It’s been six months since the Grammy weekend when Chris Brown and Rihanna got into a late-night fight that left Rihanna bruised and bloodied and her R&B star boyfriend surrendering to Los Angeles police.
Since then, Brown, 20, has pleaded guilty to felony assault and was sentenced last week to five years’ probation.
And now, he is ready to speak: On Aug. 26, the musician sat down with PEOPLE for his first interview and — as his mother Joyce Hawkins, a victim of domestic abuse herself, sat nearby — opened up about his shame over that “terrible” night, his enduring love for Rihanna and why he swears he’ll never hit a woman again.
