Young Hollywood & Domestic Violence - Are Chris Brown & Rhianna the New Faces?

Every news headline and entertainment news talk program has featured and continues to talk about the domestic violent dispute between Chris Brown and Rhianna - almost as though they are the first couple to experience a domestic dispute.

The truth of the matter is:

• Young women ages 16-24 experience the
highest rate of domestic violence.

• 5.3 million Domestic Violence incidents occur
each year among U.S. women.

• Every 15 seconds in the U.S. a woman is beaten.

• About 1 in 4 women are likely to be abused by a partner in her lifetime.

Domestic violence is happening more than its not. It's becoming a trend that no one is addressing at its core. "When you love a person and are violated by that person, the situation is often much more complicated than experts admit or the victim themselves confess to because it's taboo and too complicated to understand how you love somebody that hurts you. " states, Tiffiney Penn, a survivor of domestic violence.

Tiffiney, a speaker and author, is not going to be silent any longer. Nearly four years ago, Penn was stabbed seven times by her fiancé in the home they shared. The reminders are seven scars - one on her foot, three on her left forearm, two in her left breast and one in the center of her chest. "When I walked out of the kitchen, I had a knife stuck in my chest." she said. Spending four days in the hospital while trying to come to grips with the tragedy she was blessed to have lived through, Tiffney, counting her blessings, often thought of her fiancé and the life they were planning to live before that fateful day. She continues, "It was difficult those first few weeks. I was trying to understand how a man I loved, who'd never shown me violence before, with whom I shared the responsibility of raising a child, and said he loved me, could do something so horrific to me. I was trying to figure out how to stop loving him or even if I should."

The experience prompted Tiffiney to establish her nonprofit, The Soul Survivor Foundation, as a way of sharing her story and strength with others. Tiffiney and her fiancé continue to endure a long road of healing, forgiveness, and understanding as they transition from the people they were prior to that day to the people they've become today. Penn insists, "I cannot remain silent, he cannot remain silent - what happened to Chris and Rhianna is becoming the norm and we need to start talking about this trend to help others shed their pain." Speculating what some may see a diminished value of the couple, Tiffiney responds, "What happened doesn't change who Chris was before that day nor does it diminish the strength of Rhianna as a woman. It's not like Ike and Tina where Ike was riding the coattail of Tina's fame. She continues, "I encourage other victims, survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence to share their stories - they are both affected, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Chris Brown, just as with my fiancé or any other perpetrator must be held accountable and take responsibility for their actions. As a society, we must use Chris' and Rhianna's experience as a springboard to bring awareness to this epidemic."

Tiffiney is the mother of two children, both whom excel academically, and the Director of Communications and Fundraising for the nonprofit organization City A.C.E.S. Tiffiney is passionate about bringing more awareness to domestic violence. She doesn't take to this lightly, "I'm not condoning the actions of any perpetrator, but this is not the time to pass judgment on either of these young people for any of their choices. They need support and to know that they are still loved no matter what." The answer to why this happened to Chris and Rhianna, Penn says, "There are men and women who continue to suffer in silence each and everyday. Simply because their not celebrities and their stories are not news worthy, they continue to suffer from the silence of their shame."

About Tiffiney Penn
Tiffiney L. Penn, affectionately known as Tiff, is a motivational speaker, consultant and a nationally certified trainer. She has empowered audiences throughout the United States with her motivational and inspirational messages, workshops and seminars. A survivor of domestic violence after being stabbed by her fiancé seven times, Tiffiney Penn rose with strength and valor with a determination to find answers to why she and her lover's love was visited by such darkness. After going through an arduous healing process that included radical forgiveness, Tiffiney and her fiancé have reconciled their past and re-committed to loving their children, while being a voice to those couples that face this tragedy and thankfully survive.

Her insightful and thought provoking messages are a source of encouragement to individuals to reach new horizons in their personal development. She believes that anyone, especially youth are reachable, teachable, lovable and savable and that proactive prevention, intervention and support are the keys to change. For more information, please visit www.tiffineypenn.com.

Statistics come from the National Institute of Justice and the Centers of Disease Control & Prevention, www.mujereslatinasenaccion.org/Facts and Stats.html and U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics.