Rihanna And Chris Brown Back Together, Dad Behind Her

So, Rihanna has taken Chris Brown back after he beat her into unconsciousness (all alleged-like) on the weekend of the Grammy Awards. And her dad released a statement from his home in Barbados letting us know he’s totally ok with her getting together with a man who left her with contusions, bruises and a split lip. Why so casual, dad? His reaction got us wondering how others from Barbados react to situations of domestic violence. We’ll settle for the opinions of anonymous internet commenters, for now.

Her father, Ronald Fenty, told reporters: “I love my daughter with whatever road she takes. I’m behind her win or lose. I will be supportive. If that’s the road she wants to choose, I’m behind her. I hope to see her soon. I talked to her after her birthday, and she told me she’s OK.” Rihanna, as you know, joined Chris Brown in Miami at the home of Puff Daddy Puffy P. Diddy Diddy.

Rihanna’s other relatives, meanwhile, would rather the young singer call things off with Brown, saying: “Everyone wants them to take a break, to cool off. No one wants them back together.” Another relative adds, “I’m concerned,” continues the relative. “I don’t want her to make a mistake, and I don’t want her to ever go through his again.” 

Is her father’s more casual reaction indicative of Barbados’ attitude towards domestic violence? A look at comments left on a blog for Bajans show that lots of people are concerned over the lack of resources available to domestic abuse victim on the island.

Says PiedPiper:

I believe that domestic violence in Barbados has not been properly addressed by the relevant authorities. Women in Barbados tend to stay in abusive relationships a lot longer than they should due to the fact that there are limited resources to assist them in leavng the abusive partner. If government is not prepared to designate funds for Women’s Shelters, financial assistance, subsidized housing and education/training, many of these women have no where to go, let alone imagine being self- sufficient.
In West Indian culture, there still is an underlying belief that the man of the house has the right to physically discipline his children as well as his spouse and The Police seem to have the same mind set. I know of many instances where the Police were called in Barbados to domestic violence and they did absolutely nothing. Perhaps a few words with the man of the house asking him to behave but no charges laid.
Without the government launching a campaign to educate people about the evils of domestic abuse or the Police toughening up there stance on the perpetrators of domestic abuse, I don’t expect that anything will change soon.

Another reader, 199, made a comment that echoed claims made by visitors on Guanabee and other sites - that since Rihanna was said to have taken the first swing, she was complicit in Chris Brown’s violent reaction:

Interesting article David, however, as much as I love her, please don’t seek to diminish any culpability which Rihanna herself, may have had for the incident! Women, as well as men, need to be circumspect before resorting to violence and, hopefully, not require to do so, at all!!

At least, according to this poster, violence against women seems to be the norm in Barbados!!

HE said it!! I doan live there!!

‘truth hurts’:

I DO LIKE Ri Ri however, if this had happened to Mary down the road man people would say “that aint nothing new, leh we play dominoes!”

Commenter Hopi was even more blunt in his take on the situation:

Why is the woman always the victim? Poor thing. I say to any man if a woman lay her hand on you wup that ass. Let no woman defile nor effeminize you. Never.

Effiminize sounds like a vaginal douching product from the 70s. We love the implication that you’re somehow less of a man if a woman strikes you. Is that really all it takes? We didn’t realize the balance was so precarious. 

It seems the attitude about men’s and women’s roles on Barbados isn’t all that different from that in machista Latin American countries. Except we’re pretty sure our own male family members would take on the - also machista - role of “protector” and “wup” Chris Brown’s ass.

But tell us, quasi-anonymous internet commenters. What do you think of Mr. Fenty’s support for his daughter’s decision? And would you have taken Chris Brown back?

Rihanna’s Dad on Chris Brown Reconciliation: “I’m Behind Her”  [Us Weekly]

Rihanna’s Relatives Not Happy About Reconciliation [People]

Domestic Violence And Its Impact On Barbadian Society [Barbados Underground]

Rihanna To Turn Spotlight On Domestic Violence [Barbados Underground]