I do not condone physical abuse. Boyfriend to girlfriend, parent to child, teen to grandmother, domestic partner to domestic partner, it's unacceptable and, without question, one of the most cowardly acts of insecurity in the history of humankind. But I will say this: Chris Brown is "sorry and saddened" and that's a step forward. Right? Look, we all know that a Hollywood publicist can move in like a medic, help whip up a statement that cries out to God, momma and Those With Money, heal the bruise, and eventually release the celebrity back into the game, unscarred. But whether that's the case with Chris Brown is another conversation.
What's missing in this conversation about Chris Brown and Rihanna is Rihanna. Yes, she's R&B's darling. Yes, what happened in Hancock Park was tragic and humiliating. But I'd like to see equal outcry from her or about her. And I'm not talking about her victim status; I'm talking about discussing women who find themselves with abusive partners. Will Rihanna [or her publicist] sketch out a game plan where she addresses women and abuse? Will she [or her publicist] use this opportunity to educate, break the silence, and then, in turn, empower other women? Whether this is Rihanna's first bout with abuse or her tenth, the issue here is celebrity and the power of visiblity. It's easy to remain the victim in a media event like this and let your agents do the talking, but it's another thing to step forward and discuss what no one wants to talk about. Right?
Keith Josef Adkins is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and social commentator.