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Many women would NEVER forgive an ex-boyfriend who battered them. But I applaud Rihanna’s compassion for Chris Brown, and for her saying: “I would never wish anything horrible for him. Never have.”

Rihanna doesn’t condone Chris Brown‘s abusive behavior and neither do I. But she is willing to give Chris, now 22, who was her boyfriend for almost a year before the battering incident, a second chance. She reveals her feelings in her new November issue, Esquire magazine cover interview.

“Obviously, I had some resentment toward him for awhile, for obvious reasons. But I’ve put that behind me. It was taking up too much of my time. It was too much anger,” she now tells the magazine.

I’m glad she feels that way because it’s clear that she understands that people can make terrible mistakes and yet deserve second chances. Especially when they were so young when they behaved badly.

Chris was just 19 when he battered Rihanna on Feb. 8, 2009. She was just 20.  He pled guilty to one count of felony assault and was sentenced to a year of domestic violence classes and  1,400 hours of community service, all of which have been completed. He has also publicly apologized for his behavior multiple times and has vowed to be a far better person. He is still on probation.

Just this year, his career has made a full recovery with the success of his top selling album, F.A.M.E., and megahit singles, “Yeah 3x” and “Beautiful People.”

This hasn’t gone unnoticed by Rihanna, who has piled on #1 hit after #1 hit.

“It’s incredible to see how he pulled out of it the way he did. Even when the world seemed like it was against him, you know? I really like the music he’s putting out,” she says. “I’m a fan of his stuff. I’ve always been a fan.”

Rihanna — you’re being incredibly generous to Chris and I’m sure no one will appreciate reading your words, more than he will.

As the stepson of a man, Donnelle Hawkins, who battered his own beloved mother, Joyce Hawkins, and who was traumatized by that, Chris had to hate himself for what he did to his girlfriend.

Chris Brown has spoken out about how terrified he was as a child and teenager, growing up with an abusive stepfather.

“He used to hit my mom….He made me terrified all the time, terrified like I had to pee on myself. I remember one night he made her nose bleed.,” Chris told Giant magazine in Aug. 2007.

Rihanna, who once considered Chris her best friend as well as boyfriend,  clearly knew about his terrible childhood experiences  and  knew that his apologies were real. She’s now showing what a profoundly compassionate personshe truly is.

Good for you Rihanna for not condoning his battering behavior, but for forgiving Chris, who is still trying to make amends. It will no doubt help him continue overcoming his issues for good!

— Bonnie Fuller

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