Rihanna Breaks Silence

Her boyfriend said he was sorry, her father criticized police for "sloppy work" protecting his daughter, but pop star Rihanna had stayed silent since the alleged assault at the hands of beau Chris Brown—until now. On Friday, the day of her 21st birthday, Rihanna was seen publicly for the first time since the pre-Grammy incident that shocked the music world, in sunglasses and a black leather jacket en route to LAX. Through her publicist she issued a statement acknowledging the "incident involving Chris Brown" which, "at the request of the authorities," she could not comment on. However, Rihanna "wants to assure her fans that she remains strong, is doing well, and deeply appreciates the outpouring of support she has received during this difficult time."