Rihanna Doesn't Want to Hurt Brown's Career

Singer Rihanna has told Rolling Stone magazine she agreed a judge could ease a stay away order against her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown. She explains that she does not want to hurt Brown's career over the violent domestic abuse incident that happened two years ago. Many fans are chastising Rihanna for agreeing to ease the stay, insisting that Brown brought the trouble on himself in the first place.

Rihanna is far from being the first celebrity to face a case of domestic violence. Britney Spears was reportedly abused by Jason Trawick, according to ex-husband and long time best friend, Alexander. Madonna revealed in her autobiography that her relationship with Sean Penn was often abusive. The abuse came to a head in 1988 when he verbally abused her for nine hours and hit her, sending her bloody to the police. The couple split but Madonna withdrew the charges and kept the incident quiet for years.

Then of course there is the Mel Gibson and Oksana Grigorieva fiasco in which Gibson was caught on tape admitting to hitting her and even threatening to kill her. And let's not forget Tina and Ike Turner. There is a long history of celeb domestic violence that is often covered up, swept under the rug or at very least, handled in a lesser manner than it would be for ordinary people. What gives?

Are the rules different for the rich and famous? While celebrities are making exceptions in order to respect one another's career, a non-celebrity would be shunned and scolded for the very same choice. A non-celebrity abused by her husband would be told to fight back, to seek help and even to leave him to avoid more harm.

Women who stay with abusive husbands or partners "for the kids" or to avoid "ruining his career" are told that they are wrong, that this is part of the abuse and that they must get help immediately. Yet celebrity couples are encouraged to drop charges, lessen charges and not to speak out about domestic violence because it could hurt their own career or the career of the abuser. They are applauded for "being adults" and handling the situation with "class".

This is one Hollywood double-standard that could prove very dangerous.

**If you are a victim of domestic violence nad abuse, regardless of your profession, there are many ways to seek help. You're not alone. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7.

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