Rihanna Describes Chris Brown Beating to Diane Sawyer

Rihanna is still a young woman - only 20 at the time of her attack earlier this year - and 21 years old now. But anyone who listened to her interview with Diane Sawyer understands that this young woman is very mature for her years. She has managed to develop a world view that is advanced for her age and in many ways beyond what people much older than she will ever be capable of developing. Rihanna spoke to Diane Sawyer as someone who has been through a horrific experience and has taken that experience as both a responsibility and an opportunity to set the right example for countless young girls around the world.

After the brutal beating she endured at the hands of her boyfriend, Chris Brown, in early February of this year, a photo of Rihanna's beaten face was leaked from the LAPD. The photo was all over the Internet and television and painted an ugly picture. Then, as if by some sad script, Rihanna and Brown were seen together again in Miami, apparently as if nothing was wrong. But shortly after that brief reunion, Rihanna ended things for good.

"I knew I had to do this in order to move on for me and in order for my fans to move on . . . I don't want that five years from now every time they see Rihanna, they think of Chris Brown beating me. That's not who I am."

Rihanna's explanation to Sawyer was far more detailed and thought-provoking. Rihanna comes from a home where domestic violence was common and she admits to being blinded by young love. She also said she came to the realization that she couldn't perpetuate a cycle of violence that engulfed not only herself, but countless other women and girls who are embarrassed and ashamed at being the victims of domestic abuse.

Rihanna appears to hold no ill will towards Chris Brown, but she also knows that she can never be with him again. Let's hope that she is able to maintain that level of conviction in the years ahead.