Spring Break
Don't gawk at Rihanna; do something about battering
Taylor Trudon
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: Commentary
In 15 seconds, you can tie your shoelaces, pour yourself a bowl of cereal with milk or send a text message. In 15 seconds, you can wash your hands, put on lipstick or sharpen a pencil.
In the next 15 seconds (and every quarter of a minute following), a woman will be battered somewhere in America, usually by her intimate partner.
Unless you've been living under an umbrella for the past several weeks, it has been difficult to ignore the news concerning the assault of 21-year old superstar singing sensation Rihanna. The assault was allegedly committed by her multitalented entertainer boyfriend, Chris Brown. Known as the prom queen and king of the music world, the couple was scheduled to do a performance at this year's 2009 Grammy Awards, which was consequently replaced with a different routine. With Brown having turned himself in to the authorities, and Rihanna seeking solace in her home of Barbados out of the limelight, it was not long before a disturbing photograph of a battered Rihanna surfaced on the internet.
Swollen, bloodied lips, in addition to numerous bruises and cuts to her forehead and cheeks, is just a modest description of the physical injuries depicted in the image of the singer. Even with her eyes closed and facial wounds, it is clear that the individual is Rihanna.
Upon seeing the picture for the first time, I was immediately aghast not only at the unquestionable signs of abuse portrayed in the photo, but was further horrified that someone would have the audacity to expose such a photo. Celebrity or not, Rihanna is a victim of domestic violence. If she didn't feel terrible enough already, the photo only adds insult to injury.
TMZ, the celebrity gossip Web site responsible for first leaking the picture, should be ashamed of its complete lack of respect and insensitivity for Rihanna. Furthermore, the police accountable for protecting a photo that was intended to be confidential should no doubt face consequences, as their irresponsibility is absolutely inexcusable as well as unacceptable.
In the next 15 seconds (and every quarter of a minute following), a woman will be battered somewhere in America, usually by her intimate partner.
Unless you've been living under an umbrella for the past several weeks, it has been difficult to ignore the news concerning the assault of 21-year old superstar singing sensation Rihanna. The assault was allegedly committed by her multitalented entertainer boyfriend, Chris Brown. Known as the prom queen and king of the music world, the couple was scheduled to do a performance at this year's 2009 Grammy Awards, which was consequently replaced with a different routine. With Brown having turned himself in to the authorities, and Rihanna seeking solace in her home of Barbados out of the limelight, it was not long before a disturbing photograph of a battered Rihanna surfaced on the internet.
Swollen, bloodied lips, in addition to numerous bruises and cuts to her forehead and cheeks, is just a modest description of the physical injuries depicted in the image of the singer. Even with her eyes closed and facial wounds, it is clear that the individual is Rihanna.
Upon seeing the picture for the first time, I was immediately aghast not only at the unquestionable signs of abuse portrayed in the photo, but was further horrified that someone would have the audacity to expose such a photo. Celebrity or not, Rihanna is a victim of domestic violence. If she didn't feel terrible enough already, the photo only adds insult to injury.
TMZ, the celebrity gossip Web site responsible for first leaking the picture, should be ashamed of its complete lack of respect and insensitivity for Rihanna. Furthermore, the police accountable for protecting a photo that was intended to be confidential should no doubt face consequences, as their irresponsibility is absolutely inexcusable as well as unacceptable.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
cassandra
posted 2/26/09 @ 4:16 PM EST
I agreed completely with the intent of the article. However, I felt that the author was hyporcritical in the sense that she was bashing tmz for putting Rihanna's picture out there publicly and she herself felt the need to look up the picture. (Continued…)
rebecca
posted 2/26/09 @ 10:14 PM EST
I have been a victim of a abusive relationship. And I dont see Rihanna doing anything at all to help women of the world come forward. She took off as soon as it happened. (Continued…)
Losing Weight
posted 2/27/09 @ 2:22 AM EST
All this violence is caused by men who are brought into the world by women. These women should learn that the way children are brout up here is very abusive. (Continued…)
sam
posted 3/02/09 @ 1:00 AM EST
I actually disagree to the fact that the leaking of the photo to the internet is such a bad thing, it has brought the seriousness of the crime that this thug chris brown has committed to the attention of the wider public on an international level. (Continued…)
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