Eye Patch May Have Hidden Past Abuse: Police

Plus, cousin says Chris 'had to be provoked'

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 13, 2009 7:50 AM CST

(Newser) – The eye patch Rihanna wore at last year's American Music Awards might have been more than a costume, the Sun reports. Rihanna started wearing the patch to cover her scratched cornea, and police are investigating whether Chris Brown caused the injury. “We’re talking to her friends and management, who say she’s appeared with mysterious marks or injuries before, but always refused to explain what happened,” said a police source.

Reports that Rihanna sparked Saturday’s fight are “bogus,” a source told the Daily News. “Someone is trying to portray her as the aggressor.” Brown himself posted, “You’ll begin to see her true colors,” on Facebook—and changed his status to “single.” In a questionable move, Brown’s cousin told Extra: “He's done something wrong because he put his hands on her, but he had to be provoked to do it.”

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (1)]

Rihanna performs during the 2008 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on November 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images)

Rihanna performs onstage during the 2008 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on November 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images)

Rihanna, left, and Chris Brown are seen at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday June 1, 2008 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

Rihanna and Chris Brown perform at the Z100 Jingle Ball 2008 at Madison Square Garden on Friday, Dec. 12, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

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Chris was not brought up to beat on a woman. So it had to be something to provoke him for Chris to do it. He wouldn't have done it just to be having fun. - Phylicia Thompson, Chris Brown's cousin

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 8 comments

drlarrymitchell

Feb 17, 2009 12:38 AM CST

I dislike both of them. Let's dump them in a dirt arena, give them each a broken whiskey bottle, let them work it out and put it on pay-per-view. Then, I won't watch it, or have to endure multiple articles each day about a domestic violence situation I could care less about.

Shannonals

Feb 15, 2009 12:28 AM CST

I hold all judgement until the facts are released. And for any man to simply say he wouldn't strike a woman who is beating him because she is a woman, is a person trying to pacify others. I don't care who you are, someone starts beating you in a small area, the first thing you will do is protect yourself first and think last

PhillytoWinnetka

Feb 14, 2009 6:34 AM CST

Whether or not she "provoked" him is irrelevant. He should have walked away. Atleast that is what a gentleman or decent human being would have done.

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abuse • domestic violence • violence • celebrity • injury • assault • Rihanna • physical abuse • Chris Brown

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Eye Patch May Have Hidden Past Abuse: Police