Rihanna was the guest on a new episode of Oprah’s Next Chapter over the weekend and it doesn’t look like the singer will be starting a new chapter in her love life anytime soon.
In the candid interview, filmed in Rihanna’s native Barbados, the singer opens up about her tumultuous childhood, the pedestal of fame – and what has most water coolers in a frenzy this morning is her abusive relationship with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown.
Rihanna was in tears when she told Oprah about the notorious 2009 incident in which Chris assaulted her: “I lost my best friend, everything I knew, switched… switched in a night, and I couldn’t control that.” She continues, saying once she mended her own tarnished relationship with her father (who was abusive to her mother), she was able to forgive Chris.
“He made that mistake because he needed help and like, who’s going to help… him. Nobody’s going to say ‘he needs help’ everyone’s going to say ‘he’s a monster’ without looking at the source. I was more concerned about …him,” Rihanna reveals, shocking Lady O with her powerful description of what was going through her own mind immediately after the incident happened.
On where their relationship stands today “we’ve been working on our friendship again… we’re very very close friends,” Rihanna admits. “We’ve built a trust again… that’s it. We love each other and we probably always will and that’s not anything we’re going to try to change, that’s not something you can shut off if you’ve ever been in love.”
When asked if she still sees her ex, RiRi says they were at the same party in St. Tropez not long ago, and although it’s “awkward” to see him, especially now that he’s dating someone else, she “still loves him.”
After the show aired, fans lauded Rihanna for her honesty and willingness to show a more vulnerable side, but what do you think? Should Rihanna be applauded for being able to forgive Chris Brown, or do you think she should seek help? Tweet us your thoughts using #RihannaOnOprah
