Chris Brown formally charged, Rihanna may not testify against him, the two may have secretly eloped

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Chris Brown is formally charged, but starlet Rihanna might not sing

BY Nancy Dillon In Los Angeles and Corky Siemaszko In New York
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Friday, March 6th 2009, 11:03 AM



R&B crooner Chris Brown was formally charged Thursday with pounding pop princess Rihanna to a pulp — but it’s looking likely she won’t testify against him.

“Rihanna recognizes that the decision is the district attorney’s,” the songbird’s lawyer Donald Etra told the judge.

“It’s not hers.”

Legal experts have said that, while making things more difficult, prosecutors can still try Brown if Rihanna clams up.

Complicating things, published gossip reports and a Daily News source insist the two may have secretly eloped, a claim that Etra refused to address outside the court and in his interview with The News.

[hlthe2b]

1. Yuck... what a disgusting situation. pathetic

[AndyA]

2. I read an account that stated Brown threatened to kill Rihanna

The dude has serious anger management issues. If Rihanna isn't smart enough to know she's better off without him, I feel sorry for her.

Brings back memories of O.J. and Nicole. When you beat the crap out of someone, try to shove them out of a moving car, and threaten to kill them, that's a problem. A big one.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

6. He did...it's in the LAPD report

I posted the TMZ article yesterday:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5191301&mesg_id=5191301

It's her life...her decision...it's just tragic to see her cling to this prick.

[Lost in CT]

19. Yeah but Nicole left the fuckwad... nt

[Kalyke]

29. It's when the woman leaves that the violence escolates more.

The abuser has lost his punching bag and, more importantly to him, control.


That's why OJ (more than likely) killed Nicole. She had left him and he couldn't handle it.

[marshall]

42. These women so often get blamed, and blame themselves

I remember reading that OJ's mother, when she heard that Nicole was dead, said something like "I knew that bitch would drive him to this one day". So even though she believed her son killed his ex-wife, in her mind it was the woman's fault for making him angry.

I just hope Rihanna doesn't wind up dead one day.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[petronius]

7. Disgusting dude, too. It seems that she should have the resources

if not the intelligence to leave, but I wonder what sort of advice/support she's getting from those around her. It seems that young starlets in particular are sometimes used as meal tickets by those around them, and it wouldn't surprise me if she's being told to 'make it work' to avoid career-damaging frictions...

[Fleshdancer]

8. Battered wife syndrome has nothing to do with intelligence levels

Battered wife syndrome is a recognised psychological condition to describe a woman who, because of constant and severe physical abuse by a male partner, becomes depressed and unable to take any independent action that would allow her to escape the abuse. The condition explains why abused women often do not seek assistance from others, fight their abuser, or leave the abusive situation. Sufferers have low self-esteem, and often believe that the abuse is their fault. Such women usually refuse to press charges against their abuser, and refuse all offers of help, often becoming aggressive or abusive to others who attempt to offer assistance. Although the condition usually affects women, children and more rarely men can also exhibit the syndrome.

http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Battered_wife_syndrome/id/1928283

[aquart]

35. Yeah. I've dealt with victims of it.

But this woman has every possible resource at her disposal. She doesn't have to worry where she'll live or how she'll pay bills if she escapes. She doesn't have to worry about her children. She can even afford full time bodyguards.

She can DESTROY him with a single interview.

So, I'm sorry if my sympathy is limited. SHE IS AN IDIOT.

[Fleshdancer]

43. The assumption that money is the only reason why women stay is wrong

I think your lack of sympathy is partly due to your lack of understanding of what battered wife syndrome is really all about.

[aquart]

50. No, I understand the whole thing.

And I am still crushingly angry at her gutlessness.

You can pity her, empathize with her, champion her. If she wants to be the next Whitney Houston, fine by me.

She has the escape route other women have died for...nope, still completely disgusted.

[LostinVA]

12. She is neither dumb nor a "broad"

:eyes:

[gmudem]

46. She is dumb if she stays with him and doesn't testify against him

She is incredibly dumb if she does those things. I read the police report and Chris Brown should be going to jail for several years, but I doubt he will.

[LostinVA]

54. No, she isn't dumb -- take the focus off of HER

[KamaAina]

47. "Broad"?

I didn't realize the DU archives went back to the 1940s. :eyes:

[KamaAina]

48. dupe

self-delete

[Deja Q]

4. He's just scum of the earth, unworthy of even a blow-up doll, much less a real human being.

And yet she wants to go back to him. Fine. Whatever. Maybe she's mentally ill. I don't know. I have some sympathy for her, albeit not much because she doesn't seem to mind being his personal punching bag.

[lmn84]

9. I don't think you understand

Sure, Rihanna might have lots of money, be famous, and good looking, but it doesn't stop her from suffering the same mentality that many abused women (and men) have. They don't leave because they are so incredibly unsure of themselves that they rely on their abuser completely and totally. They truly believe that they do not have the ability to make it on their own - no matter how successful they really are.

There's so much more to abusive situations than just physical violence, and hopefully someone will help her realize that she doesn't need to stick around with him. What she really needs is someone to let her know that she deserves being loved by someone who's going to treat her like they love her, not by someone who says they love her and treat her so poorly.

[Fleshdancer]

10. Great post Imn84. Welcome to DU

It's sad that the first reaction many people have to situations like this is to find fault with the victim if that victim is an adult.

[lmn84]

11. Thanks!

I just think it's really hard for a lot of people to think that these kind of things happen. It's not easy when you're a decent human being to think that people can treat other people so horribly. It's a difficult situation and I think it's hard for some people to empathize.

[LostinVA]

13. It's very shameful, some of the posts on DU about this

[Fleshdancer]

30. I'm with you 100% (as usual)

Unfortunately the twisted notion that female victims are partly to blame is not a new concept to DU. :grr:

[LostinVA]

36. I know...

:sigh:

[Lost in CT]

32. I don't find fault with her for getting beaten...

I do find fault when she goes back and protects the abuser...

In my mind she is a conspirator in his crimes when she helps him cover them up.

[Fleshdancer]

34. It's a tangled psychological web that defies all logic

When a spouse/lover is abused, the harm is mental and emotional long before the punches begin. Most likely she is dealing with depression and very low self-esteem which creates self doubt, self loathing, humiliation, and self blame. Abusers create a tormenting cycle of love and hate that tears their victim down to the point where many would consider them brainwashed. Many live in fear.

This is a very well researched and common syndrome we're talking about. Telling a victim of abuse to simply leave is like telling someone with severe depression to just snap out of it. You're expecting her to do something she isn't capable of doing right now. You're faulting her for being a victim and I don't think this is fair.

[LostinVA]

37. I agree with you 100% (as usual)

[Fleshdancer]

45. All three!!!!

:D

[LostinVA]

55. What the heck happened?!

See how much I agree with you?

:pals:

[LostinVA]

38. I agree with you 100% (as usual)

[LostinVA]

39. I agree with you 100% (as usual)

[OhioChick]

26. However, I'm sure that Rihanna has the $$$ for some damn good counseling. n/t

[marshall]

44. And isn't her father practically pushing her back into Brown's arms?

[ensho]

5. Rihanna needs an intervention - she is being totally stupid

is she a needy person?

[LostinVA]

14. She is neither stupid nor "needy"

I do hope Jay-Z's attempt to make Rhianna talk with Tina Turner happens.

[xiamiam]

18. she is young...but this is a mistake...ask any woman who has been battered and then forgiven

i dont care how wonderful he is..or she thinks he is..if she had a few more years under her belt, she wouldnt even think twice ...it would be over...he just happened to destroy both of their careers as well...sad situation...

[LostinVA]

But she isn't stupid or needy -- she's a battered woman

With Battered Woman's Syndrome.

[WI_DEM]

15. Who cares? if she wants to stay with somebody who allegedly did and said the things he did

to her, then they deserve each other.

[kwassa]

16. Empathy is not your strong suit, I see.

Thanks for sharing.

[WI_DEM]

22. Yes, you gather so much about people just by what is posted here.

Grow up.

[LostinVA]

24. You show a rather alarming lack of understanding a battered woman's plight

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

17. I'm guessing the people who care about Michael Jackson's comeback tour.

Standard celebrity news.

[Avalux]

20. Rhianna is an abuse victim and isn't making rational decisions. Someone please help her.

If she doesn't get away from Brown and save herself, he will kill her eventually. So very sad.

[LostinVA]

21. Jay-Z is -- and, Sean Combs isn't (he got them back together -- gag)

[Amerigo Vespucci]

27. Yeah, the photos of Brown on the jet ski show his highly contemplative remorse...

Puffy should be proud. Of course, Puffy is proud of everything he attaches his name to...like selling those "Sean Jean" coats made out of dogs.

[sampsonblk]

23. Its all very unfortunate

This dude shouldn't be in a relationship with anyone.

Neither should she, until she learns some self-respect.

Of course, we don't know the whole story about the altercation. But we do know that Brown is a violent wacko.

[kwassa]

25. The big question is whether or not Chris Brown is getting the help that he needs to deal with

his anger issues. If not, he will be beating Rihanna again, soon.

I recall something about him growing up in an abusive home, and hating his father for hitting his mother. It seems to be the same cycle of abuse.

I'm sure he suffers lots of remorse, which does not mean that he won't do it again. I really hope they didn't get married.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

28. He headed to a bar in Beverly Hills after the court appearance, stayed until almost 4 AM

Also, Suge Knight backs Brown "1000%" because when his daughter was 14 Brown pulled her on stage and sang Happy Birthday to her, and "he didn't have to do that" (what a saint among men): http://www.tmz.com/2009/03/03/suge-knight-chris-brown/

And Kanye West basically said that we're all human and shit happens.

So combine the kind of "support" Brown is getting with alcohol and to me, that's not a recipe for recovery.

Chris Brown -- Accused Felon's Night Out

Posted Mar 6th 2009 7:49AM by TMZ Staff

A few felony charges did not stop Chris Brown from hitting the town after his court appearance for allegedly beating Rihanna to a pulp.



TMZ caught Brown leaving the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills around 3:45 AM. Brown spent much of the evening at the hotel bar with bodyguards.

http://www.tmz.com/2009/03/06/chris-brown-video-out/

[LostinVA]

40. Jay-Z sounds like the only real man amongst them

[Amerigo Vespucci]

52. It makes me wonder...

...there is also talk about how Brown wants to avoid a trial at all costs because there is a photo taken of Rihanna 24 hours after the beating that is much more graphic than the one that found its way onto TMZ.

So the issue isn't that he's concerned about her. He's concerned that the public will see the photo and justice will be served.

Meanwhile, Puffy and Kanye and Suge are stepping up when maybe...just maybe...they should STFU.

Even Usher, who spoke out on Brown's apparent lack of remorse, has issued an "apology"...

Usher Backtracks on Chris Brown Diss

Wed., Mar. 4, 2009 11:15 AM PST by Gina Serpe

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b102673_usher_backtracks_on_chris_brown_diss.html



A detailed, heartfelt apology has finally been issued in the Chris Brown-Rihanna incident. Just not from the person you may expect.

Usher is backtracking on an apparently egregious comment he made earlier this week about Brown, suggesting the "Run It" singer spend a little more time showing "a little bit of remorse" and a little less time jet-skiing around Miami Beach following his arrest for allegedly roughing up Rihanna.

The seemingly common-sense critique was made during a Monday recording of Jermaine Dupri's Living the Life YouTube series, a clip of which was hastily removed from the video site once word of its contents broke.

"The comments made during a recent recording session amongst friends were taken out of context and blown out of proportion," Usher said in a statement released today.

Bros before...well, Rihanna, apparently.

"I apologize on behalf of myself and my friends if anyone was offended. The intentions were not to pass judgment and we meant no harm. I respect and wish the best for all parties involved."

Usher made the comments after viewing paparazzi shots of Brown taken during his reconciliation weekend with the "Disturbia" songbird. The duo was holed up in Sean "Diddy" Combs' Star Island mansion, and while Rihanna opted not to emerge from the property, Brown kept publicly busy by riding around on a Jet Ski and logging time in the recording studio.

"I'm a little disappointed in this photo. After the other photo?" Usher said, referencing the leaked shot police took of a bruised Rihanna. "C'mon, Chris. Have a little bit of remorse, man. The man's on Jet Skis? Like, just relaxing in Miami?"

[tekisui]

31. She is tempting fate. The next time could be worse.

And, I don't doubt there will be a next time. This wasn't the first, and he threatened to kill her.

[ljm2002]

33. Sad to hear it...

...it is such a predictable pattern though.

Apart from whether or not she has battered wife syndrome or issues of self-esteem, I think another important point to bring up is that men like Chris Brown are very good manipulators. Thus, to her he will express remorse, and will say things like "This could ruin my life! You don't want that, do you? I love you, and I promise I will never do anything like that again!" He'll be on his best behavior throughout, and yes, maybe convince her to elope with him so she'll be able to invoke wifely privilege when it comes to testifying -- i.e. she cannot be compelled to testify against him. And all the time she thinks she's doing it out of kindness and her love for him, because, after all, his life shouldn't be ruined over one mistake, should it? And she really does love him, and she knows he has good qualities, and those should count for more than his bad qualities, right?

And all the while the asshole is manipulating her and the situation to his own advantage. It's standard sociopath behavior. Been there, done that, know how these things work. Of course I do not know what is really being said between them. But I'll bet the above is a pretty good outline.

I don't like it to be all focused on her and her psychology. Sociopaths know how to prey on people's psychology in general. Women in a relationship believe they know the person they are intimate with, so are more vulnerable to the sociopath in these situations. This trap, while psychological in nature, is still a trap. By definition, traps are easy to get into and hard to get out of.

Here's hoping that she gets out sooner rather than later, and is able to realize that it's not about her, it's about him -- and he is a sociopath.

[LostinVA]

41. Great post -- and I agree, I think he's a sociopath

[musette_sf]

49. wish i could K&R your post

well said.

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

51. Rihanna got a protective order!

From TMZ:


The order, filed yesterday in Los Angeles Superior Court, says Brown must not "harass, strike, threaten, assault (sexually or otherwise), follow, stalk, molest, destroy or damage personal or real property, disturb the peace, keep under surveillance, or block movements of" Rihanna.

The order expires in March 2012.


I don't know how to link to specific stories on tmz.com, but this is the top story on there right now.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

53. Here's the link

http://www.tmz.com/2009/03/06/chris-brown-rihanna-protective-order/

[Fleshdancer]

56. GREAT news!

I still want him to receive jail time, but I'm glad she took this step. I can only imagine how hard this was for her.

[ljm2002]

57. Indeed that is good news!

Here's hoping she sticks to it, and gets over him in a hurry!