Rihanna: "I really wanted it to stop'

IT WAS A LIE that triggered the ugly fight between Rihanna and boyfriend Chris Brown.

In an interview with Diane Sawyer of American television station ABC, the Barbadian singing star confirmed reports that a text message on his cellphone caused the argument.

"I caught him in a lie. And he wouldn't tell the truth . . . I was being more annoyed at that point in our relationship he had to lie about something so stupid. I couldn't take that he kept lying to me. And he couldn't take that I wouldn't drop it. And . . . it was ugly."

Her comments came in an exclusive interview with Sawyer, portions of which were aired on ABC's Good Morning America and news magazine show 20/20 on Thursday and Friday.

"All I kept thinking all the time: When is it going to stop? When is it going to stop?"

She also told Sawyer about her attempts to defend herself.

"I fended him off with my feet from one . . . side of the car, but . . . it was not like, it was not like a fight with each other. I just . . . I really just wanted it to stop," she said.

She also spoke about the immediate aftermath of the beating, when she escaped from the car in which they were both driving back to their hotel from a pre-Grammy Awards party.

"I was bleeding. I was swollen in my face. So there was no way of me getting home, except for, my next option was to get out of the car and walk. Start walking in a gown, in a bloody face. So I really don't know what my plan was. I didn't have a plan. That whole night was not part of my plan."

Meanwhile, Chris Brown also spoke yesterday about his feelings on what happened that night. He recorded a special with MTV News, which aired last night.

In the interview with MTV News correspondent Sway, Brown said "just anger" prompted his violent assault, in which he bit, choked, shoved and punched his then girlfriend, Rihanna.

He said he has been filled with recrimination since the incident.

"My thoughts [when I look back on it now] is like, 'Why did it happen? Like, 'What was I thinking? What is wrong with you?' That's what I'm thinking with myself. That's what my thoughts are, basically, now."
(AL-F)

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