Rihanna is not alone. While the singer is one of the more high-profile victims of an abusive relationship, the scary statistics show that every nine seconds, a woman in the U.S. is assaulted or beaten. And celebrities are not immune.
| Related: Rihanna: Chris Brown Was "The Love Of My Life" |
| Related: 'Teen Mom' Star Amber Portwood CHOOSES Five-Year Jail Sentence |
Here are five celebrity couples who have also dealt with physical abuse:
1) Chad Ochocinco and Evelyn Lozada
The football star and new wife Evelyn Lozada were married just 41 days before Lozada filed for divorce, citing domestic abuse charges. Ochocinco allegedly head-butted Lozada and was arrested for the incident. "Domestic violence is not okay," Lozada announced in a statement. "And hopefully my taking a stand will help encourage other women to break their silence as well."
2) Amber Portwood and Gary Shirley
MTV documented Gary and Amber's tumultuous relationship on Teen Mom – including Amber's physical abuse of Gary. As the cameras rolled, Amber was seen hitting, punching, and kicking her on-and-off boyfriend, prompting Amber’s domestic violence arrest. She was ultimately charged with three felonies. Though the troubled star went to rehab for anger management, she is still dealing with her demons: Amber is currently serving a 5-year jail sentence for drug possession.
3) Madonna and Sean Penn
The "Material Girl" and the Academy Award-winning actor were married for four years between 1985 and 1989. During their courtship, Penn was charged with felony domestic assault, which he plea bargained down to a misdemeanor. The incident reportedly involved him beating Madonna for nine hours, gagging her and tying her to a chair.
4) Tina and Ike Turner
The husband-and-wife duo, best known for their hit, "Proud Mary," may be equally well known for their turbulent relationship. Tina endured abuse from husband Ike for years, entangled in fights that were clearly exacerbated by his frequent cocaine use. After one particularly violent altercation, Tina spent weeks hiding in friends’ homes from Ike and his entourage. She later bought a gun to protect herself from her abusive husband. The couple divorced in 1978, after 16 years together.
5) Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown
Their relationship wracked by frequent drug use, it was unfortunately no surprise that Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown’s marriage became abusive. In 2003, Brown was charged with a misdemeanor battery for hitting his wife and allegedly threatening to "beat her ass." "Something happens to a man when a woman has that much fame," Houston told Oprah in 2009. "I tried to play it down all the time. I used to say, 'I'm Mrs. Brown, don't call me Houston.'" Houston and Brown divorced in 2007. Houston passed away in February 2012, and Brown is currently in rehab.
What do you think of our list? Comment below!
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