abuse their families.
Well this statement has been released by the LAPD....I believe the photo is not a fake or a photoshopped mash up...and that makes it even more a sad thing to see.
'“The unauthorized release of a domestic violence photograph immediately generated an internal investigation. The Los Angeles Police Department takes seriously its duty to maintain the confidentiality of victims of domestic violence. A violation of this type is considered serious misconduct, with penalties up to and including termination.” '
I agree with your stance about the timing of the release. On the other hand, maybe it'll make the naysayers who continue to defend him STFU, since they needed "proof".
Thanks for this post. I included your thoughts in my post on Rhianna: Privacy Denied! here:
http://aspenbaker.wordpress.com/2009/02/20/rhianna-privacy-denied/
I hope his career is over. He can go get an 9-5er and earn his keep in that way. He needs to disappear from public view...after his trial.
I am sorry Rihanna's privacy has been violated. On the other hand, since it appears this will be a criminal case, the picture may have ended up as court evidence.
People need to see the ugliness of so-called domestic violence. I hate that term; let's call it what it is: beating.
The negativity and violence directed towards black women BY black men in this country is truly a threat to our continued existence. Lock him up so he won't be able to hurt anyone else for a LONG time.
I believe this photo was released by some greedy LAPD city employee who wanted a few thousands from the tabloids.
It's amazing how folks believe any type of abuse a black woman receives is necessary esp. when she is demanding respect.
To all the people saying "lock him up so he won't do it again" need to get a reality check. We lock up rapists and murderers 24-7 and it doesn't stop them from repeating their crimes once they get out. And as long as there are women out there who have low self-esteem and continue to stay in abusive relationships, then there will continue to be men who abuse them.
He is not a batterer. He is a teenager who fought with his equally violent jealous girlfriend.
I thought I'd come here to get some sanity in all of this mess and the last two comments on this board look like they belong on TMZ or Perez Hilton.
Women don't get battered because they have low self-esteem. A woman's esteem level should not place her at risk for violence. And the flippant "as long as there are women putting up with it" tripe is just as bad as the abuse in the first place. Domestic violence isn't about dumb women staying with violent men - it is a very complicated issue that rarely comes down to a woman just choosing to stand in the way of a fist. I would think that people who read this blog would know better but I guess not.
And to this "me" character until I see pictures of contusions and lacerations on Chris Brown I am going to call BULLSHIT on her being "equally" violent. And since when does jealousy warrant a damn concussion?
And people wonder why black folks continue to suffer needlessly in a lot of cases. We have internalized so much hatred and disgust for black women it is unbelievable.
Back in the day a group of concerned men would handle Chris Brown like the little punk ass bitch he is. Screw the justice system, someone needs to bash his face in so he can see how it feels.
@hollywood don't worry its coming. Let the inmates think they run the assylum for a few more days. Sometimes the best witness is the one that keeps talking. Don't inhibit the display of mass ignorance and @$#! up values.
we need to know these amoral people exist.
*sigh*
No, prison doesn't stop the behavior but it's where he belongs based on the choices he has made.
She does need help to deal with the underlying reasons she remained in a dysfunctional relationship. I don't think someone just hauls off and punches a loved one without a history of prior aggression or disturbing signs.
Believing the signs is another story...
*sigh*
No, prison doesn't stop the behavior but it's where he belongs based on the choices he has made.
She does need help to deal with the underlying reasons she remained in a dysfunctional relationship. I don't think someone just hauls off and punches a loved one without a history of prior aggression or disturbing signs.
Believing the signs is another story...
And the criminal element is heartless-something may still happen to him out or in prison in her behald. That's not the best answer either.
And to all the friends/love ones who were silent prior to this latest incident- shame on you!
It deeply hurt me to see her photo released during this time. As a female clergywoman, it also saddens me to see a pastor protecting and/ or doing damage control for Brown's public image. Its sends the wrong message to female congregants who are the victims of domestic violence. His pastor needs to send him to a therapist for rehabilitation, good pastors know when a situation is beyond his or her professional counseling training. (that's if they have been trained!!!!!!!!)
I really don't buy the belief that certain women "draw" abusers to them.
The deadliest, most dangerous time in a domestic violence relationship is when the victim tries to leave. People don't stick around with an abusive partner because they have "issues," they do it because they're trying to negotiate a way to survive. And at the point an abuser "shows signs" he's an abuser YOU'RE ALREADY IN A RELATIONSHIP. I really don't think (in most cases) you can see those behaviors from afar. People know the difference between right and wrong and the vast majority of batterers aren't going to broadcast their violence for all to see from 10miles away.
@Rev. B
Actually, I think Brown's pastor should encourage the singer to face the music and deal with his punishment, including prison. To do otherwise would make the pastor appear to be condoning Brown's sinful actions. That's the worse thing a Christian can for his sake and the one accused.
This excerpt from the Point blog delves into this further:
"The news of domestic violence that caused the last-minute cancellation of hip-hop couple Chris Brown and Rihanna's Grammy performances is a realistic reminder that artists need more than clean lyrics to be wholesome -- more importantly, they need to live good lives to lend truth and credibility to the messages of their positive songs."
(http://thepoint.breakpoint.org/2009/02/is-hiphop-wholesome.html)
Brown won't start living in a truly good manner until he repents. From that point, he can get help from a rehab group like Prison Fellowship Ministries.
@Naima
I was checking out Big Hollywood's coverage of this story. See threads below:
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/mvandergalien/2009/02/16/beating-up-your-girlfriend-aint-no-biggy/
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/mvandergalien/2009/02/20/hip-hop-on-yo-face/#idc-ctools
What's interesting is that posters on a "White" blog realize that Rihanna is the VICTIM in this shameful situation. The posters don't try to justify Brown's actions on any level. Heck, one guy wants Brown hit with a truck!
Similarly, on the conservative blog Booker Rising, Brown gets no sympathy:
http://www.bookerrising.net/2009/02/commentary-obligatory-seriousness-on.html
You can tell the poster REALLY wanted to have "words" with Brown.
My dad raised me to NEVER hit a woman under any circumstances. So, I'm right there with the growing moral outrage over the abuse Rihanna's suffered.
Oh, men that abuse women definitely scope them out to see how far they can escalate things. Chris Brown needs to publicly own up to what he did, get help and suffer the consequences. Rihanna needs therapy as well. She didn't do anything to deserve a beating. I think this situation is surprising because they're teens/young adults, they have clean cut images and also people just don't want to admit the amount of dysfunction going on amongst Black men esp in someone so young. But the proof is in the pudding. I imagine R Kelly would have started his rapes around this age as he was with Aaliyah by the time he was 25. So hopefully Brown will actually change and not be coddled and excused.
@Fred the reason why Chris Brown is catching as much Hades as he is is because of blogs run by non-black people. TMZ and Perez Hilton are leading the charge. In the same way that PETA basically put the hammer on Micheal Vick and laid down the law for public comment by celebrities. That's why the few public comments from White celebrities have clarity and the comments from SOME Black celebrities are mealy mouth and double-sided.
The Black entertainment industry is so incestuous that people can't even condemn the obvious so they are issuing idiotic statements speaking as if both of them are victims. For the same reason they will complain about BET all day and all night and then rush to be on a BET awards show.
Many of these non-black people aren't even aware of the tendency of some Black people, PARTICULARLY BLACK WOMEN, to try to minimize the bad acts of men and maximize the responsibility for those acts for Black women and girls.
Its politically correct in the Black community to make every criminal a victim of "the system" and every Black woman or girl somehow responsible for not being able to avoid whatever happens to her.
It is not politically correct in the White community to PUBLICLY make statements in support of someone accused of domestic violence. What they do behind closed doors is one thing, but they KNOW what the party line is and what they can and can't say in public.
Of course if Chris Brown had allegedly attacked Tierra Marie or Amerie or some other Black artist White media wasn't familiar with, they wouldn't give a rip, but because Rihanna is one of those ''transcendental" artists that have cross over success, she's been "adopted" by them. Kinda like Tina Turner has been adopted.
She's lucky in that regard. Even if WE don't have her back, THEY've got her back.
Listen to two segments from NPR from a few days ago where they try to make excuses for Chris Brown and attempt to soften his image...while discouraging the victim from pressing criminal charges. This is from NPR's News and Notes program (Feb. 11th).
What's worse is that these are Black women.
Pay attention to their talking points...
1. "We don't know what sparked it". (as if that has anything to do with anything..... as if whatever the disagreement was about made it o.k. for a man to hit a woman).
2. Chris Brown is an angel....poor Chris Brown.
3. It could have been Rihanna's fault. Perhaps she was the aggressor. Women can be quite violent.
4. This is not as brutal as it was made out to be. The victim is not THAT hurt.
5. Suggesting that Rihanna shouldn't press charges. (sending the wrong message to young women everywhere).
6. What is Chris Brown's side of the story? It's of the utmost importance that we hear from Chris Brown. (unbelievable).
Listen to discussions between NPR's Allison Samuels, Marvet Britto, and Paris Finner-Williams (a domestic violence specialist.......whatever).
Segment 1
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100587938
Segment 2
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100587941
Regarding the photo... the officer, LAPD employee, or DA employee who leaked it....should be fired and if possible...prosecuted (tampering with evidence, interfering with an ongoing police investigation, etc).
This happens all the time...some tabloid offers money...or a friend in the police department does someone a favor...and these items mysteriously end up on websites. It should be against the law across the board.
@GEM2001 your point excellent and right on the money. I couldn't agree more.
when will the victim stop being blamed?
puh-leeze when will people stop asking what she must have done to make him do this.
even if the rumor that she 'burnt' him is true. then he still the fool for not using protection. ANY person that you choose to have sex with there is the possibility. so dont be mad if you took the risk.
this is me. hollywood blackout no double standards. if you are against violence, you should not support a group attack against the young man. black women of which I am one should keep their hands to themselves and stop provoking and challenging men to hit them. Stop hitting men and getting violent when they simply want to LEAVE. Let the man go. If he is cheating or being disrespectful let him go. The young man Chris brown is not a woman beater. The way the media was describign her injuries I was expecting something horrible. There is a recent pic of her after the "beating" and she looks fine to me. I'm sorry I have no sympathy for a young rich woman who has the help and rescources to leave a truly abusive realtionship. I will not be convcied this was an abuisive relationship with all of their hired help around NO ONE saw anything, BS !!!That is why I dont think this was one. I think this was like Kci and mary. A toxic relationshiop. Its in BLACK AND WHITE that she put her hands on Chris before and broke a glass bottle over her own brothers head.
FYI I am not a fan of either I dont listen to the radio. I have anita baker, kem, and some stuff from the 90's in my IPOD.
the sad thing is, at my job, it's the black women that are so loud and adamant that we don't know chris's side of the story, they keep on saying we shouldn't judge until we know, wtf. the black guys of course totally agree with them. white folks just keep silent, meanwhile, i'm embarassed. me and this other girl are THE ONLY ONES that blame chris brown. everyone is making jokes about rhiana being knocked out, it's truly disgusting. chris can go to he11 as far as i'm concerned, rhiana looked like she was attacked, chris is an animal and i wish another man would do the same the same to him
That NPR info was disturbing and disgusting, but not surprising.
Perhaps there's a sinister motive behind the release of the photo: maybe now it won't be used as evidence, or the trial will be relocated because so many have viewed it, or now Rhianna may have to testify but perhaps she's unwilling or unable and the case is dismissed. I don't know...just a thought.
I have to admit, the photo that was released was quite disturbing. It should have never been for the public's eyes at all. No one, not even us regular folks, have no privacy what so ever these days.
But on the other hand, I have realized that our society has a horrible obsession with celebrities. It's a sad day when it takes a celebrity to raise awareness about issues such as domestic violence when there are worst situations going on in our homes but is kept quiet. I cannot begin to tell you countless stories I've heard in class about how a person (both male and female) was abused and what the common responses were. Sadly enough, their family members placed the blame on them and not their attacker even when there was proof. Not only have I heard stories from my peers, I have heard stories of abuse that hit close to home. Could you have guessed who told them? My mother. She was sexually abused as a child by a family member. She NEVER told anyone not because she was afraid of what might happen to the person who abused her, but to her. It is all ass backwards when it comes to abuse. So unlike the Rhianna-Chris Brown situation, there is not as much support for the victims of abuse in our society as there should be. I guess having a hit song despite having bad speech come in handy.
If Rhianna was some regular ol' black woman, many would not be so passionate about this issue (you know who you are). I do not excuse Chris Brown for what he has done and is said to be or place any blame on Rhianna but I will not sympathize with either of them. Sure, I am sounding biased right now but I refuse to play into the media's game of exploiting domestic abuse or abuse period. So miss me with all this "concern" about these two. The only reason why a lot of us care is because they are what? Famous. You got it! I think it may be time to find an important cause to care about than another celebrity couple gone bad. *blah*
In all honesty, I doubt this was nothing more than a lovers quarrel (obviously) that went to far. And if this really was an abusive relationship, then that sucks for them. In the end, they both will still have a strong fan base and live a luxurious lifestyle that we openly or secretly lust after. I mean, if R. Kelly can have one, why not Chris Brown or Rhianna?
*peace*
Call me crazy, but News out there is stating Brown contacted Rihanna on her 21st Birthday, and showered the girl with flowers, a diamond necklace, etc. ABUSER is written all over his actions.
LIKE I SAID, IF BLACK MEN like this, and ALL ABUSIVE MEN LIKE THIS could just go extinct, the world would be a better place.
I am sadden by the horrific act of violence that was inflicted on my sista. Because I am a buddhist, I rather not say anything about "CB", but what I will say is that All violence needs to be exposed, and talked about. Violence effects sistas, brothas, colors, communities, countries, and humanity as a whole. When one is hurt by the ugliness of violence, we all are hurt by it, in some way or another. I am sending my sista Rihanna, and others my love and support.
According to this article that just came out, the two are back together again.
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20262240,00.html
"While Chris is reflective and saddened about what happened, he is really happy to be with the woman he loves."
______________________
WTF?!?!?! And Puffy is allowing them to stay at his house?!?!?!?!?
I'd heard something to this effect on another blog and was hoping that it was just a rumor.
Part of me wants to boycott HER now, but we might as well buy her albums because she's gonna need the money for all the body work they're gonna have to do when he's finished with her.
And I'm COMPLETELY through with Puffy.
Do I live in the got-damn Twilight Zone?
I swear...... I really need to quit Black people and move to another planet. Sorry for my rant, but I can't believe this bullshit.
u dont need to be doing that to her. She loves u and I am sure that u love her. Now u see why i dont date blake men and i am not getting married until i find the right man. But back to chris brown he really is an asshole for doing that and I think that every fan of Rihanna that they will agree with me. U need to go back to jail, thats what u need to do. U need to learn how to treat a woman with respect and go wash ur ass
I THINK THAT MEN SHOULD NOT HIT WOMEN BUT IF U ARE IN A BAD RELATIONSHIP LIKE WHEN KEASHIA COLE SAID LET'EM GO AND I FEEL LIKE IF RHIANNA STAY IN THE RELATIONSHIP HE IS GOING TO THINK IF SHE STAY WITH ME I THINK I SHOULD KEEP HITING HER SO RHIANNA LET HIM GO NOW.
Eric Bonet never came back after upsetting Halle Berry!
His career may not be over but his opportunity to make millions and sell out major venues is definitely over.