Chris Brown opened up about his assault on former girlfriend Rihanna during the MTV News special "Chris Brown: The Interview" on Friday (November 6), elaborating on his destructive behavior, explaining his previous apologies and describing his ongoing therapy sessions.
Brown told MTV News correspondent Sway that he has finally come to terms with the fact that he was capable of such violence.
"I think you'd be in denial and be totally naive not to," he said.
"And not being able to realize and own up to the fact of your own
wrongs. I mean, me, I've come to terms with it and I'm working on it.
... For that moment or whatever had me at that place, I want to erase
that from what my character is. I want to be totally different from now
on. I don't want to be that person."
Brown admitted that he's still unsure about how the public views him in the aftermath of the incident. His die-hard fans have continued to support him, but others have openly criticized the 20-year-old star. The mixed reaction has confused Brown, he said.
"I'm confused right now as far as the public perception [of me]," he said. "Like, I think with my fans, they still love me, they support me, definitely. You have those people who will support you. So it's kinda like 50/50 for me. I got the people that will come out and support and then the people that don't wanna see me do anything. They basically want me in jail."
Brown said he hasn't been able to brush off negative comments he gets in public. During a trip to an amusement park, Brown described hearing cries of "woman beater."
"I'm human, so when I hear certain things that they say or if I go somewhere and I hear somebody be rude about it, it's just like, 'Man, it's a mistake,' " Brown said. "I made a big mistake. I'm learning from it. Like, I'm not saying, 'Who are they to judge?' because, I mean, everybody's entitled to their own opinion on how they feel, but it hurts."
The singer opened up about his Twitter activity as well. He has twice tweeted fan videos that feature images of him with Rihanna. Brown said he wanted to show that their union wasn't "chaotic." "We actually were very close friends," he said of their relationship.
Brown is currently in the midst of his court-mandated therapy sessions. The singer said he enjoys the counseling and has been responding to the support.
"When I apologize, I really apologize, definitely, about the situation, like me and her personally, obviously," Brown explained. "We've exchanged, I've exchanged my apologies for her, but when I do it publicly, it's for who I've let down. It's for the fans, it's for all the people, even the sponsors. Even the people that have invested in me and thought that I was a good enough role model to be branded or to be like, 'OK, this is Chris Brown.' I really wanted to apologize for the people that I let down and show people that I am wrong for what I've done, but I want people to learn from it and see that I'm really apologetic."
Dr. Michelle Callahan, a developmental psychiatrist, said understanding the consequences of an action like Brown's is at the core of rehabilitating violent behavior.
"It's very important that they realize this," she told MTV News. "You can get into a lot of trouble. Not only can you seriously get hurt or hurt someone you love, you can get into a lot of trouble. You get involved in the legal system. You can go to jail. There's a lot at stake."
Brown echoed Callahan's comment in a statement he released to MTV News on Friday responding to Rihanna's interview with Diane Sawyer.
"I only hope that others in similar situations can learn from our experience as well," Brown said. "Abuse of any kind is always wrong."
RICHMOND, Virginia — Chris Brown has made several media appearances since his assault of Rihanna in February, each time apologizing while declining to speak in detail on the matter. The singer said he was being vague as a way to protect his and his former girlfriend's privacy.
But his deflection of the tough questions has led some to doubt the sincerity of his contrition. In an interview with MTV News' Sway Calloway that airs Friday night (November 6) on MTV, Brown talked about what his many apologies really mean.
"When I apologize, I really apologize, definitely, about the situation, like me and her personally, obviously," Brown said. "We've exchanged, I've exchanged my apologies for her, but when I do it publicly, it's for the people who I let down: It's for the fans, it's for all the people, even the sponsors, even the people that have invested in me and thought that I was a good enough role model.
"I really wanted to apologize [to] the people that I let down and show people that I am wrong for what I've done, but I want people to learn from it and see that I'm really apologetic," he reiterated.
Through his court-mandated counseling sessions, Brown explained, he's in the process of taking responsibility for his actions and understanding his behavior in order to help others avoid a similar fate. The end goal, he said, is to become a rehabilitated, responsible human being.
"Chris Brown: The Interview" airs tonight at 6 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.Chris’ dj: (djbabeydrew)“MAD!!!! I need the real story to come out now!!! This is sum bullcrap!!!! Uncut Bullcrap!”
“Awwww man I am Mad!!!! Truth will come to Light !!! It always does!!!!”
” u should wanna hear from the people that really know the truth!!!”
___
Moe!(Chris’ best friend)(The girl that was just hanging out with rihanna a few weeks ago)
(Monohomo)
“have you seen the GMA interview? what are your thoughts on it? >>>SUS”“he’s career ain’t ova. He made her 2 Wat she is day. Riri just needs away 2. Get her career back up”
___
MIJO! (Chris brother/best friend)(mijougly)
His tweet:
“I’m starting to See How Sus You Are….”___
Scooter (singer-chris’ friend)“new #TT is…..#hannarihanna”
Micah (chris friend):(@micahfonecheck)
“like hannamontana is 2 people hannarihanna is her 2nd person that we saw on tv today lying!!!!
___#shame on Rihanna….
“All my followers RT this #shame on Rihanna….”
“How dirty is that 2 wait till he’s about to drop his album 2 come out with this whole victim ish! #shame on Rihanna”
______
Chris’ dancer- @Only1Zstarr :YO THIS RIHANNA INTERVIEW HAVE PISSED ME OFF SHE IS REALLY TRYNA MAKE CHRIS BROWN OUT OF BEING A WOMEN BEATER…. WOW. IF YALL ONLY KNEW!!
I WISH DANCER’S CAN SPEAK ABOUT THINGS THAT REALLY GO ON!!!! I CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS.. LET ME JUST SAY CHRIS BROWN WAS PUSHED TO THE EXTREME!HER PEOPLE MADE HER DO THIS INTERVIEW FOR 2 REASON’S….. ALBUM SALES…. AND TO TRY AN KILL CHRIS CAREER!! (WHICH WILL NOT HAPPEN)
IN CHRIS INTERVIEW THEY ASK HIM WHAT HAPPEN, HE SAID HE WANT TO KEEP THERE PRIVACY PRIVATE OUT OF RESPECT FOR HER!! (PAUSE)
BECAUSE IF HE REALLY SPOKE ON THE REAL OF THE TRUTH!!! I CANT SAY THE REST!
“He had no soul in his eyes,” Rihanna said of Brown’s state of mind during the attack. “He was clearly blacked out. There was no person when I looked at him
“It was a bit of an obsession.
“I couldn’t take that he kept lying to me and he couldn’t take that I wouldn’t drop it. His back was up against the wall. The truth is right here in a text message. It escalated into him being violent towards me.
“I don’t hate him at all. 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.”
RICHMOND, Virginia — Chris Brown pleaded guilty to assault back in June after a physical confrontation with then-girlfriend Rihanna. He was formally sentenced in August to one year of weekly therapy sessions, five years' probation and 180 days of community-labor service.
But when it comes to the court of public opinion, Brown is discovering that the ruling hasn't been nearly as swift and tidy.
"I'm confused right now as far as the public perception [of me]," he revealed during the upcoming MTV News special "Chris Brown: The Interview," which airs Friday, November 6, at 6 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. "Like, I think with my fans, they still love me, they support me, definitely. You have those people who will support you. So it's kinda like 50/50 for me. I got the people that will come out and support and then the people that don't wanna see me do anything. They basically want me in jail."
Many critics felt Brown got off the hook too easily for the altercation, which left Rihanna battered and bruised. But his sentence might, in fact, be just as difficult as jail time, according to legal expert Peter Haven.
"Labor service is not a walk in the park," Haven explained to MTV News shortly after the sentencing. "It may be better than spending 180 days in jail, but it's not a walk in the park. ... Remember, if he violates [anything], it'll be a violation against his whole plea agreement."
Brown has recently begun taking the first steps to resurrecting his career. He returned to the stage last week for the first time since the incident and electrified those in attendance at the New York radio festival Powerhouse '09. The singer was energetic and also very eager to show his remorse during his set, telling fans he promised to be a better man.
Next, Brown will set out on a Fan Appreciation Tour later this month, where he'll perform at smaller venues beginning in Houston and finishing up December 15 in New York.
Chris Brown opens up about the February assault and its aftermath in "Chris Brown: The Interview," airing Friday, November 6, at 6 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
