Rihanna and Chris Brown: Intimate Violence doesn't work.
It happened in R&B singer Tina Turner’s hellish marriage to on-and offstage partner, Ike.
And also in pop diva Whitney Houston’s tumultuous union with Bobby Brown.
When it comes to violent relationships, pop star Rihanna’s relationship with R&B singer boyfriend Chris Brown seems to be just as abusive as those of her predecessors.
Rihanna is not alone. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, college-age women between 20 and 24 were found to be at the greatest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence.
Additionally, the National Center for Victims of Crime found that 32 percent of college students report experiencing dating violence with a former partner, and 21 percent report they experienced violence inflicted by a current partner.
And the National Domestic Violence Hotline reports that one in five female high school students report being abused by a dating partner, whether physically, sexually or both.
You’d think it would be easy to figure out when it’s time too leave. Then again, self-esteem issues have a way of clouding an abuse victim’s perspective, as does the charismatic behavior of the abuser. The National Domestic Violence Hotline points to these clear-cut signs:
Yes, You’re Being Abused If Your Partner…
- Embarrasses you with put-downs.
- Look sat you or act in ways that scare you.
- Controls what you do, who you see or talk to or where you go.
- Stops you from seeing your friends or family members.
- Takes your money or Social Security checks, makes you ask for money or refuses to give you money.
- Makes all of the decisions.
- Tells you that you’re a bad parent or threatens to take away or hurt your children.
- Prevents you from working or attending school.
- Acts like the abuse is no big deal, it’s your fault, or even denies doing it.
- Destroys your property or threatens to kill your pets.
- Intimidates you with guns, knives or other weapons.
- Shoves you, slaps you, chokes you, or hits you.
- Forces you to try and drop charges.
- Threatens to commit suicide.
- Threatens to kill you.
Rihanna and Brown had been dating for about a year. The assault took place on the eve of the Grammy Awards. Pictures, apparently taken from Los Angeles police files, were leaked on the Internet last week. It showed a bruised Rihanna with swollen lips and a cut face.
The event sent shockwaves through the music industry and stunned fans. After viewing photos, rapper 50 Cent responded in an interview with ABC News: “It’s past what would happen in a traditional dysfunctional relationship, just a little more. She was beaten past someone hitting a person out of anger that they couldn’t control at the moment. It’s like a man fighting another man versus a man fighting another woman.”
It wasn’t the first time Brown found himself in the midst of a domestic drama. Last year, he was accused of setting fire to the Long Island home occupied by his ex-wife and their son.
Sadly Rihanna was seen at Brown’s side again recently, at a party thrown by the music mogul/actor Diddy. Apparently to make up with her, Brown, 19, lavished Rihanna with jewelry, a designer handbag and shoes, and the video game “Guitar Hero“.
So, why would the Barbadian-born beauty – who had hits with “Umbrella” and “Disturbia” – want to reunite with Brown?
“She doesn’t care about her image,” said a source close the singer. “She is so in love with that boy that it doesn’t matter.”
For her sake, here’s hoping she follows in the footsteps of Tina Turner and Whitney Houston and reconsiders.
You can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
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Other MVL Articles about Dating, Singles and Divorce
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Why Women Won’t Say “I Love You, Man Boy.”
Reel Romance: 4 Date Night Films
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it is a bit sad that this beautiful and talented Rihanna would fall in love with an a-hole like chris brown;~.