- Rihanna has weighed in on the Snapchat ad that referenced the rapper Chris Brown’s assault on her in 2009.
- The singer said in a post on her Instagram story that the ad intentionally shamed victims of domestic violence.
- “All the women, children and men that have been victims of DV in the past and especially the ones who haven’t made it out yet…you let us down!” Rihanna wrote. “Shame on you.”
Rihanna has responded to the Snapchat ad that appeared to make light of Chris Brown’s assault on her in 2009.
The ad, which asked users whether they’d rather “slap Rihanna” or “punch Chris Brown,” appeared on Snapchat earlier this week.
Users immediately complained about the ad. Snapchat quickly pulled it off its platform and issued an apology, saying it was approved in error.
Rihanna said in a post on her Instagram story on Thursday that the ad shamed victims of domestic violence:
"Now SNAPCHAT I know you already know you ain't my fav app out there! But I'm just trying to figure out what the point was with this mess! I'd love to call it ignorance, but I know you ain't that dumb! You spent money to animate something that would intentionally bring shame to DV victims and make a joke of it!!! This isn't about my personal feelings, cause I don't have much of them...but all the women, children and men that have been victims of DV in the past and especially the ones who haven't made it out yet...you let us down! Shame on you. Throw the whole app-oligy away."
Here's the post:
Rihanna posted the message around 11 a.m. ET, and Snap's stock fell more than 4%.
Snap apologized again a few hours later, calling the ad "disgusting."
https://twitter.com/AnastasiaElyseW/status/974338320049242117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Rihanna has rarely spoken about the assault, which left her with two black eyes, large contusions from Brown's ring, a split lip, and bite marks and injuries on her hands and body. Brown was sentenced to five years of probation and community service.