It’s never easy to move on from “the love of your life.” That is how pop star Rihanna described ex-boyfriend Chris Brown on Sunday on the Oprah Winfrey show, “Oprah’s Next Chapter.”
During an hour-long interview with Winfrey, the 24-year-old singer was both emotional and honest about the night in February of 2009 when Brown beat her up and sent her to the hospital with injuries to her face.
“It happened to me in front of the world,” Rihanna told Winfrey.
“It’s embarrassing. It’s humiliating. It’s not easy,” the singer said.
The incident took place on Feb. 8 -- the night before the “SOS” singer and actress was to have performed at the Grammys. The shocking occurrence made headlines around the world.
In June of 2009, Brown pleaded guilty to a felony assault charge. Brown was sentenced to community service, five years’ probation and domestic violence counselling.
“Everything I knew switched in a night and I couldn’t control that,” the teary singer told Winfrey and the world.
The Grammy-winning Barbadian singer admitted to feeling “angry” and “resentful” for a long time before she forgave Brown for his actions. That decision came after Rihanna resolved her own, longstanding issues with her father, Ronald Fenty, a warehouse supervisor of Irish and Barbadian descent.
During the interview with Winfrey, Rihanna implied that her father had been occasionally violent with her mother, Monica Braithwaite, a retired accountant. However, reconciling with her abusive dad helped Rihanna find the strength to forgive Brown and move on.
The former star couple was recently spotted in Saint-Tropez. Rihanna, however, denied any chance of a reunion.
“It’s awkward because I still love him,” Rihanna said of seeing Brown again.
“My stomach drops, and I have to maintain this poker face and not let it get to the outer part of me,” she said.
The singer also admitted that she and Brown have been “working” on their friendship.
“We’ve built a trust again,” Rihanna said.
“We love each other and we probably always will and that’s not going to change. That’s not something you can shut off if you’ve ever been in love,” she added.
That attitude, as well as Rihanna’s decision to forgive Brown has earned some criticism on Twitter.
“That Rihanna interview left me in shock. I didn’t know she still loved that violent donkey,” tweeted @JoshTaughtYou.
Some fans, however, still wanted the stars to reunite despite their rocky history.
“I want Rihanna & Chris Brown to get back together,” tweeted @YanaKells.
Others were also philosophical about Rihanna’s enduring feelings for Brown and her decision to forgive him.
“Rihanna still having feelings for Chris Brown is understandable,” wrote @Frightz. “Do not act like you never had feelings for someone who did you wrong.”
Fans also gave kudos to Rihanna for taking the high road and moving on with her life.
“Rihanna is a true testament of dealing with ur pain and moving on,” wrote @brandon_gianni. “Being bitter, mad & upset will keep u in the same place.”
