Is this legit or Robin trying 2 stay in the public eye?


(CNN) -- On Tuesday night's "Larry King Live," guest host Joy Behar talked about whether the Rihanna/Chris Brown case sends a dangerous message.


Robin Givens told Joy Behar Tuesday night that details of domestic abuse are often the same.

Among her guests were Robin Givens and Denise Brown. In an emotional interview, Behar examines how domestic abuse starts and why it's hard to stop.

The following transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity:

Guest host Joy Behar: In a "Larry King Live" exclusive, Robin Givens and Denise Brown sound the warning to one quarter of all women who will be kicked, punched, raped, even killed by partners in their life times. ...

We're talking about Rihanna and Chris Brown and the allegations against him.

As you've just heard, the numbers are pretty appalling. Joining me now is someone who lived it: actress, ex-wife of former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson and spokesperson for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, Robin Givens. Greetings.

Robin Givens: Greetings.

Behar: Does this Rihanna/Chris Brown [story] bring up bad memories for you?

Givens: Yes, it does.

Behar: Tell me how you've been feeling lately while you're watching this on television?

Givens: Even sitting now, you know, here with you, it shakes you up. You know, you begin to sweat. You begin to feel sad all over. ... It's hard to sit here. Watch Givens describe living with abuse »


Behar. You were saying to me before that it's always the same story. What do you mean by that?

Givens: I've spoken to women every[where]. ... Peoria, El Paso. ... And what's amazing is that I find that my story is their story; their story is my story -- down to the details. He dragged me down the hall by my hair. He pulled me out of bed by my panties. He would like to choke me. He would kick.

When I wrote my book, I was somewhere talking about something. And a woman came up to me and she said I wanted you to stop talking because I felt like everybody would know that you were talking about me.

Behar: Oh, boy. And it's the same progression, too, it seems?

Givens: I was hit for the first time before I was married. And I did what you thought you should do, of course. You know, you don't take any phone calls. Three days, absolutely not. Absolutely not. All of a sudden, you start taking a phone calls.

Behar: Softening up.

Givens: Yes. And then all of a sudden, OK, let's meet and we'll talk. And then you meet and all of a sudden this person, this man that you love, that's claiming his love for you, is crying, you know?

And then you're consoling them. And it just becomes, I'll never, ever, ever do it again. ... I just love you so much. It's so hard for me to handle how much I love you. And it just begins.

Behar: It must have touched you a little bit, too, like here's this big heavyweight champion crying ...

Givens: Yes. ... To see a man crying like that and promising and professing his love, I thought well, he must love me. ...

Behar: In the fall of that year, you and Mike sat down with Barbara Walters to talk about the relationship. Here's an excerpt:

Barbara Walters, host: What's it been like, this roller coaster?

Givens: It's been torture. It's been pure hell. It's been worse than anything I could possibly imagine. ... He shakes. He pushes. He swings. Sometimes I think he's trying to scare me.

Behar: That is a most interesting moment in that interview, which I've seen many times. What was going on in your head during that interview?

Givens: Well, I was so numb. Barbara knew what was going on in our lives and encouraged me to be honest. I wanted to be honest and thought it would help other people. ...

Behar: By the way, he [Tyson] was never convicted of anything?

Givens: No. ... It's interesting, though. He had done an interview somewhere. ... I don't know specifically, but [he said] the best punch he ever threw was against me and that he punched me in the head and I bounced from one wall to the other.

Behar: After the interview [with Walters], though, you stayed with him.

Givens: Yes.

Behar: Why did you stay with him?

Givens: Well, he had said that he was going to get help. And I loved him. I wanted to make it work. I was very bonded. And it's hard to be bonded and save yourself at the same time.

Behar: One of the most influential women in the world used her considerable power to speak up about domestic abuse. Here's what Oprah Winfrey had to say.

Winfrey: Heal yourself first. And, also, love doesn't hurt. I've been saying this to women for years, love doesn't hurt. ... And if a man hits you once, he will hit you again. ... He will hit you again.

Behar: If Oprah was speaking to you, too, call the National Domestic Violence Hot Line now. The number is 1-800-799-SAFE. That's 1-800-799-7233. ...

Denise Brown's sister was Nicole Brown. We all know Nicole Brown Simpson, O.J. Simpson's former wife. Greetings, Denise. How are you?

Denise Brown: I am doing great. And I'm listening to all this information that you guys are talking about and it's amazing. It's so great to get out there. You talk about the dirty little secret. And it is. It's just that -- a dirty little secret. And then you're talking about what Oprah said -- if they hit you once, they'll hit you again.

You can even go one step further, Joy, and you can say if they hit you once, they'll hit you again. And if they ever threaten to kill you, eventually one day they will. ...

You know, it's the cycle of domestic violence, which is about the power and control of one human being over another -- the verbal, the emotional, the psychological abuse, you know, the chipping away at one's self-esteem.

I'm sure you heard it, Robin: you know, nobody is going to want you. I'm the best thing for you.

Givens: Um-hmm.

Brown: And then that escalates into the physical violence, which is the hitting, the kicking, the punching, throwing up against the walls. And then, of course, [comes] the honeymoon phase. And that's the 'oh, baby, I'm so sorry. It's never going to happen again.'

Givens: She's absolutely right. The woman -- every woman tells the same story.

Behar: If you read the Internet now, there's some hostility toward Rihanna. They're saying she provoked Chris. What do you make of that?

Givens: I don't know why that is. I mean I don't know why in our society that is, that we blame the victim.

Brown: Battery treatment programs is what people need. I spoke to a gentleman, Dr. Donald Dutton. He wrote a book, "The Batterer." He said right now, it would take three years for people that are batterers to get that mindset to change.

And I'm sure that's even more. And our society does not take it serious enough ... until, of course, there's a murder or there's a celebrity or something of that nature, which is really sad.


Givens: The one thing I'd like to say to Rihanna, actually; as difficult as this all is, she does not have to answer to the media. She doesn't have to explain it. She has to take care of herself.

Behar: Thank you all very much. Go to CNN.com/LarryKing if you have something to say about domestic abuse. If you need help, there are resources listed there for you. Don't wait. Get help now.

Legit? Do you really think nothing happened when she was married to MIKE TYSON? I believe her.

I remember how when Robin was going through her mess, the public turned on her, too...interesting...hope to catch this online...

Ottensen said:

That is something I too learned in my own healing.

I believe she had issues with Mike, no doubt but every time u see Robin, Tyson's name is coming out her mouth.

Graycap23 said:

15 years later I reference my ex who abused me. I can't tell the story without involving him.

Who wouldn't have issues with Mike after that? I don't or wouldn't blame her but I don't think she's using this as an opportunity to stay in the public eye especially when she purposely stayed low-profile dealing with her depression and acceptance with what happened.

She talks about him when asked and she's often asked about him for obvious reasons. She worked here and there but was focused on her healing and family. Acting is no longer a priority.

ETA: Actually I've always thought she speaks fondly of him considering. Including the time they recently ran into each other. She's always said she was happy for him.
[Edited 3/11/09 11:54am]

BOO FREAkin HOO. Her 15 minutes was up a long time ago, she's just looking for attention.

kenlacam said:

And she's getting it! Bitter party of one, your check is ready

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Guess we'll see her on Dancing With the Stars soon enough then.

JackieBlue said:

when do I get to dance?

It amazes me the hate women get on this board after getting the shit kicked out of them by a man.

I always believed that he hit her but I also believe he hit her b/c he realized she just married him for his money and fame and had no intention of staying with him and building a family. In that sense...her story is only partly Rihanna's story.

DesireeNevermind said:

Is this proven? I never heard this.

DesireeNevermind said:

So the price of being a alleged gold digger is being beaten numerous times by a heavyweight champion in his prime, who knocked big, thick ass, grown men out cold with the first punch? No matter how you try to put it (and I happen to believe the way you put is false), that shit is just wrong. Dead as wrong.

PurpleRighteous1 said:

Alleged? Good one.....lol

lazycrockett said:

Seriously.

PurpleRighteous1 said:

I never said it was right. It is what it is. You fuck around with somebody like Mike Tyson (all brawn no brain and prior history with gangs), then ur bound to get your ass kicked if you anger him. You fuck around with somebody like Chris Brown who its now reported has long since had a horrible temper, had the cops called on him for assaulting his own mom, then ur bound to get your ass beat if you anger him. These dudes were never angels.

Graycap23 said:

Remove that word, and it still makes the most perfect sense

Looks like there are people here as well that go by the old get out "she deserved it"

PurpleRighteous1 said:

Don't get it twisted. No woman deserves 2 get beat, period.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I only go by what was stated in press and in interviews with their friends, employees and representatives back then and what was leaked from the divorce docs and police records. She will never admit she married for money and he will never admit he tried to kill her.

Graycap23 said:

No man deserves 2 get beat either. The police reports said they both hit each other.
They both acted poorly and immaturely, him moreso of course due to the severity of her wounds but both males and females have to be re-educated on how to interact with each other, what's acceptable and unacceptable and how to handle their anger issues.

It's a double edged sword w/ Robin. She does indeed wanna remain in the public eye (she was just in a shitty little movie from 2007/2008 that aired on TVOne), BUT her abuse is very real. And she did go public with it, which makes her someone people would want to talk to about the current situation. Honestly, I think she'd like to be back in the spotlight, but under different circumstances...

DesireeNevermind said:

[Snip -Mars23]

Graycap23 said:

[Snip -Mars23]

DesireeNevermind said:

[Snip -Mars23]

Certainly not defending beating Robin Givins, but she always seemed like a devious and manipulative person, like nearly everyone in Mike Tyson's life!

CalhounSq said:

She currently has a re-occuring role on "The Game".

All long as she sticks to talking about her own experience and not try to say she knows what's really going on with Rihanna, I'll listen.

You'll hear Rihanna's story when she tells it, until then...drop it and just talk about yours.