Editor's Note: In the summer, Chris Brown pleaded guilty for attacking and abusing his then-girlfriend singer and pop icon Rihanna earlier this year. Brown was sentence to 180 days of community labor and briefly spoke about his actions on Larry King Live in August. Yesterday, Rihanna spoke for the first time on Good Morning America. We asked young people to watch a clip of Rihanna's interview and share their reactions on how Rihanna addressed the situation. These contributors are fall interns with YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia.

They Are Both At Fault

“Rihanna isn’t saying everything that happened between her and Chris Brown. I think she went back to Chris because she felt guilty about something. I understand why Rihanna is not with Chris anymore. Many people look up to Rihanna and not being together with Chris sends a better message to the public. Rihanna’s message is that it is not okay to be hit and abused.

However, I don't understand why Rihanna went back to Chris Brown, only to leave him pretty soon after. That is just playing with his feelings. 

Chris Brown has been held accountable enough for his actions. He’s had to endure so much embarrassment and humiliation. I don't think he deserves any more repercussion. When it comes to domestic violence, both abusive partners, not just one, should be both held accountable by taking anger management classes and seeking counseling together.”

-Sherry Blunt, 21

Rihanna Speaks Out on Chris Brown Beat Down from yoblogger on Vimeo.

Hold Men and Woman To The Same Standards

Rihanna’s public response is long overdue. But it’s challenging to deal with very personal situations in the public eye. You’re dealing with intense feelings and emotions while media is pointing the finger at you and telling you what you should have done differently. In this interview, Rihanna said, “love is blind.” It’s true. You can’t judge someone until you’ve been there, been in their position and understand what they’ve gone through.

An individual in an abusive relationship may blame themselves for many reasons. That person may think if they had only acted differently, or been more understanding, the abuse wouldn’t have happened.

Also, women dealing with domestic violence sometimes feel ashamed because they feel like they failed at loving. An abuser may love the person who they abuse, but the abuser might not know how to deal with their own emotions or have anger control. When a person can’t verbalize or express what is on their mind, emotions explode and things turn physical. When relationships become abusive, most the time, relationships get worst, not better. The abuse becomes more brutal and frequent.

It’s sad that so many young women side with Chris Brown and blame Rihanna for the abuse that occurred. This reflects the value our society places on men over women, and the inequality of those values.

Society needs to up the standards for what is considered acceptable treatment of women. We need to teach our daughters better. Women need to be stronger and not except lower standards.

- Kayla Bailey, 22

Loneliness Perpetuates Abuse

Survivors of domestic violence return back to their abusive partner because they are lonely. When they reflect back on the relationship, they only think about the good times and pretend the bad things, like abuse, never happened.

Chris Brown let his anger take over. In spite of that, Rihanna’s love was unconditional, so she went back to him. Young women around Rihanna’s age need to learn that they can break away of from type of situation and lead a better life on their own. In the interview, Rihanna makes it clear that women shouldn’t have to be stuck in an abusive relationship.

Chris Brown will always have fans that believe in him, forgive him, and understand that he made a mistake. This is what happens when someone does wrong. They have to pay for what they have done.

I think abusive partners should be punished for what they have done because it is not okay for someone to put their hands on another person.

Rihanna gave good advice to young girls. However, I also feel she must have done something that triggered the abusive situation occur. I’m not saying it’s okay for men to hit women. I just wish she should have been more honest about what really went happened that led to the abuse.

- Kendra Davis

Break The Abusive Cycle

Rihanna was brutally beaten by Chris Brown. Before the incident, Chris Brown could do no wrong. He was a poster boy and role model to many young boys who looked up him and wanted to emulated his style. Now his picture-perfect image has been shattered and will never be restored.

Rihanna said she is embarrassed she fell in love with Chris Brown. I don’t blame her. There is no way she could have foreseen this particular incident of abuse. But I don’t think this was the first time it happened. 

I wonder what would have happened if the abuse occurred behind closed doors without the media involved? Would the abuse be a secret? Would Rihanna still be with Chris Brown? Being young and in love is the best feeling in the world, but it is also the worst. I fell into a torrid love affair with a person who was abusive. At that time, I "thought" it was love. Although he never put a hand on me, the verbal abuse left me feeling bewildered, ashamed, and humiliated. I kept thinking, “what am I doing wrong?” and felt everything was my fault. I kept trying to change myself for him, until one day, I snapped and realized the situation was not okay. My parents’ marriage was abusive so I grew up seeing abuse. I thought abuse was “normal,” so I became a victim to the same cycle that my mother fell into. I decided to get out of this relationship. I broke up with him and learned that before I can truly love someone, I have to learn to love myself first.       

- Angelica Arreola, 21