LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - R&B star Chris Brown , who was arrested last weekend on suspicion of attacking a woman widely believed to be the pop star Rihanna , said on Sunday he was "sorry and saddened" about the incident, and was seeking counseling.

The 19-year-old performer of such U.S. chart-toppers as "Run It!" and "Forever" has been in hiding since the alleged fracas with his girlfriend in a rented Lamborghini.

He hired a public relations company that specializes in crisis management to issue a five-sentence statement in which he also said many media and blog reports have been wrong.

"Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired," he said. "I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God's help, to emerging a better person."

He did not mention his father, who was quoted on Friday as telling People magazine that his son was "very remorseful."

Police and prosecutors have not officially disclosed that Rihanna was the victim of Brown's attack just after midnight on February 8. But unidentified police sources told the Los Angeles Times that Rihanna was the victim, and numerous media outlets have reported the same information.

Brown turned himself in to police, and he was booked on suspicion of making criminal threats against a woman. The Los Angeles Police Department is still investigating, and a spokeswoman for the L.A. District Attorney's Office said a decision has not yet been made on whether to file charges.

Celebrity websites and magazines have reported that the incident happened shortly after Brown left a Beverly Hills party with Rihanna as his passenger. The 20-year-old native of Barbados suffered bruises on her face and a split lip, according to several reports.

Brown added in his statement: "Much of what has been speculated or reported on blogs and/or reported in the media is wrong. While I would like to be able to talk about this more, until the legal issues are resolved, this is all I can say except that I have not written any messages or made any posts to Facebook, on blogs or any place else. Those posts or writings under my name are frauds."

Despite the serious nature of the allegations, many of Brown's showbiz comrades have defended him. Most recently, hip-hop star Kanye West said, "Can't we give Chris a break?" during a taping of VH1's "Storytellers" on Friday.

Vendetta1 said:

Who cares? Another no talent hack screws up. Stop using the "god's help" arguement. You screwed up. Face the consequence's, & grow a pair.

Farfunknugin said:

I agree Be a real man,admit you screwed up and face the consequences! Let's stop all this BS about seeking "God's help" and therapy from loved ones,blah blah blah.

SoulAlive said:

I agree with the both of you. No matter what happened, he should admit that he fucked up. He should have just walked away.
[Edited 2/15/09 16:23pm]

What are the other three sentences?

Cinnie said:

Bitch deserved it. Thanks for the advice Uncle Bobby. Buy my new album.

By saying he is remorseful and sorry implies he knows he did something wrong. His handlers are watching his music career go down the tubes (as it should) and this is the best they can come up with? He needs to come clean and say his side of the story and deal with whatever the consequences are, Legal and careerwise. Maybe then he can salvage whatever's left of his fan-base. I hope his music career is over.

WillieDynamite said:

I'm just sick of these artists fucking up in the first place.Chris Brown looks ridiculous right now.... a popular,big-selling artist facing a felony charge before he reaches age 20 He's throwing his career away and for what.....a silly argument/fight? How about being a real man and walking away from a fight? Is that so hard?? I just find it difficult to sympathize with people who do stupid things.Maybe a little jail time wouldn't be a bad idea.



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[Edited 2/16/09 3:24am]

I need Kanye to shut his attention-seeking ass up. Wasn't Ri-Ri your lil sister, last week? But now we need to give Chris a break? Nucca, please.

Now all them stupid people that said he didnt do anything can shut up

I just don't know if this is going to hurt Chris Brown's career as much as people think.

JackieBlue said:

It's not. You even have people (women) making excuses on Chris' behalf.

What I really want to know is whether or not Rihanna hit him first or was that just a rumor?

SCNDLS said:

Why the change in tone .....good girl gone bad?

Vendetta1 said:

I see there are a lot of people who are sympathizing with Chris and it baffles my mind. At the moment, a majority of the information you hear are nothing but rumors.

Vendetta1 said:

Who gives a shit, if she hit him first; he shouldn't have hit her. Also, those women who are excusing his behavor, are probably abused women themselves or two, members of his fan club.

Farfunknugin said:

Absolutely. I don't mean to offend here but it's usually the people with emotional problems who turn to "God" to make them better people. Guess what, I don't believe in any organised religion and I've never hurt anyone, yet somehow the skanks and the criminals can turn to religion as some kind of proof of virtuousness.

shorttrini said:

I personally don't care shorttrini but there are people who think if a woman hits a man first, she deserves to get hit back.

It all depends on how hard the hit is. If a woman slaps a man in the face, I don't think that warrants any kind of hit back. If she is genuinely hurting him then only a hit back in self defence is warranted IMO.

Ellie said:

If you hit a woman, it makes you a punk IMO. If you hit a woman, you are going to jail and she isn't.

Ubess she uses a weapon - flashbacks to Trevor/Mo in Eastenders with the iron!

Ellie said:

I don't understand.

Remorseful that he didn't rip her vocal chords out.