LOS ANGELES — In her first public comments since she was allegedly attacked by Chris Brown, Rihanna thanked her fans for their support but declined to discuss the accusations against her boyfriend, citing the ongoing police investigation.
"At the request of the authorities, Rihanna is not commenting about the incident involving Chris Brown," read the statement from her rep firm to The Associated Press. "She wants to assure her fans that she remains strong, is doing well, and deeply appreciates the outpouring of support she has received during this difficult time."
The statement was released on Rihanna's 21st birthday and hours after the celebrity Web site TMZ posted a graphic photo that appears to be of the R&B star after the alleged attack, with her eyes closed, a fat lip, and bruises and cuts on her forehead.
Shortly after the photograph was posted, the Los Angeles Police Department issued a statement saying that it "takes seriously its duty to maintain the confidentiality of victims of domestic violence." Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton told AP on Friday that his department has launched an internal investigation into the origin of the photo and how TMZ obtained it.
Brown, 19, was arrested on Feb. 8, the day both stars were scheduled to perform at the 51st Grammy Awards. He was booked on suspicion of making criminal threats and is currently free on $50,000 bail.
After the incident, Rihanna postponed concerts overseas and canceled a birthday bash planned for New York. Instead of celebrating her birthday on Friday, the singer found herself in the midst of public outcry over the graphic photo and its potential impact on abused women. Kim Gandy, the president of the National Organization for Women, told AP that the photo is a reminder about the dangers of abuse.
"The reality that domestic violence can happen to anyone, even someone with fame and celebrity, ought to bring home the point that this is a problem for our entire society," Gandy said. "We can't avoid or ignore it."
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