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Chris Brown: New tattoo is not Rihanna

Chris Brown accepts the award for best male video onstage during the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 6, 2012, in Los Angeles. Getty

(CBS News) Chris Brown's publicist has denied that his latest neck tattoo is not Rihanna's face or that of an abused woman.

The R&B singer's tattoo had people thinking it was an image of the "We Found Love" songstress, with some speculating that it resembled the bruised photo of Rihanna that made the rounds after her 2009 altercation with Brown. After the pre-Grammys incident, Rihanna was seen with a black eye and bruised lip.

Pictures: Rihanna
Pictures: Chris Brown

Not so, says Brown's camp.

"His tattoo is a sugar skull (associated with the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead) and a MAC cosmetics design he saw," Brown's rep told TMZ. "It is not Rihanna or an abused woman as erroneously reported."

Tattoo artist Peter Koskela said Brown brought in the design he wanted. See it here.

Things between the two stars seem to be better these days. Rihanna gave Brown a hug and kiss at the MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday and they have collaborated on music together this year.

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