The long awaited 20/20 Rihanna interview with Diane Sawyer aired last night on ABC. The singer revealed that her once harmonious relationship with Chris Brown turned into something obsessive and dangerous. It all came crashing down in February 2009 when he turned on her in a rage that has altered their lives forever.
The pair left a pre-Grammy party and began arguing in the car about a text message Brown had received from an ex-girlfriend and then lied about. Brown turned on Rihanna and repeatedly punched and bit her. He then choked her to the point of near unconsciousness, while threatening to kill her.
She eventually managed to get out of the car and began to walk, bloodied and crying hysterically. Someone heard her screams and called 911. She was taken to a hospital for treatment and gave a statement to police. The disturbing photo of her face was eventually leaked.
She regrets the fact that she reunited with Brown in Miami a month after the altercation. Things were strained between them and there was no longer any “soul in his eyes.” She admits it was a mistake, and it sent the wrong message to her fans.
Rihanna soon ended the reconciliation, admitting, “Even if Chris never hit me again, who is to say that their boyfriend won’t? Who’s to say that they won’t kill these girls? These are young girls, and I just didn’t realize how much of an impact I have on these girls’ lives until that happened. It was a wake-up call.”
View the entire 20/20 Rihanna interview below.