Rihanna to 'Good Morning America': Beating by Chris Brown led me to speak out

Pop star Rihanna talked to Diane Sawyer on "Good Morning America" about her abuse at the hands of boyfriend and fellow musician Chris Brown. The first half of the interview aired today; the second half airs tomorrow.

On Feb. 8, Brown was arrested after lashing out at Rihanna while the pair were en route to the appear at that night's Grammy awards ceremony. He beat his then-girlfriend so badly the pictures, when leaked, caused an uproar.

Rihanna says she was ashamed that the entire world could see what she perceived as a weakness.

"I fell in love with that person," she says. "That's embarassing. That's embarassing that that's the type of person that I fell in love with. So far in love, so unconditional that I went back."

Despite that, Rihanna says she knows she's a symbol for other women due to her fame. That led her to speak out on behalf of battered women.

"When I realized that my selfish decision for love could result in some young girl getting killed, I could not, I could not be easy with that part," she tells Sawyer. "I couldn't be responsible for telling them, 'Go back.' Even if Chris never hit me again, who's to say that their boyfriend won't? Who's to say they won't kill these girls?"

The singer has advice for other women being abused by their significant others: Strip away the emotion and see those relationships for what they really are.

"Don't react off of love. Eff love. Come out of the situation and look at it third-person, for what it really is, and then make your decision, because love is so blind."

Watch the first half of the interview. Part two airs tomorrow.

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Related:

Chris Brown: Two felony charges in Rihanna beating
Chris Brown's bowtie creates a stir on Larry King, Twitter
Rihanna beating photo leaked, sparks police probe

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