Chris Brown and Rihanna: The Blame Game

You’ve probably heard the details about the night Chris Brown assaulted Rihanna, or even seen photos of the aftermath. And maybe you’ve decided who’s to blame.

Many people feel that Chris was wrong and that he had no right to hit Rihanna. But a surprising number of people feel that Rihanna is to blame. In a recent survey of 200 teens by the Boston Public Health Commission, 46 percent said the assault was her fault, while 52 percent felt both were at fault.

Why is it that many people, especially young girls, defend Chris at Rihanna’s expense? Do they think that dating violence is a normal and acceptable part of a relationship? Or is this a pattern of girls standing by their men no matter what? In a recent New York Times article, teen girls in a Bronx high school had this to say about the assault:

“I thought she was lying, or that the tabloids were making it up,” one girl said.

“She probably made him mad for him to react like that,” the other ninth grader said. “You know, like, bring it on?”

Let’s be clear. There’s nothing normal about dating violence, and no one has a right to hit another person, regardless of the circumstances.

The video below is a reenactment of the night that Chris Brown assaulted Rihanna, and it’s based on the actual police report. What you’ll see is disturbing. But what’s even more disturbing is that 1 in 3 teens report abuse in relationships and that they stay together after the first act of violence. If seeing this video upsets you, do something about it.