Rihanna’s Response

I’ve been thinking a lot about this whole Rihanna domestic abuse thing.

It bugged me slightly that a day after she was beat up by Chris Brown, her publicist released only this statement: “Rihanna is well.”

But then again, what did I expect?  “Rihanna is horrified that not only did her boyfriend beat her up, it has become global news and she is mortified that the photo of wounds sustained has been illegally released by the police department.”  Obviously, none of us expected that level of truth.  But something in between perhaps?

Well, anyway, I’ve been reading a few blogs-eonline/celebrity garbage type junk that are suggesting it’s time for Rihanna to speak out.  They say she should not be silent about domestic abuse and that as a public figure she needs to take her responsibility to give voice to this on behalf of other woman.

But here’s the thing.  This was all less than 6 months ago.  Doesn’t the girl need process time?  And also, just because she’s a celebrity why does she have to elaborate on something so shameful and so awful?  Does she need to become the voice of battered women?  On the other hand, if she never brings it up, is that slightly irresponsible?  Or just being private for the sake of her sanity?  Or should we give her like 2-5 years, for the sake of hindsight, at least?

And what about Micheal J. Fox?  His sharing about his Parkinsons has been nothing but healing for everyone involved after years of secrecy.  What about Jennifer Hudson, does she also have a responsibility to share about having your mother be murdered, etc.?

Chris Brown has come out publicly to apologize and to offer remorse over his behavior.  He even went so far as to say that when he grew up watching his mother being beaten by his step-father he would be so scared he would pee his pants and he has regretfully become the abuser he once feared.  I admired that in this public scenario he gave proper weight to his behavior.

So, what do you think?  response or no response by Rihanna?