[UPDATE #6] Chris Brown Apologizes, Seeks Counseling

via Yahoo

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – R&B star Chris Brown, who was arrested last weekend on suspicion of attacking a woman widely believed to be the pop star Rihanna, said on Sunday he was “sorry and saddened” about the incident, and was seeking counseling.

The 19-year-old performer of such U.S. chart-toppers as “Run It!” and “Forever” has been in hiding since the alleged fracas with his girlfriend in a rented Lamborghini.

He hired a public relations company that specializes in crisis management to issue a five-sentence statement in which he also said many media and blog reports have been wrong.

“Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired,” he said. “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 did not mention his father, who was quoted on Friday as telling People magazine that his son was “very remorseful.”

Police and prosecutors have not officially disclosed that Rihanna was the victim of Brown’s attack just after midnight on February 8. But unidentified police sources told the Los Angeles Times that Rihanna was the victim, and numerous media outlets have reported the same information.

Brown turned himself in to police, and he was booked on suspicion of making criminal threats against a woman. The Los Angeles Police Department is still investigating, and a spokeswoman for the L.A. District Attorney’s Office said a decision has not yet been made on whether to file charges.

Celebrity websites and magazines have reported that the incident happened shortly after Brown left a Beverly Hills party with Rihanna as his passenger. The 20-year-old native of Barbados suffered bruises on her face and a split lip, according to several reports.

Brown added in his statement: “Much of what has been speculated or reported on blogs and/or reported in the media is wrong. 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.”

Despite the serious nature of the allegations, many of Brown’s showbiz comrades have defended him. Most recently, hip-hop star Kanye West said, “Can’t we give Chris a break?” during a taping of VH1’s “Storytellers” on Friday.

via Eonline

His world may be in upheaval, but Chris Brown is holed up in a Hollywood hotel, keeping quiet.

While information continues to trickle out about what was apparently an ugly dispute between the R&B star and his girlfriend, Rihanna, one of his major sponsors, gum maker Wrigley, is distancing itself from the 19-year-old “Forever” singer.

Although the Los Angeles Police Department issued a statement Sunday night saying Brown had been arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats and could face additional charges now that the case had been forwarded to the district attorney, prosecutors tell E! News that the announcement was premature and the investigation is ongoing.

“LAPD are telling some reporters that we received the evidence but we have not received anything yet,” says Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the county district attorney. “Normally it would come in today, maybe this afternoon, but no, they haven’t presented it and I don’t know when they will.”

Robison says that the probe is still continuing—unusual for such cases—as detectives want to make sure they do a thorough job given that a celebrity is involved.

Brown’s camp, including newly hired criminal attorney Mark Geragos, has remained mum on the incident.

Meanwhile, LAPD spokeswoman April Harding is shooting down a TMZ report from earlier today (which has since been corrected) that claimed Brown used “a deadly weapon” during his alleged attack.

“There is absolutely no truth to that story. If it had been a deadly weapon involved, he would have been charged with a deadly weapons charge,” says Harding.

Citing department policy for domestic violence cases, Harding declined to release the name of the victim. Multiple sources have confirmed to E! News that it indeed was Rihanna, the 20-year-old songstress Brown has been dating for over a year.

Brown and Rihanna apparently got into a nasty fight around 12:30 a.m. Sunday while heading home from Clive Davis‘ annual pre-Grammys party, which they had cheerily attended.

Brown was booked on suspicion of making criminal threats, a count that carries a maximum penalty of four years, and was released from jail on $50,000 bail. His rented silver Lamborghini remains impounded.

Rihanna, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, suffered visible bruises and cuts on her face and was hospitalized, though it is not clear if she remains a patient.

Her publicist has refused to comment on the situation other than to point to Sunday’s statement claiming the “Disturbia” diva was doing “well” and thanking fans for their “concern and support.”

Sources at her Def Jam Records label have suggested that she may scrap an upcoming Asian tour. The performer is set to play a concert this Friday at Stadium Purta in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, however, in order to keep that date, she’d have to leave Los Angeles no later than Wednesday.

As for Brown, he’s still scheduled to participate in the NBA’s All-Star festivities in Phoenix on Feb. 15, including playing in a celebrity game two days prior.

Finally, in the wake of the allegations, Wrigley has suspended advertisements for Doublemint gum featuring Chris Brown until the case has been resolved. One of the commercials ran during last night’s Grammy Awards, for which Brown and Rihanna both sat out.

Update#4

This shot was taken as the couple left Clive Davis' Grammy party in Beverly Hills just after midnight on Sunday morning.

This gets worse by the minute.

via TMZ

TMZ has confirmed Rihanna is the named alleged victim in the Chris Brown case and the allegation is that she was assaulted with a deadly weapon.

Law enforcement sources tell us the crime report calls the incident assault with a deadly weapon — we do not yet know the nature of the weapon.

The crime report gives the victim’s name as Robyn Fenty — that’s Rihanna’s real name.

Update#3

via Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Singer Chris Brown was arrested and charged with making criminal threats on Sunday for an early morning attack on an unidentified woman widely thought to be his girlfriend, pop star Rihanna.

Los Angeles police would not confirm the name of the victim, but both Brown and Rihanna missed their performances at Sunday’s Grammy Awards, and several media outlets speculated that Rihanna was the unidentified woman.

Brown, 19, was scheduled to perform his love song “Forever” at the music awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday evening, and Rihanna was set to sing her hit single “Disturbia.”

Neither Rihanna, who was nominated in three categories, nor Brown, who was nominated twice, walked the red carpet, and they were not in attendance for the awards ceremony. Their representatives could not be reached for comment.

As the show was getting underway, Brown turned himself in for questioning by police. Later, he was booked on a charge of making criminal threats and released on 50,000 bail, according to a Los Angeles Police Department statement.

Brown was being investigated for alleged domestic violence felony battery, and additional charges could be filed after officials review the case, the LAPD said in its statement.

Supposedly this is footage of Chris Brown turning himself in but nothing will be as priceless as LAPD making him do the perp walk.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

I think this will be a career ender if this dude was stupid enough to hit Rihanna.

Source: People

Chris Brown is under investigation for alleged domestic violence felony battery, the LAPD confirms to PEOPLE.

“The identity of the victim will not be released,” said Officer April Harding. “Any victim who’s involved in a domestic violence incident is entitled to confidentiality.”

Around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, the R&B singer and a woman were in a vehicle in L.A. when they became involved in an argument, according to a police statement. After stopping his car, Brown and the woman got out and the argument escalated. The woman suffered visible injuries and identified Brown as her attacker, according to police.

The LAPD received a 911 call reporting the disturbance. “If police locate Brown, yes, he’s subject to arrest,” Officer Harding added.

When officers arrived they found the victim, but Brown had already left the scene, the statement reads.

The LAPD is conducting an investigation into the incident.

Earlier Saturday night Brown and girlfriend Rihanna were at the Recording Academy and Clive Davis’s Pre-Grammy Gala in Beverly Hills.

When asked about Rihanna’s well being, her rep told PEOPLE, “Rihanna is well. Thank you for concern and support.”