Actress Robin Givens has urged hip-hop heroes Diddy and Usher to speak out about domestic abuse because so many young African-American boys look up to them and follow their lead.

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Givens, who was allegedly physically abused by her ex-husband Mike Tyson, was left sickened by news of R&B star Chris Brown's alleged assault on his girlfriend Rihanna last month - and now she is calling on music's black heavyweights to demand an end to domestic violence, which claims the lives of over 1,000 women in America every year.

Speaking on Thursday's Oprah show, Givens, the spokeswoman for America's National Domestic Violence Hotline, said, "We can't ignore the fact that young people are watching; my son is watching P. Diddy and Usher and loving them - they're his heroes. I'm mentioning them because they are very much so role models. It would mean a lot for me... and the women that I deal with and talk to constantly for men (like that) to get appalled."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)