Friday, February 20, 2009

Rihanna -- The Face of a Battered Woman


Los Angeles police have launched an internal investigation to determine who leaked a picture of a bruised and battered Rihanna to the media.

The close-up photo of the R&B singer -- with contusions on her forehead and below her eyes, and cuts on her lip -- was published on the entertainment Web site TMZ on Thursday.

Rihanna, 21, was allegedly attacked by her boyfriend, singer Chris Brown, on a Los Angeles street before the two were to perform at the Grammy Awards on February 8.

"The unauthorized release of a domestic violence photograph immediately generated an internal investigation," an L.A. police spokesman said in a statement. "The Los Angeles Police Department takes seriously its duty to maintain the confidentiality of victims of domestic violence. A violation of this type is considered serious misconduct, with penalties up to and including termination."

The chief investigator in the case had told CNN earlier that authorities had tried to guard against leaks. Detective Deshon Andrews said he had kept the case file closely guarded and that no copies had been made of the original photos and documents.

Brown was arrested on February 8 in connection with the case and and booked on suspicion of making criminal threats.

Authorities are trying to determine whether Brown should face domestic violence-related charges.

Brown apologized for the incident this week: "Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired," the 19-year-old said in a statement released by his spokesman. "I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God's help, to emerging a better person."


CNN
Pic by TMZ

2 comments:

Carole Clarke said...

We are entirely too squeamish about viewing the results of our violence, whether it is domestic violence or the return of flag-draped coffins from our wars. If you want to curb drug addiction, post before and after photos of addicts. If you want to help stop drunk driving or teens speeding, make them view the results of their actions in the morgue.

As for blame in this particular incident, who was beaten and taken to the hospital?

Anonymous said...

We can stop this industry of domestic violence! And in turn, we will see a decrease in all violence. The violence industry disgusts me. One in four people, in the United States, are victims of domestic violence. This artist is EVERY face that has been abused. Every case is relative. Every face has so many people who love, care for, and are impacted by abuse. And this is true of the perpetrators family, friends, employers, as well. Many people suffer when this happens. Again, every case is relative. Some seem more dramatic. They are not. It is way past time we begin the end to the cycle of domestic violence. We must implement, like we effectively did with safe sex and anti - smoking and anti - drug use campaigns, a system to educate our young to teach people to pre-qualify love. If we do this we will begin to see this ongoing experience begin to decline. Yes, it will take years...so what! We must begin to give people the necessary tools to pre-qualify love, to know whom they are letting into their hearts. We will save countless women, children and men from lives that are destroyed by being either victim or perpetrator. Both people must be recognized as victims of a society that does not have in place, a way to recognize and assist those, who at a young age, usually puberty, may well become a victim or a perpetrator. Understand this. No one is born to want to abuse. No one is born to want to be abused. There is something we can do. If we can, we must. And God knows we can. I am prepared to go to Washington DC with this. We must implement a program in the elementary schools now. What corporation will begin this with us? God knows we have enough celebrity voices to make it worth your while. I know from where I come and I know of what I speak. I know all too well. Ha I had education, my story, my perpetrators story, would not have had to be one.
While we wait for a substantial company to take this on and assist us to implement this educational system, please, waste no time, teach your children to ask questions about their friends and boy/girlfriends. And if you suspect some violence in a home of someone you or your children are acquainted with, stick your nose in their business. You might just save a life.
Kathryn Keats
after the silence

http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_11229555