'Leaked' Rihanna Beating Photo Prompts LAPD Investigation, Angers Father

The picture of a brutalized Rihanna has gone viral on the internet. TMZ has posted the "leaked" picture of the beautiful pop singer and, if this is what Chris Brown is allegedly capable of doing when he's angry, the 19-year-old R&B singer might need to enroll in some anger management therapy sessions. What has been done to Rihanna, the awful results of a terrible beating as captured in the police photo, is criminal.

The Los Angeles Police Department issued a statement Friday, February 20, that they had launched an internal investigation to ascertain how the Rihanna police photo made its way to the internet. The LAPD maintains that the transmission of the picture was unauthorized and that they are taking steps to find out how the picture was "leaked." The offender can be prosecuted and terminated.

"The Los Angeles Police Department takes seriously its duty to maintain the confidentiality of victims of domestic violence," the statement read in part.

But money talks and the LAPD knows that. If the offender covered their tracks well enough, not only could they get away with the act of misconduct, but they could potentially be very, very well-compensated. Exclusive pictures have a way of fetching exorbitant prices, such as the $11 million Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie received for exclusive first photos of their twins.

The picture "leak" comes on the heels of rumors that Chris Brown may be facing major jail time for the incident that happened the day of the 2009 Grammy Awards. Brown issued a statement Sunday through his publicist that he was "saddened... over what transpired." He went on to say that the speculation about what actually occurred was wrong and that, due to legal issues, he could not explain his part in it. He finished by stating that none of the online writings or postings to Facebook and other social networking sites and blogs were written by him, calling them "frauds."

Rihanna went to spend time with her family after the incident. Her father, Ronald Fenty, told People magazine that she was bruised but would likely be alright. He said, "At some point, she will speak out. I hope she will stand up for women all over the world."

But Fenty was angry, MTV reported, about the photo going out over the internet. He told People.com that it was just "sloppy" police work. He also told US magazine that perhaps now people would "grasp the situation a lot better. It's good and it's bad to see the picture because there's other people who were thinking differently, that [Rihanna's injuries] may not be that bad, just a little spank or a little thing."

Those who have seen the Rihanna picture would certainly hope she speaks out - and helps prosecute the perpetrator with every ounce of her being. Although it is unknown what caused the altercation, the damage to another person like that which was meted out onto Rihanna is a disgusting show of brutal force used to inflict as much pain as possible.

And it is shocking.

According to ABC News, Chris Brown has admitted to being witness to occasions of domestic violence, seeing his mother as a victim of a dominating man that Brown admittedly hated, when he was growing up. While not causative proof that he engages in such behavior himself, being exposed to an environment where domestic violence is part of one's routine is an indicator of like behavior passing from generation to generation.

But the idea of Chris Brown physically injuring his girlfriend, Rihanna, is still a little difficult to believe for many fans. It certainly does not fit the image of the boy-next-door that he has cultivated in his short but well-received career. But his involvement in something so unwholesome as an act of domestic violence has caused Wrigley Co., the makers of Doublemint gum, to drop their endorsement contract with the young singer.

Police are saying that Chris Brown and Rihanna were involved in a heated altercation in the early morning hours of February 8 shortly after a pre-Grammy party in Los Angeles. A subsequent 911 call to the police by Rihanna, who the police called an "unidentified female" at the time, led to a manhunt for Chris Brown, who was identified as the person who had accosted her. Brown later turned himself in, was charged with making felony criminal threats and released.

Both Rihanna and Chris Brown canceled their appearances at the Grammy Awards. It would be a bad night all around for Brown, who was nominated for two Grammy Awards and won neither.

Rihanna would go on to cancel concert dates. Chris Brown canceled scheduled appearances at events during the NBA All-Star weekend. He then went into seclusion in Las Vegas.

According to TMZ, felony criminal threats can carry a sentence of nine years in California. Domestic violence can get one locked away for four years. That is if prosecutors take the case to court.

And with the Rihanna photo as evidence, it certainly isn't looking too pretty for Chris Brown...

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Sources:

TMZ.com

AOLCDN.com

ABCNews.go.com

MTV.com
US magazine
People.com
People magazine