Director Anthony Mandler — who also helmed the singer’s “Wait Your Turn” clip — said the video is the perfect embodiment of the haunting ballad.

“I think that with this song and the meaning of this song and how loaded it all is, no pun intended, how much imagery and perhaps symbolism that is loaded in this song, the only way to do it was to do something that was visually challenging,” he told MTV News about the video, which premieres Friday (November 13) on “20/20.”

Mandler thought of the video as a metaphor for Rihanna’s very public life in the gossip pages, as opposed to a direct comment on her February assault by then-boyfriend Chris Brown.

“I think you can’t effect change unless you’re willing to take a risk,” he said. “You can’t get people to pay attention and understand unless you’re willing to push the limit and try new things. The song, this situation, everything is so frontloaded with so much gossip and so much media coverage and so many emotions and stories that if you don’t try to do something that is poetic and layered in symbolism, then you’re either running from the truth or you’re being too obvious with it.”

So, instead of literally telling the story of lovers in a dangerous game, Rihanna and Mandler decided to make that the subplot. “I think our objective was to run down our lane with it and to step out of the drama and the gossip,” he said. “To get deeper and be more symbolic.”

MTV

Performing

Backstage

Dayem that’s good live!!

“I went to my mom and I was upset,” says Brown, who was raised by his mother, Joyce Hawkins, in the small town of Tappahannock, Va., where they both still live a few doors down from each other. “I told my mom what happened and just broke down. I was disappointed in myself and I felt like I had let my mom down.”

For Hawkins, herself a victim of domestic abuse, Brown’s confessional still haunts her.

“It was the most painful moment in my life to hear him tell me that,” she tells PEOPLE. “I just sighed and was like, ‘What in the world happened?’ And you know he started talking, but I could see the pain in his face and how hurt he was while he was trying to tell me. It wasn’t easy for him to do.”

Hawkins, who avoided watching TV in the wake of the incident, had strong words for her son.

“I explained to him that in no way [was] what he did right or acceptable,”

she says of Brown’s assault of Rihanna in his rented Lamborghini on Feb. 8. “And I just explained to him that if something of this magnitude ever happened again, what he should do – walk away from any situation and never involve yourself like that ever again.”

Even so, Brown’s behavior was a shock. “I’ve never seen any violence in Chris, ever. There was never a history of violence.” Hawkins says of her son, who has no prior criminal record, “He’s always been my little angel.”

As Brown begins serving his sentence, Hawkins says the ordeal over the last seven months has taken a toll.

“He’s dealt with it, but it hasn’t been easy,” she says, before adding that her heart also goes out to Rihanna. “I love her. She’s like a daughter. She became family to us. She’s spent Christmas with us and for the last two years.”

So does Hawkins miss Rihanna? She answers, without hesitation: “Of course I do.”

Source – People

Chris Brown’s sentence has been delayed until August 27th at 2 PM PT.

That means that RiRi’s request didn’t get a respond from the judge, but will august 27th.

The reason for the delay … the judge said she wants Brown to perform Caltrans-type work — hard labor — for his community service. The plan for the community service in Virginia was not fully in place, so the judge wants to see the full schedule at the end of the month.

The judge wants to know what Brown will be doing for his community service — 90% of the community service is accounted for but the remaining 10% needs to be locked down.

Rihanna’s lawyer, Donald Etra, says Brown has not violated the stay away order.
He also responded a few questions about the court hearing and Rihanna.

“We were obviously hoping that all proceedings would be concluded today. We’re just going to have to wait until Aug. 27,” said Etra, adding that Rihanna “is doing great.”

Stay Tuned…

“She was drinking whiskey and apple juice and making out with him all night,” a spy tells Page Six. “They were really cute together.”

Rihanna, who also had spent time in town with Katy Perry, later ended her night together with Drake around midnight.

Damn all those rumours! I’m only posting them cuz you might go to a site, and there they are, the news that totally are untrue!

Source – JustJared

According to designer Marc Jacobs, the 21-year-old will be in New York City tonight for the gala, where clothing designers and celebrities come together.

“Madonna…Victoria Beckham…I’m trying to think, now I can’t remember!” Jacobs told Fashion Week Daily when asked who will be seated at his table at this year’s event. “Anne Hathaway…Winona [Ryder]…Rachel Feinstein, John Currin…and Rihanna!”

Source

“We have been working to bring Rihanna to the region for a while now but it has never been the right time for one reason or another,” said Matbouly. “This time everything worked out and the gig will more than likely be the last outdoor concert before the summer — and one not to miss.
We will find the perfect venue and then just like Rihanna the surprises will begin as Vibe never brings a show without a few extras.”

Though a venue has not yet been decided, Rihanna has signed off on her 38-page rider, which includes such specifics as anti-bacterial soap, 3 whole lemons, and teaspoons – not stirrers.

“It will be the best concert the region has ever seen and we will stop at nothing,” said Yassin Matbouly, managing director. Unlike some other stars who perform in the country, Rihanna’s star is burning bright at the moment. “She didn’t used to be famous, or is going to be famous — she is famous, right now,” he emphasised. “She is incredible and she wants to come to the Middle East for the people of the whole region, not just the UAE.”

“People make mistakes—and while I don’t condone what happened that night, you know, what Chris did to her—I remember being young, 19, and at that age it seemed like everything was so over-the-top, and everyone’s so passionate about things at the age.”

He says that he thinks the situation will change their careers in some shape or form. “I think this whole thing will affect him, and I think it will affect her. With both of them, their fan base is mainly women and kids, so I don’t know what kind of example that leads, but like I said, I wish them all the best.”