Rihanna and Chris Brown Reunite Musically

As you may have heard, Chris Brown and Rihanna recently decided they'd reunite to do a song together. This decision has had a wide range of reactions. Personally, I think it's messed up. But a lot of people were excited to hear these two awesome artists combine forces once again. Not only his this news a topic with lots of opinions, but it's also rhetorically interesting.

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The fact that Rihanna has agreed to work with someone who severely beat her damages her ethos. (Just to refresh your memory, the photo to the right is what Rihanna looked like after Brown beat her in his car. It's bad.) Before this, I considered Rihanna a strong, powerful, inspirational woman. She has her own prerogative, and doesn't care what people think. But most of all, after Brown beat her, she dropped him like a hot potato, and got a restraining order against him. She also did quite a few interviews, explaining what happened, and emphasizing the fact that abuse is not okay. (You can see one of the more famous interviews here.)

But after hearing that she's doing a song with Chris Brown, I've lost respect for her. She is such a huge role model for young girls, and her reuniting with Brown, after such a public abuse ordeal, sends a message that domestic abuse is a forgivable offense. It's not. I can't be the only one with these feelings.

The fact that Rihanna is sending this message that abuse is okay is all the more troubling because of how women still esteem Brown, although he seriously abused Rihanna. You may have seen the shocking twitter reactions to Chris Brown's performance on the Grammys. If not, check it out here. Basically, girls say they'd let Chris Brown beat them, because he's so good looking.

Celebrities need to remember that they're in the spotlight, and watch their actions, because what they do sends a huge message, and can seriously damage their ethos.