Chris Brown and Rhianna: The high cost of hitting
Filed under: Sex Sells, Career, Health, Relationships, School
There continues to be fallout from the altercation between high profile Chris Brown and Rhianna. Reportedly Brown hit Rhianna while arguing in Hancock Park, an upscale neighborhood in Los Angeles. A day after his arrest, the makers at Doublemint gum shelved ads featuring Brown singing a new jingle. A spokeswoman for Rihanna's highest-profile endorsement, CoverGirl Cosmetics, said ads featuring Rihanna are still running nationally, but declined to discuss whether her status as an alleged victim of domestic violence would affect the future of the campaign.
While the media and advertising world are looking at the cost of abuse in terms of dollars, I think there is a much, much higher cost in terms of people. Eugene Kane from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel visited a group of eighth-grade students at Hi-Mount Elementary School in Milwaukee last week for Black History Month. Following his talk, the subject of Brown and Rhianna came up.
Kane asked the girls whether they thought many of their peers believed it was all right for their boyfriends to attack them physically. Almost every hand in the room went up. It is clear that many of these girls have no idea what a healthy relationship is. Many come from fractured families with a history of abuse. Too often, they simply view it as "normal."
Therein is the real problem with the Chris Brown and Rhianna fiasco. It reinforces the stereotype of abusive relationships. The fact that they are so "beautiful" and "famous" gives the violence a certain type of credibility in the eyes of too many young people. If they are doing it, it must be OK. It must be what a "real man" does.
Parents would be wise to use this event as teachable moment for their children. Hitting, verbal or physical violence is never a part of a good relationship--no matter who you are.
Barbara Bartlein is the People Pro. How is the Health of Your Relationship? Take Barb's FREE quiz at Marriage Quiz.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-20-2009 @ 5:16PM
brooke said...
seriously chris brown needs to be locked up and his music should be taken off radios and his carerr should be ruined
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2-20-2009 @ 11:29PM
kelley said...
I totally agree and his idea of help is asking his Mother. And if Rhianna goes back to him because she " loves" him she will be in serious trouble down the line, this guy is a woman beater, not a man at all.
2-20-2009 @ 7:44PM
Deborah said...
I thought the article touched on some serious issues that we at times have ignored. There is also always the issue of impressionable children being negatively influenced by the irresponsible actions of adults.
I am comforted that Rhianna took a stand and made a report because this is reinforcing the point that physical abusue it is not acceptable in any relationship. I applaud her actions and I trust that Chris Brown will get some much need help before he gets involved in any future relationships...
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2-24-2009 @ 5:31PM
Brikia said...
there are 2 sides to every story and there are so many rumors surrounding the situation.yea what Chris Brown did was so wrong and he should take responsibility fa what he did and if any hits a woman,then he`s less of a man.i do commend Rihanna fa standing up fa herself cause so many women today are being abused daily and is saying or doing nothing to help themselves and others end up dead sorry to say.hopefully this is a lesson learned fa him and he wouldnt want no guy hitting his mom or sister,she`s someone`s child.Chris,you are so wrong fa what you did and Rihanna,im glad that you have Jay-Z looking out fa you boo.
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2-27-2009 @ 10:39PM
brikia said...
i was looking at comments and the photo of Miss Rihanna by flirty magazine and i feel that wasnt right for that stupid woman to leak out that photo of Rihanna like that and how would she like it if it were her trifling butt.i think that was personal and if she wanted the world to see her that way,she would`ve shown it herself.some people have no respsect or regards to people`s privacy and as for all the haters with those whack comments bout Rihanna,she`s still #1 in my book,she didnt deserve what Chris did to her,and yall really need to stop hating cuz she her own and yall dont!
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3-10-2009 @ 10:46AM
WickedStepMommie said...
Abuse in any form is wrong. Both people are public figures for young people. Whatever plays out for them in private or public will be viewed and heard by people...it is a fact of their lives as entertainers, actors, etc... Chris Brown should be punished for what he did and especially take a hit to any endorsements he may have. On the flip side, Rhianna should also take a hit to any endorsements she may have especially if she decides to take this man back. I will totally lose any kind of respect for her if she does take Mr. Brown back and lose respect for any company that would continue to hold her to her endorsements. She is a public figure and many young people look up to her. She is young and will have to live her life the way she feels she should, but then she should take the ugly with it and that means taking a hit to her endorsements then so be it. This young lady has much going for her and a long life ahead of her…if she reconciles with this man she would either subject herself to more abuse or sadly possibly death. What Chris Brown did was not passion or passionate, or love…it was just plain abuse.
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5-07-2009 @ 11:55PM
vcao said...
I will totally lose any kind of respect for her if she does take Mr. Brown back and lose respect for any company that would continue to hold her to her endorsements http://www.vcao.net I thought the article touched on some serious issues that we at times have ignored.
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