Chris Brown, You Have Some Explaining to Do! (and So Do You, TMZ!)

TMZ has placed on their website the photo of pop and R&B star Rihanna's battered face (which you can see by just clicking on the title. I must, however, warn you that if you go to this link after press time- the time this entry has been published- the photo may not be there...read on for reason why...). You can see that it's not very glamorous- and to be honest, I don't know why TMZ would even do this. If it's for entertainment shock value, it's not very funny. However, I don't think they would stoop this low, but still, considering that both the website and daily TV series often times pokes fun at celebrities and their high (and low) jinks, I have to take that under consideration.

That said, TMZ itself may have to do some explaining as to how they got the photo in the first place- to the Los Angeles Police Department. In a statement, which you can read here by clicking here to http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_documents_021909_lapd_statement_1.pdf , the department says that it "takes seriously its duty to maintain the confidentiality of victims of domestic violence." The LAPD is conducting an internal investigation as to the photo being leaked, and the person- or persons- that released this may be charged with serious misconduct, face penalties up to, and including, termination.

Chris Brown, on Monday, released a statement apologizing for his actions (http://www.tmz.com/2009/02/15/chris-brown-finally-releases-statement/ , but apparently, this wasn't the first time the 19 year old R&B star brutalized his 21 year old girlfriend. Apparently, he made threats to her before, and that over time-according to police reports- the relationship has been an "ongoing and escalating abusive relationship. And the parents are recommending that Rihanna- real name Robin Fenty- stay away from Brown. Understandably, they're angry over the leaked photos.

I am too. And if it weren't for the LAPD investigation over the leaked photo, I would have never placed the link to the TMZ piece. Rihanna deserves her privacy and our respect. My prayers go out to both her and to Chris Brown, the latter needing help in this.

(C) 2009 by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.