After months of speculation, R&B star Chris Brown confirmed that he has in fact renewed his “friendship” with fellow artist Rihanna, an announcement that coincided with break-up from aspiring model Karrueche Tran. Brown, 23, still has two more years of probation to serve, having been convicted of felony assault in the beating of Rihanna on the night before the Grammys in 2009. A judge lifted his order for Brown to “stay away” from Rihanna last year, and the two have been seen together in public a handful of times, including last month’s MTV Video Music Awards, where the two shared a hug and a kiss. Brown announced his break-up with Tran and his “friendship” with Rihanna via a statement to CNN.
“I have decided to be single to focus on my career,” Brown said. “I love Karrueche very much but I don’t want to see her hurt over my friendship with Rihanna. I’d rather be single allowing us to both be happy in our lives.”
Tran sent an apparent sub-tweet directed towards Brown on Wednesday night, saying only “Bye baby.” According to an US weekly source, the 24-year old model was upset by the incident at the VMAs. “She felt the kiss was a public slap in the face . . . Seeing him with Rihanna at such a public event made her very angry.”
During an August interview, Rihanna told Oprah Winfrey that Brown had been her “best friend,” and that she still loved him. In February 2011, the judge presiding over Brown’s case lifted the restraining order that required him to stay 50 yards away from Rihanna, with the female singer’s consent.
After being sentenced in 2009, Brown opened up to CNN’s Larry King on the incident. “We’re both young. So nobody taught us how to love one another. Nobody taught us a book on how to control our emotions or our anger. I’m not trying to fall on the fact that I’m young. I’m just saying it’s a lot of stuff that I wish I could have changed that night.”
While both sides seem ready to try again on the surface, there’s no doubt that a reunion would incite a very public backlash.
