Chris Brown Unleashed—Thanks to Rihanna!

With songbird's approval, judge eases five-year restraining order on Brown stemming from their violent spat

By Josh Grossberg, Claudia Rosenbaum Feb 23, 2011 12:00 AMTags
E! Placeholder Image

Two years after beating the crap out of Rihanna, Chris Brown can legally see her again.

A Los Angeles judge has eased the terms of the five-year restraining order against the "Run It" singer that will allow him to contact the songbird as long as he remains on his best behavior.

Brown, whose last few progress-report hearings have gone particularly well, was on hand to hear the good news.

Brown, 21, turned up for today's progress report in his 2009 domestic violence case but neither he nor attorney Mark Geragos stopped to speak to reporters.

Prosecutors agreed to the modifications at the behest of Rihanna's lawyer, Donald Etra, who asked that the order be modified to to "level one." Brown is allowed to contact the "S&M" singer, who turned 23 on Sunday, provided he doesn't "annoy, molest or harass her."

The judge's decision comes a little more than two years after the shocking Feb. 8, 2009, altercation, when Brown flew into a rage and left his then-girlfriend bruised and battered, and consequently his formerly squeaky-clean rep in tatters.

Per the terms of a restraining order, he was prevented from coming within 50 yards of Rihanna until 2014—though at industry gatherings that distance was shortened to 10 yards. Likewise, the keepaway also stipulated that Rihanna couldn't contact him, or she could be in violation.

Brown eventually pleaded guilty to felony assault and was put on five years' probation and ordered to enroll in an anti-domestic violence program. He also performed 180 days of community labor, like picking up trash along the highway, and had all his travel vetted by a probation officer.

While we doubt this means the former couple will be hitting the jet skis soon, but at least everyone can go to the Grammys at the same time now.