In her new interview with Diane Sawyer, Rihanna said that she regrets going back to Chris Brown after he beat her. She also warned other women dealing with domestic violence to not let themselves become blinded by love. Rihanna said: “It’s completely normal to go back. You start lying to yourself. I’ll say that to any young girl who is going through domestic violence: ‘Don’t react off of love.’ That’s embarrassing that’s the type of person I fell in love with. So far in love, so unconditional, that I went back.
That’s not what I want to teach people.” Rihanna said she soon also realized that as a role model to young women, her going back to Chris Brown sent the wrong message. She said: “When I realized that my selfish decision for love could result in some young girl getting killed, I could not be easy with that part. I couldn’t be held responsible for telling them, ‘Go back.’ I didn’t realize how much of an impact I had on these girls’ lives until that happened. It was a wake-up call for me, big time, especially when I took myself out of the situation. I am strong. This happened to me. I didn’t cause this. I didn’t do it. This can happen to me and it can happen to anybody.” ABC is airing more of the interview today on “Good Morning America” and tonight on “20/20.”
