Breaking her 9-month silence since the violence occurred, the exclusive interview will air on Good Morning America Thursday and be rebroadcast Friday on 20/20.
Police booked singer Chris Brown with a felony criminal threat on Feb. 8 after an argument turned physical with then-girlfriend 20-year-old Barbados-born Rihanna. Details later emerged about the
extensive injuries she suffered at the hands of Brown. At the time of the incident, photos of a bruised and bloody Rihanna, with cuts on her lips, forehead and cheeks, were
leaked to the press.
Rihanna will tell her side of the story for the first time to ABC's Diane Sawyer, and reveal how difficult dealing with the situation was because Brown was her first "big love." The exclusive will also show that domestic violence isn't restricted by wealth or celebrity status. "This happened to me. ... It can happen to anyone," Rihanna tells Sawyer during the interview.
After the Los Angeles altercation,
Brown released a statement saying, "Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired" and telling fans he was seeking counseling. He is currently serving a community labor sentence in Virginia.
Meanwhile, Rihanna's latest album
Rated R will be released on Nov. 23 and features the single "Russian Roulette."
