Chris Brown: I Accept Accountability...But Some Things Are Just Private

R&B star opens up a little bit more about his major screw-up, says he still thinks the details of the attack should have stayed between him and Rihanna

By Natalie Finn Nov 07, 2009 2:20 AMTags

ABC snagged Rihanna, leaving MTV...with Chris Brown.

But the network and the fallen R&B star made the most of the opportunity tonight with a half-hour special that gave Brown a chance to reflect even more upon his endlessly reflected-upon crime.

So did he have anything new to say this time?

Well, Brown's position has been to not discuss what exactly happened the night he assaulted his then girlfriend, turning him into a celeb-gossip pariah before the sun had risen the next day.

But Rihanna did go into detail about the attack, however, and MTV gave Brown the opportunity to respond to what Rihanna was dishing out to Diane Sawyer.

"While I respect Rihanna's right to discuss the specific events of February 8th, I maintain my position that all of the details should remain a private matter between us," he said in a statement to MTV today.

"I do appreciate her support," he continued, "and wish her the best. I am extremely sorry for what I did and I accept accountability for my actions. At this point I am taking the proper steps to learn about me and grow from my mistakes. I only hope that others in similar situations can learn from our experience as well.

"Abuse of any kind is always wrong. The rest, I leave it to God."

When asked if he could safely say he would never lay a hand on a woman again, Brown responded, "I know it will never happen."

Like Rihanna, Brown says he hopes people can learn from their experience.

"Know yourself," is what he says he would tell other young men who struggle with anger issues. And if you don't know how to handle yourself, "get somebody that can tell you to handle your situations or talk to you about how to go about it."

And he'd tell a woman in Rihanna's situation the same thing—about knowing oneself, that is.

"If it gets to that point, you gotta leave," Brown said.

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See what else Rihanna had to say when she opened up to ABC News.