It almost sounds like Rihanna is defending Chris Brown in her recent interview with Oprah Winfrey.  During the interview, the singer opens up about the night during which Brown beat her to a bloody pulp.  She says that Chris was being unfairly demonized, rather than receiving the sympathy that she believes he deserved.

“I felt like the only person they hate right now is him. It was a weird, confusing space to be in,” she said. “Because as angry as I was – as angry and hurt and betrayed – I just felt like he made that mistake because he needed help. And who’s going to help him? Nobody’s going to say he needs help, everybody’s going to say he’s a monster, without looking at the source. And I was more concerned about him.”

Oprah has been doing a lot of interesting interviews lately with people she never would have spoken with a few years ago. Some say that she is willing to speak with anyone who can generate ratings for her.  Rihanna is the latest after 50 Cent, Kim Kardashian and a few others interesting notables.

Oprah, during the preview for the show, is seen asking other questions, such as, “Do you think Chris Brown is a true love for you?” and “Where does your relationship stand today?”

The clip then shows Oprah’s surprise at some of the answers, likely another ploy to ensure that you tune in.

“I would have never thought that. You just shocked me,” she says.

The interview was filmed on August 5 in Rihanna’s home country of Barbados.

“I went there with my own ideas about who she was from watching her videos and listening to her music,” Oprah said. “I thought she was gonna be kind of a bada**, a kind of hard edged, rocker, pop woman. Nothing could have been farther from the truth.”

– Black Like Moi