Does time heal all wounds? For Rihanna, it might.
The “Sexiest Woman Alive in 2011,” who was beaten by ex-boyfriend Chris Brown two years ago, has set aside her resentment towards the young man and even become a “fan” of his work again.
Though memories of her horrific fight with Brown have undoubtedly been permanently etched in her mind, Rihanna, 23, told Esquire that she has put the past behind her and let go of the animosity she felt towards her violent former flame. The negative feelings, she says, were zapping her time.
“Obviously, I had some resentment toward him for a while, for obvious reasons,” the Barbados bombshell told the magazine. “But I’ve put that behind me. It was taking up too much of my time. It was too much anger.”
In the same interview with Esquire, Rihanna demonstrated amazement at Brown’s musical comeback. Many expected the shamed crooner’s outburst to cost him record sales and popularity, but in late 2009, his first single since the altercation, “I Can Transform Ya,” landed on the Billboard Hot 100 list.
“It’s incredible to see how he pulled out of it the way he did,” Rihanna said. “Even when the world seemed like it was against him, you know? I really like the music he’s putting out. I’m a fan of his stuff. I’ve always been a fan.” (PHOTOS: Rihanna is the Sexiest Woman of 2011)
In spite of it all, Rihanna says she’s happy to see Brown progress in the entertainment industry.
“I’m really excited to see the breakthrough he’s had in his career,” Rihanna said. “I would never wish anything horrible for him. Never. I never have.”
For obvious reasons, Rihanna and Brown’s circumstances were less than peaceful following the 2009 incident. The “Rude Boy” singer got a restraining order against Brown, but later modified the ruling, which initially stated that her ex had to stay a minimum of 50 feet away from her at all times, to avoid award show complications and such. Earlier this year, Rihanna told Rolling Stone that the decision was out of her hands and in no way indicative of improved relations with Brown.
“It doesn’t mean we’re gonna make up or even talk again,” Rihanna said. “It just means I didn’t want to object to the judge … We don’t have to talk ever again in my life. I just didn’t want to make it more difficult for him professionally. What he did was a personal thing — it had nothing to do with his career. Saying he has to be 100 feet away from me, he can’t perform at awards shows — that definitely made it difficult for him … But you can never please people. One minute, I’m being too hard, and the next minute, I’m a fool because I’m not being hard enough.”
In late 2009, Rihanna talked to ABC News about her encounter with Brown and said she felt embarrassed that she’d fallen for such a destructive individual.
“I didn’t want people to think that that’s the kind of person … That’s embarrassing that that’s the type of person I fell in love with. So far in love,” Rihanna said.
WATCH: Rihanna’s 2009 interview about Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNnVd7yMPvQ