Angela Weiss
Chris Brown is now allowed to speak to Rihanna, two years after assaulting her before the Grammy Awards, a Los Angeles County judge ruled Tuesday. Judge Patricia Schnegg lifted the “stay away” order imposed on Brown, which mandated that he had to stay 50 yards away from Rihanna—10 yards if the two were at the same industry event. Brown pleaded guilty in August 2009 to assaulting his then-girlfriend and he was sentenced to five years probation, 1,400 hours in “labor-oriented service,” and ordered to complete a 52-week domestic-violence program. The restraining order was set to expire in 2014, but Brown, 21, petitioned the court to have it lifted sooner. Rihanna did not appear in court Tuesday but her lawyer said she did not dispute the move.