Here is a statistic that has been taken directly from the National Domestic Violence Abuse Hotline. Unfortunately, 1 in 4 women (24.3%) and 1 in 7 men (13.8%) aged 18 and older in the US have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

Although Rihanna isn’t responsible for this scandal herself and she is in fact the victim of Chris Brown’s aggression, she represents so many unspoken victims who have been brutalized by their intimate partner.

A couple of years ago, I was grocery shopping at a Walmart when in walked a woman so badly bruised and swollen she could barely see out of one of her eyes.

Hovering near here was a man who was probably 6 foot 2 or 6 foot 3 and rather muscular. I so wanted to go up to her and tell her that she is not alone and people out there do care.

However, I chose not to say anything, because I knew that a mere conversation with an unknown stranger may put her physical safety in jeopardy.

Rihanna, I’m glad you are no longer in this relationship. You are a role model to show either women or men who have been victimized that there is life after domestic abuse.