November 6, 2009 11:11 AM

Rihanna: 'No Soul' in Chris Brown's Eyes

(AP)  Rihanna on Friday described the horror she felt as her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown was biting and punching her during a violent argument in February, saying she saw "no soul in his eyes."

"There was no person when I looked at him," the 21-year-old singer recalled during the second installment of an interview airing on ABC's "Good Morning America." "He had no soul in his eyes. Just blank."

Brown was arrested Feb. 8, hours after he was accused of beating Rihanna after the two argued over a text message he had gotten from another woman. He later pleaded guilty to felony assault.

Photos: Rihanna
Photos: Chris Brown
Chris Brown To Release New CD


In the interview, Rihanna, who is no longer with Brown, described him as "definitely my first big love." She said their relationship was intense.

"The more in love we became, the more dangerous we became for each other - equally as dangerous," she said. "It was a bit of an obsession almost."

The attack occurred in Los Angeles' Hancock Park neighborhood as Brown drove a rented sports car. A search warrant affidavit filed in the case stated that Brown hit, choked and bit Rihanna and tried at one point to push her from the car.

During the beating, the singer said she had no idea how it would end: "That's all I kept thinking the whole time, 'When is it going to stop? When is it going to stop?'"

In portions of the interview aired Thursday, Rihanna warned other women facing domestic violence to not let themselves become blinded by love.

Brown, 20, has apologized to fans and has said he has repeatedly apologized to Rihanna for the attack.

Despite the beating, Rihanna said she still cares about Brown.

"I don't hate him at all," she said. "I actually love and care about him and I'm concerned about him doing well. I want him to do well - have a great career, have a great life, and grow up. Just take this as something that you had to go through to grow up and learn."

Rihanna's interview coincides with the debut of her new single, "Russian Roulette," from her upcoming album, "Rated R." More of the interview will be included in Friday evening's news magazine "20/20."

© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment See all 25 Comments
by cidaia November 7, 2009 10:22 AM EST
When Rihanna is ready to actually break free of the "cycle of violence", she can start by not doing her bit to escalate it. There's no reason to attack Chris Brown in the media. She did the right thing in prosecuting him and I'm glad that what he did is classed as a felony. But Rihanna loses my sympathy when she keeps hanging on to him so she can get a few more swipes in. Rihanna, let him go. Move on. Ask yourself why you dated a guy like that, and be ready for a long hard look in the mirror, or else you'll end up dating a guy just like him, and you won't get any sympathy at all the second time around.
Reply to this comment
by talcoolone November 7, 2009 9:48 AM EST
Opens up for the first time? What, the first time today? I'll bet it happens to her again from her next bf.
Reply to this comment
by talcoolone November 7, 2009 8:23 AM EST
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE When you have to tell her more than once.
Reply to this comment
by victimofdv November 7, 2009 3:06 AM EST
It happened to me very recent...the same thing, because someone texted me "whats going on tonight?" and I didn't even know who it was...and my ex-bf exploded, threw things around, called me horrible names, grabbed me and hit me...and the entire time I wonder whatdid I do??? Till today I don't know what I did!! Every other time, I brushed it off thinking he didn't mean brusing me or it was an accident. He checked my emails, deleted them if I forgot to log off, checked my phone, text messages, receipts, bank account to make sure the transactions match the place I said I was etc...and I let it because I wanted to show him there was nothing going on.

He is a physician and they will try to save his image in court.
This is definitely an important issue in this country...domestic violence is the number 1 for homocides in the US. It is not important to some of you because it hasn't happened to you YET.

Not only myself but also other women, we do identify with her story. Love is blind like she said...feelings won't disappear and that is why women always come back. I'm still angry at myself for still loving him and wanting to work things out when I know I need to be away. I'm just glad I got to hear her story too...

No matter how bad a situation is, NO ONE has the right to touch you!!
Reply to this comment
by talcoolone November 7, 2009 8:47 AM EST
He is a physician, and is probably working all the time. I'd like to hear his side of the story. Why was there a general feeling of mistrust from him? There must have been a reason for it. Like a text from an unknown source? Yeah right. I'm glad you and the physician are not together anymore. A healthy relationship has trust as a foundation.
by cidaia November 7, 2009 10:30 AM EST
Yes, but you picked him, didn't you?

Not saying don't prosecute - if someone commits a crime against you, then by all means prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law, and if that's not enough to achieve justice, then lobby to have the law fixed so it is.

But women have got to stop urging each other on to ever greater heights of self-pity. You are a grownup and what sort of lover you end up with is something that you have control over.
by knowdalaw November 6, 2009 7:52 PM EST
Rihanna is not telling the complete story here. First, didn't this all start when SHE got angry and she took the keys out of the rented LUXURY car and threw them away. This caused Chris to get out of the car and start looking for them. Then the incident escalated and she starts hitting and scratching him. I do not support him for hitting her, but I do not support her JEALOUSY. That makes a man really dislike you.

Why is it that SHE won't ADMIT FAULT as well? SHE should tell young ladies NOT to let JEALOUSY get to you that way. SHE is BITTERLY jealous and SHE has low self-esteem. She is VERY PRETTY, so she should NOT be JEALOUS. I wish she would just stop putting a bad rap on CHRIS.

My final point to Rihanna is you are talking about disrespect, but you are disrespecting your self, posing nude. That is proof you lack respect for yourself and you will do anything to get back into the fame-game. Stop thinking that money is everything and get some help about your attitude.

I STILL LOVE YOU CHRIS BROWN. I FORGIVE YOU Chris Brown.

Rihanna, please get some help for yourself and stop being so insecure.

We Love you too, but don't keep hating on him!
Reply to this comment
by talcoolone November 7, 2009 8:39 AM EST
She's just keeping her name in the spotlight by identifiying with other women with the same problem. She left Mr. Brown, they are not together, problem solved. She doesn't need to keep this story going other than to keep herself on everyone's TV. I disagree with Kcoria.
by gdavisms77 November 8, 2009 5:51 AM EST
"Who are you? "Were you there? I hope and pray that you are not a woman! "Listen to me, "and listen good! Even If Rihanna did hit Chris with a shoe,"This was a couple who were suppose to be in love. "So how could Chris get so angry,that he continuously beat Rihanna? "I have seen the look that Rihanna described in my husbands eyes, when he beat me,"And it's a sight that I pray you never see. Blame her for the fight, "but you know what, "You didn't feel not one of the blows that Rihanna felt,nor did your heart break after each blow. "You didn't wake up and look in the mirror the next morning, with a face filled with bruises, which were put there by the man you love. "I bet Rihanna said, "How could Chris do this to me, so many times that she loss count. If a person love's you they will not hurt you, and if this was self defense on behalf of Chris, "it was to much defense on Chris's behalf, don't you think? Chris is stronger than Rihanna, and if what you are saying is true,"Chris could have restrained Rihanna, but instead he beat her to a bloody pulp. And as far as Rihanna promoting her new album , she didn't have to speak out for it to be successful, because she has millions of supporters.And as far as Chris goes, "he needs to close his mouth, because he's just making things worse. I am really proud of Rihanna, and I wish her well.
by Kcoria November 6, 2009 7:08 PM EST
To everyone saying shes just doing this to sell more albums, hello!!! did it ever occur to someone she was going to have to speak about this at one point or another. She didn't have an album in the works when she got her ass beat and now if she would have let it kept dragging on, people would have looked at her like she was a nutt so thats one main reason why shes doing it. Think a lil and stop expecting the worst from people... (Chris doesnt have to be assumed upon, the evidence is pretty much out)
Reply to this comment
by hdvideo1 November 6, 2009 11:21 PM EST
Sure you are telling the truth as you see it. The facts are marketing and attention and if you think other wise then I have a house on the moon for sale. Kids, they never learn.
by talcoolone November 7, 2009 8:50 AM EST
Speak to who? How about someone with a license to hear it? Other than that it's just for public consumption. She went to bed Rhianna, woke up Brittany, and continues to act like Brittany. Have you seen her videos? OMG!
by hdvideo1 November 6, 2009 6:29 PM EST
I have a plan Miss Stupid can't be a real artist and is nothing more than a attention w-h-o-r-e for her new CD. Why don't you take some of your millions and give it to women like yourself that need to be slapped and then I MIGHT take you serious. Get over yourself.
Reply to this comment
by hdvideo1 November 6, 2009 6:27 PM EST
I have a plan Miss Stupid can't be a real artist and is nothing more than a attention ***** for her new CD. Why don't you take some of your millions and give it to women like yourself that need to be slapped and then I MIGHT take you serious. Get over yourself.
Reply to this comment
by Kcoria November 6, 2009 6:21 PM EST
NO! I refuse to let you people tarnish the poor girls rep. ***!!!!!!!! She's the one that got her ass kicked, not him! And all of you pity Chris Brown?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ALL OF YOU!

Yeah,he was and always will be soulless duh! Did you not hear her; she basically said that he started panicking when she wouldn?t let up. She also said that he didn?t take it too lightly when she tried to split with him. He?s a total control freak and wanted to oppress her, she wouldn?t have it and he got mad because her wanted her to shut up. He also threatened to release her photos (which in my opinion is the lowest thing one can do, that and insults to a man?s ?manhood?) and all the people surrounding Chris say he?s always had a dark side. He just fooled us all up until that day in the car, she didn?t hit him or anything (it doesn?t state it anywhere on the papers nor has he said she did nor does she,) that stems off from some dark place of his? well here?s what probably happened:

In the car I bet he started freaking out. He's little love life was falling apart. What a ******* little ***** he is! He wanted two cakes and wanted to eat them too. Not only did he beat her senseless, left her there in the street, and went on to make 1,000 fake apologies (which don?t mean crap btw; I can be a serial killer who says sorry to the victims families each time yet continue to kill) but also goes on with his life like he actually did a good deed for the world. He?s pure bullcrap!

Sure Rihanna has some issues (she?s even admitted to breaking a bottle over her brother?s head, etc.) but half of this ?*****? you see is a façade, any one with two good eyes can see she did it for the music; she did it for the art. She wasn?t completely being a fake like Chris. Now that this happened you can see through him like thin ice. I hate any guy that does this to a woman and gets away with it by picking up trash. He is trash; he should be picked up and thrown away. All the details are out now, he had no reason (like the herpes or provocation ?hypotheses? say) to lay a hand on her and I hope people realize this and stop buying his discordant trash he puts out as music. Poor Rihanna, she can?t do any good in this hateful countries eye, and truly is the victim of a malice and fakeass industry.

Hang in there, I know you much more different and are dealing with this far better off than fake ass Chris Brown (any relation to bobby? Hmmm?) and I?m proud that you finally spoke out. He knows your right, that?s why he hasn?t said anything. He shouldn?t if he has any damn sense of shame.

BTW: to the people ***** this isn?t a huge issue or that America has lager problems, A) go eff yourself because women die for thinking like you idiots want them to think and B) don?t click on here and waste your time if you?re going to *****, ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE COUNTRY, or SHUT UP!
Reply to this comment
by whatever121318 November 6, 2009 5:29 PM EST
omg shes not the only one in the world who gets beat up by their boyfriend/husband. i hate it when famous people and the midea make a big deal about the situation just b/c they are stars. GET OVER IT!!
Reply to this comment
See all 25 Comments
.
Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook