Is Rihanna The Next Nicole Brown?
Posted by: Annika Harris
Filed in:
celebs
3:30PM, Monday March 9th 2009
Linda Fairstein, a former chief prosecutor for the New York County D.A.‘s Special Victims Unit, says Rihanna will end up like Nicole Brown if she reconciles with Chris Brown. Both Rihanna and Nicole were or are in the age group of women, 16 to 24, who face the highest rates of intimate partner violence when they began their relationships with violent men. There were many people who witnessed O.J. Simpson’s abuse of Nicole. Similarly, rumors are now surfacing that suggest the February altercation wasn’t the first time Chris allegedly assaulted Rihanna. Both fans of O.J. and Chris had/are having a difficult time believing the truth about these men whose charm has often gotten them ahead. Brown has supposedly made threats against Rihanna’s life like O.J. did to Nicole. And sadly, Rihanna and Nicole didn’t initially press charges against their violent partners.
Using the “lethality factors” assessment method, a way for law enforcement to predict the escalating nature of violence against a victim, Fairstein believes the decision to press charges against Chris should be in the hands of the police and district attorney, because whether Rihanna knows it or not, her life is in danger. Some factors Fairstein points to are that this may not be the first time Chris assaulted Rihanna, that, according to the police report, he beat her severely and choked her, that he made threats to kill her, and that he was exposed to intimate violence within his own family. And that Chris, who was seen clubbing until 3 am the night after his first court appearance and was jet skiing the weekend of his reconciliation with Rihanna, may be ignoring the consequences of his actions and lacks remorse. All these factors, writes Fairstein, point to the likelihood that Chris will assault Rihanna again. What do you think? Is Rihanna the next Nicole Brown? Should Rihanna fear for her life? And should the D.A. prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law, with or without Rihanna’s cooperation? Let us know in the comments. [The Daily Beast]
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carol v.a.
wrote on March 9 2009 @ 03:58 pm: [report]
It’s scary, but this is exactly what I said when the news broke. This girl needs to wake up and smell the OJ.
lilo
wrote on March 9 2009 @ 04:01 pm: [report]
I think the DA should prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law. How can Rihanna’s family keep her from this guy?
vsims
wrote on March 9 2009 @ 05:17 pm: [report]
I feel everyone should not act like the judge and jury. Yes he made a big mistake but it’s amazing how every one wants to hang Chris but what about R. Kelly i think what he did is worse he is a pedifiers and no one is slamming him or threatening to pull his music. We also must remember his mother was also involved with a man that physically abused her so unfortunately he was subject to an abusive life style. As for Rhianna well she’s grown and must not feel he’s a real threat if she’s willing to take him back and help him through his issues. You all act like you have the answers an probably never been in a situation like her. Carol it’s actually not surprising you compare the OJ situation to Chris brown which to me makes you very ignorant and look at things as black and white. We don’t have all the evidence but your quick to judge. I think it’s real sad.
joyy
wrote on March 9 2009 @ 05:26 pm: [report]
@vsims - the reason so many people here are up in arms about it is because they *have* been in similar situations. Just because she’s old enough to “know better” doesn’t mean she isn’t possibly being manipulated and controlled - which is what abusing the people you love is all about. Your statements make it clear that you’ve never been in a situation like this - and I’m happy for you if you’ve been able to live your life without finding yourself on the business end of an abusive #&@$%. But seriously, come on.
sonygir
wrote on March 9 2009 @ 06:01 pm: [report]
I have absolutely no sympathy for Rihanna if she goes back to Chris Brown.
Dianna T
wrote on March 9 2009 @ 06:04 pm: [report]
I wish people vsims would stop defending this vile excuse for a human being aka Chris Brown. The pictures and police report speak for themself. Pictures are worth 1000 words. He is SLIME and will KILL her if he gets the chance. So what if she hit him first, he has no scars. I was in a similar situation and because I left, I am STILL ALIVE!!!!! Get a clue.
retro chic
wrote on March 9 2009 @ 07:34 pm: [report]
The article cites Chris’ day-after court return to his life of fun with no visible signs of remorse. THEE signature of an abuser—the charming, entitled, carefree sociopath. Take away the abuse part, he’s still a player, let’s not ignore that.
Yes, the Nicole comparison is “code” for how serious this is, but the fact is, regular couples, married or not, statistically kill each other in astounding numbers since the beginning of time. This should not be a stretch to hear that it’s happening now, in the spotlight, again. It is so textbook.
So what has been learned in 15 years, from an event (Nicole-1994) that happened when many of Chris/Rihanna fans were in preschool?
Rihanna’s family should intervene, even take her home for awhile. We are our brother’s, sister’s, daughter’s keepers. The problem is, if you’re the one in it, you can’t hear a thing and need legal/criminal/psych intervention PLUS family/community support to have any chance to break the cycle that has nothing at all to do with love.
Tamara
wrote on March 9 2009 @ 07:45 pm: [report]
If she wants to stay with him then there are deeper more underlying issues going on with her alone. She needs counseling- lot’s and lot’s of psychological counseling. There’s a stigma placed on her that just because she’s a celebrity of sorts that she’s an example, she is in some ways, but that’s also damaging to her and anything she may be going through.
To be honest, if they did get married she can refuse to testify and that damages the case. He needs to serve some jail time, get some help himself and they need to separate. I know it’s going to sound offensive as hell but I’m not going to spend another eternity hearing about a trial when he does kill her. Coming back to the celebrity status she could go far if she took a stand not to be a victim, she could set an example for women going through what’s she’s going through.
retro chic
wrote on March 9 2009 @ 08:07 pm: [report]
T: Have no fear of the “slow speed” murder trial repeating—he’s not going to kill her—there is too much attention on this before-the-fact. She will be blogged to death first.
vsims
wrote on March 11 2009 @ 01:11 pm: [report]
This is to Joyy and Dianna T. I must clarifie myself. First and for most I don’t support abuse in any way shape or form I have a sister that was abusive to her man and yes I have been abused so no what your talking about before you make a statement. I don’t con doll this young mans actions but we all know how the media tends to blow things out of the water. If Rhianna has taken this young man back she has her reasons for and it might not be because of the abuse or that she has guilty thoughts that she feel an obligation to him only she knows why she’s sticking with him. but I feel you all are judging him because of hear say and who’s to say the pictures weren’t doc torn we don’t know but we need to find out all the facts first.I he is guilty then he will server his time an get help but we all must stop acting like we are perfect an have all the answers and always referring back to past issues.
debra2012
wrote on March 16 2009 @ 07:02 am: [report]
I don’t believe remarks about any group of people should be generalized, certainly not comments about domestic violence incidents, the details of which vary from crazy men who oppress women and beat them severely and repeatedly to women who hit men and are slapped once by their men. Stereotypes (generalizations) are never acceptable. In any event, none of us should play the part of a marriage or relationship counselor. We should direct our friends with marital or relationship problems to people who are trained, qualified, and objective. For these reasons, I absolutely disagree with Oprah’s generalization that a repeat offence is all but certain in every case.