Chris Brown chatted with Matt Lauer this morning about the public backlash he went through following his 2009 assault on Rihanna, saying the experience "humbled" him. Watch him talk about forgiveness and proving himself to fans inside.....
Chris Brown sat down with Matt Lauer on "TODAY" this morning to promote his latest single "Fine China", his "X" album and open up about his life since he was convicted of felony assault charges on Rihanna in 2009. During the interview, he confirmed that he and RiRi are still a couple and he is hoping to move forward and prove himself to his critics. Here are the highlights:
On how he's changed and forgiven himself:
"I've been humbled by the whole experience. From me losing everything, you know, to me having to regain public opinion or whatever it is -- but most importantly, you know, knowing that what I did was totally wrong and having to kind of deal with myself and kind of forgive myself in the same breath and being able to apologize to, you know, Rihanna and be that man that can be a man, you know?"
On what the public thinks of him:
"I think everybody is entitled to their opinion. For me, it's just a learning process. You know, I have to just take it one day at a time. I can't make everybody like me ... it's about me being positive."
On his relationship with Rihanna:
"Yeah, everything's good, we're fine. I think it's just me proving myself once again Knowing that what I did was wrong, and never doing it again. So as far as me and (Rihanna) are concerned, she knows my heart, and I know her heart. So I'm not really focused on the negative."
On proving himself:
"For me, it's about proving myself to my fans. The only thing I can do is please my family, myself, and please her, you know, and my fans."
Since the interview aired this morning, Matt Lauer has been criticized for the segment as some viewers were offended that NBC gave Chris the spotlight. On the flip side, some Chris stans were upset that Matt brought the 2009 assault up.
Despite reports about brawls with Drake, Frank Ocean and other questionable behavior, he insisted that he is a changed man and reassured Matt that he would never hit Rihanna again. And at the 4:39 mark, when asked if he understood how a second assault would damage both his reputation and hers, he said, "Absolutely."
Watch the interview here:
In other Chris Brown interviews......
He also chatted with San Francisco's Wild 94.9 personality Nessa about "Fine China" (available today) and promoted his May 9th appearance at the station's Wild Jam with Trey Songz, Macklemore& Ryan Lewis and Calvin Harris.
Chris, who's birthday is May 5, joked that he plans to combine strippers and foam for an upcoming birthday bash. He added that the night wouldn't be complete unless he wore boxers to the party.
And while discussing his latest single, "Fine China", he revealed that he helped direct and choreograph the video for the single, which appears on his upcoming "X" disc.
He also revealed that the "X" album will feature an appearance by Kendrick Lamar and that he's also recorded a track with Rihanna. Other album deets include that the title track, "X" was produced by Diplo and incorporates a new sound he likes to call "Trap Step." The album, which will also feature a track called "Lady In A Glass Dress", will be in stores this summer.
Watch the interview here: