Flash Entertainment

Rihanna has spoken of her regret for staying with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown in an interview with GQ.

The singer was attacked by Brown in early 2009, before the pair briefly reconciled.

She revealed: "It was a situation I always told myself I would never allow myself to be in. It's something I would force girlfriends to get out of. But there I was, sitting in it.

"I witnessed physical abuse happening to my mum and I always said I would never let that happen to me, and then it was happening to me. Now, when I look back at it, it just bugs me out that I couldn't see it for what it was."

She added that she didn't want the details of the attack leaked to the press, saying: "Before that, I was just a little girl from the island, singing pop music. It was easy to think I was shallow and I had everything. It seemed like I had no problems in the world. And all of a sudden, boom! Everybody realises I do have problems.

"I have too much pride. I would rather put on a face. I would never let anyone see me cry. And I'm not like, 'Please cry for me, I've been in a bad relationship'. I hate that you know that and I don't want you to remember me for that."

Rihanna previously announced on Twitter that she was "sick" of talking about Chris Brown.