Rihanna accused of 'sanctioning' violence after defending Chris Brown

Rihanna has been accused of sending out a dangerous message to other victims of domestic violence after admitting she still 'misses' her ex-boyfriend who was charged with assaulting her three years ago.Rihanna's turbulent two-year relationship with rapper Chris Brown ended after he attacked her on the eve of the Grammy Awards in 2009.
But in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, due to be broadcast in the U.S. tonight, the Bajan beauty says Brown 'made a mistake' and 'needed help' adding that she misses him.

Charities have criticised the comments claiming they could reduce the seriousness of abusive relationships.Vivienne Hayes, chief executive of the Women's Resource Centre, told The Independent: 'Rihanna's case demonstrates the emotional complexities felt by women locked in abusive relationships.

Whatever the nature of the argument, [Brown] chose to beat her up. And we need to stop society allowing us to normalise such behaviour.'Rihanna has admitted she 'was more concerned about' her 'best friend' Chris Brown after the singer's vicious attack on her three years ago.

The pop star revealed: 'I'm reminded by a lot of things. A lot of good memories we had. By the slightest things; hotel rooms, tour venues, any little thing, music, songs, and I do miss him at times.'In the clip, shot for Oprah's Next Chapter, the 58-year-old presenter revealed the Umbrella singer 'talks a lot, a lot, a lot about you know who, Mr. Chris Brown.'Brown was sentenced to five years probation and six months of community labour after his attack of Rihanna.In the previously-released preview of the highly-anticipated interview, Rihanna also admitted that she had 'felt protective' of Brown following the 2009 beating.

'I lost my best friend. Like, everything I knew switched - switched overnight,' she tearfully said of the 'embarrassing' incident.'Who’s gonna help him? Nobody’s gonna say he needs help. Everybody’s gonna say he’s a monster without looking at the source. I was more concerned about him.'Brown and his lawyer Mark Geragos are currently fighting a $16million lawsuit filed by Entertainment Enterprises this week alleging that the hip-hop star and Drake caused the W.i.P. bar brawl which left several injured in June.

It is believed the violent row erupted over the artists' alleged relationships with Rihanna.The Talk That Talk star is also said to have dated Shia LaBeouf, Josh Hartnett, and Los Angeles Dodgers star Matt Kemp, but she shared with Oprah the qualities she's yet to find in her ideal man.'If I had it my way I want a man that loves me, cherishes me, values me, but they have to know my value in order to value me,' she said.'They have to know my worth and they can only know my worth if I know my worth. I want them to respect me.'

Rihanna continued: 'But I want fun times! I want fun, fun times. I want laughs. I want laughs more than everything. I have everything else, all I want is a partner in crime to enjoy it with me.'Speaking to camera in the preview, Oprah said: 'I went there with my own ideas about who she was from watching her videos and listening to her music.'I thought she was gonna be kind of a bada**, a kind of hard edged, rocker, pop woman. Nothing could have been farther from the truth.'But the provocative singer admitted: 'I am super duper terrified of the pedestal that comes with fame... It's amazing how lonely you can feel.'