"Did you hear about Chris Brown?" was the beginning of a text my friend sent me when the news broke out that he had just brutally beaten his girlfriend, Rihanna. The news was shocking, almost unbelievable. Chris Breezy? Could any of us have imagined that he would have the strength, the nerve, the audacity to commit such a horrific crime? To disrespect such a beautiful, successful woman in that way? Our answer was yes.

Much of Chris Brown's career was based on his immaculate image. He was clean cut, charismatic, and a hell of a dancer. Sexy on the outside but on the inside, we imagined, he was much like his charming but nerdy alter-ego in his video for "Kiss Kiss." A perfect mix of Urkel and Stefan.

Then we saw the photograph of Rihanna, taken soon after he beat her: the contusions on her forehead, the fat lip, her closed eyes, forlorn, possibly swollen with tears. What happened, Breezy?

It has recently surfaced that even after such a vicious beating, Chris Brown and Rihanna have decided to continue their relationship. What? Why? My response to this was outrage, but upon further reflection, I sort of understood.

Even after I had seen the photo of Rihanna, I still thought to myself, "Yeah, I would probably make out with him anyways." Was something wrong with me? Why was I still turned on by Chris Brown even after his inner monster was revealed to the world?

I then thought of an English class I took my freshman year in college, Monstrosity and Otherness. In this class, we read Dracula, and I remember my professor explaining to us that a vampire can only bite you if you want him, if you give in to his sexuality. Even something as monstrous as a vampire, and as disgusting as drinking blood still insights arousal.



The way Mr. Brown's aggression has manifested itself and Rihanna's (and my) subsequent reaction is similar to this vampire effect. His benevolent image made us think him incapable of such an attack, but his actions have shown that Chris Brown might be more than a loveable nerd. He's strong, aggressive, animalistic, and that taps into something primal in us; his monstrosity turns into something sexual. His actions transform him from a non-threatening geek to the alpha male full of (physical) strength.

Of course, beating your girlfriend is far from commendable. It's repulsive and shameful, and Chris Brown deserves all the negative repercussions he has and will suffer from it. It goes without saying that he has proven himself to be a disgusting person, but just like the vampire, women are still attracted to him. We can only hope that in the end Rihanna realizes that love is gentle, not abusive, and that she is reinserting herself into an unhealthy relationship. Until then, let's pray that this never happens again.


Story by Jihan Forbes

Starpulse contributing writer