Chris Brown: Remorseful, But Dating Again

R&B Singer Who Assaulted Former Girlfriend Rihanna Is Taking Anger Management Classes, But Says He Is Dating

(CBS)  By Melissa Castellanos

Chris Brown may have pleaded guilty to felony assault and been sentenced to five years probation, six months of community labor and a year of domestic violence counseling, but he says he feels as if he's still on trial for beating his former girlfriend Rihanna.

"What I think, the steps that I've taken to show that I'm sorry probably have been perceived wrong," Brown said Friday in an interview on "The Wendy Williams Show", where Brown premiered his new video, "Crawl" from his new album, "Graffiti."

Many of his critics have said the young, baby-faced R&B singer hasn't acted remorseful enough for his violent actions. But Brown insisted that he regrets his actions and is working on self-improvement.

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

Brown released an apology on his Web site, which some thought was too scripted and he also appeared on "Larry King Live" in September as his first televised interview since being sentenced to five years probation for the assault.


"At the end of the day," he told Williams, "I'm definitely remorseful and it's not something that I take lightly or think that it's, like, under the rug. I really think it’s something that is a serious matter and I'm learning from it."

Brown has also been taking anger management classes, which he said has been working to change his life.

"I think it's been the most helpful part of my whole situation, you know, with everything. I'm at a better place in my life," he said.

Rihanna, who is set to release her new CD, "Rated R" on Nov. 23, has recently spoke out about her attack to ABC's Diane Sawyer and has become an advocate against domestic abuse.

The Barbadian singer admitted that she kept going back to Brown, whom she called her "first big love" despite being treated badly. "The more in love we became, the more dangerous we became for each other - equally as dangerous," she told ABC. "It was a bit of an obsession almost."

But now, Brown said he just wants to move forward, as does Rihanna.

"As I said before, I respect her opinion and her decision to speak on her behalf, but me personally; I'd rather keep all the situations and the incident that happened between me and her private. But I can only just be responsible for my actions and what I did," Brown said.

In addition to trying to control his anger, Brown, who saw domestic abuse first-hand as a child, said he is trying to change his character.

"I've just been more focused on making my circuit small and not listening to outside entities and being arrogant to a degree, you know what I’m saying? Being more down to earth, more humble, being a person, a human being," he said.

When asked if he would ever consider getting back together with Rihanna if he could, he said: "At this point, I’m really just focusing on my life, just focusing on getting me right."

Brown hasn't given up the ladies, however. He told Williams that he's dating.

"Of course. I love women," he laughed.

Brown was arrested Feb. 8, hours after he and Rihanna argued (over a text message he had gotten from another woman) in a rented sports car after a pre-Grammy party. According to a police affidavit, Brown tried to push the 21-year-old singer from the car and repeatedly hit her, bit her and choked her.

[elmo97]

jinglebelle...I am glad we are on the same page, we must be the only ones with an open mind to see that this isnt as cut and dry as she claims it to be. I appreciate the fact that he doesnt want to put her out there like that because he is the one in the hot seat but I think it would be helpful to young people out there to know the whole scenerio. Women/girls should understand it is not ok for them to be the aggressor just as much as it is not ok for a man/boy to be the aggressor.

[billpl-2009]

I like how they use the word..."dating" ??

the "real" term is "banging groupies"

[luv102087]

@Brooklyntrevis..... Thank you soo much, for saying such a short and powerful statement...there are some people who refuse to give this boy a second chance. Come on.. he is only 20 and yes made a mistake..WHICH AT SOME POINT WE ALL DO!!! he have apologized and is paying the consequences, more than a normal guy would have too if he was in the same situation. And yet we still don't know the whole truth on BOTH sides...i do however respect Brown's decision to keep the matter private, who the hell are we to demand this boys' privacy to be in the public eyes soo much, maybe to entertained our pathetic lives by it... shame on all those who can't forgive this young man and move on and allow this young man to continue what he has started to do in the first place and that is entertain us with his music and talent for dancing...I still and will always enjoy his music...that's what he is.. Although i don't agree of domestic violence...

[Brooklyntrevis]

Hopefully none of you judgemental people are parents! This is a kid who made a mistake - let's hope he learns from it and never repeats it. But his life can't be over!

Judge not lest you be judged!

Oh, but of course, we must be "dating", that is all part of our
"manhood", (even when we beat the crap out of someone).
This is really all part of the glamor "genre" that us regular folks
do not comprehend. We call the Taliban barbarians for circumcising
girls, yet we embrace celebrities who berate and beat women, cause
it's "their thang"..The women who "need a man", so much that they
put up with this crap, are incomprehensible.

[poochie44]

Hollywood loves losers. I wish the disgusting scum would disappear.

[ssporleder]

He will get dates as there are PLENTY of ignorant, status hungry women out there.

[jinglebelle]

NYmom, He beat up the girl after she beat him first on several occasions. He is too much of a gentleman to state taht outright but if you read his statements carefully such as "But I can only just be responsible for my actions and what I did," you can read inbetwwen the lines that this "girl" was no angel in this incident and other previous incidents.

[sedean1]

It is true that there are women who feel attracted to abusers...Drew Peterson, convicted of murdering his wife and unborn child, has received marriage proposals while on death row in San Quentin, Ca. I know that Chris Brown doesn't rank that far down but boy, how hard up does a female have to be to "date" this bad boy? How disfunctional does a man need to be for some women??

[newyorkmom]

He beat up a girl..why is he even being interviewed. Does anyone care if he doesnt like the way HE is being treated? Just let him drift into the abyss of dysfunctional Hollywod "stars."