Since the 51st annual Grammy's last week the news and internet have been buzzing with the shocking domestic violence story involving Chris Brown and girlfriend, singer Rihanna. Unfortunately most of that buzz has been RUMORS and nothing but gossip. I feel like Lindsay Lohan right now. I'm sick of rumors starting. Such an ingenious lyricist, that girl. Shame she didn't get a Grammy nod this year. Chris Brown and Rihanna, however, were both nominated for a Grammy this year. Both singers were scheduled for performances during the awards, and both were no shows for the event. The pair got into a fight that reportedly left Rihanna with bruises and Chris with felony assault charges, not to mention a damaged career. I realize that none of this is news but if you're looking for new details on the incident you've come to the wrong place. Details on this are coming in slower than hairs on a 12 year old boy's chest and what details do emerge are a sad commingling of both fact and fiction. I, for one, am not interested in contributing to the flurry of rumors already floating out there in cyberspace. I wanted to refrain from making any posts on this matter until some word was given from either the Brown or Rihanna party. Well, according to E! Online, Chris finally issued an official statement on Sunday saying,

"Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired. 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."

He goes on to dispel the rumors about him speaking on the incident prior to the official statement,

"Much of what has been speculated or reported on blogs and/or reported in the media is wrong," the statement said. "While I would like to be able to talk about this more, until the legal issues are resolved, this is all I can say except that I have not written any messages or made any posts to Facebook, on blogs or any place else. Those posts or writings under my name are frauds."


I guess we can take that as an admission of guilt on Brown's part (other than the fact that he turned himself in to police the night of the Grammy's). Since at least one of the parties involved has spoken I will now give my two cents. Oh yes, I know you've been waiting for it. It seems to me that all the media is interested in doing is breaking a story and striking while the iron is hot, nevermind getting all the information first, tarnishing someone's reputation, or burning them with that iron in the process. Now, before you go jumping down my throat I am aware that it was Brown's decision to strike Rihanna. He was in control of his actions and there's not much that can be said to excuse hitting a woman, but no one knows exactly what preceded their fight, who hit whom first, or how bad the injuries actually were.

In the grand scheme of things I'm sure none of that matters, but when the effect of media coverage is making someone appear to be an all out raging woman beater, what facts are presented and how, makes a difference. Rihanna reportedly had bite marks on her body. Now, what man do you know would just bite a woman in an attack? (Jeffrey Dahmer aside... wait, wasn't he gay? Oh, well forget that then). Just ask yourself the question, why do people bite other people? They bite when they are playing around and they bite when they are trying to get away from somebody or release themselves from the other person's grip. Now, I'm no genius but judging from Brown's arrest I'm guessing he and Rihanna weren't just playing around, which then leaves the suspicion that perhaps he wasn't the only one doing the hitting, and perhaps he wasn't the first to strike.

Unfortunately for Chris, that is of little consequence at this point, and with Rihanna baring any injuries (large or small) a charge of domestic abuse sticks as good as any conviction in the eyes of many people regardless of how the incident actually went down. Chris Brown was dropped from the Got Milk campaign, his Wrigley's Gum ads have been suspended, and radio stations in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Indianapolis have even pulled his music. I do wonder, though, if those stations would have pulled Brown's music had the victim been a non-celebrity; someone other than the high-profile, radio-adored, Rihanna.

Either way, it's a sad situation for both parties involved. It's unfortunate for Rihanna being so young and having to experience physical violence at the hand of someone she was in a relationship with and Chris for having made such a bad decision by hitting her and jeopardizing his career while at the forefront of the music industry at such a young age. Hitting a woman really isn't the best way to go when your fanbase almost entirely consists of women, and young women at that; young women whose parents probably aren't too keen on having them admire a singer who was arrested on felony assault charges. Thankfully, Rihanna is reportedly "doing well" and hopefully, Chris Brown is able to sort through his problems and salvage his career.

Chris Brown's court date is set for March 4.

What we want to know is, do you think Chris Brown can return to being the music industry golden boy he was before this incident?