Rihanna photo prompts LAPD probe

Los Angeles Police Department officials on Friday were interviewing officers and scouring electronic records amid growing suspicion that someone inside the department leaked or sold to a celebrity website a photo of the singer Rihanna that depicted injuries to her face she suffered during an alleged assault by her boyfriend.

Police officials said it appears the photo is part of the LAPD's ongoing investigation of Chris Brown, the pop star who allegedly assaulted the singer in the early morning the day of the Grammy Awards two weeks ago.

"At this stage, it is reasonable to believe this is the type of photo taken in a police department domestic violence investigation," said Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger. "We are obligated to protect the victims of domestic violence. The investigation will determine who had access and who was present that day during the process. We will leave no stone unturned to identify who did this or to refute that this was a photo from the Police Department."

In similar comments Friday, Police Chief William J. Bratton said it would be "an embarrassment to this department" if an employee was responsible for the leak. He said any officer or department employee who is found to have leaked the photo will face discipline, including possible termination.

Despite intense, global interest spurred by breathless coverage in tabloids and entertainment publications, the LAPD has not named Rihanna -- whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty -- as the woman in the attack, citing state laws that protect the identity of assault victims.

The popular, no-holds-barred website TMZ.com, which has established itself as one of the Internet's leading purveyors of all things salacious and celebrity, posted the disturbing photo late Thursday evening. The close-up of the singer's face shows her with bruises and cuts on her forehead, lips and eyes.

Its appearance set off a frenzy of interest as countless media outlets linked readers to the photo and thousands of people posted comments to the TMZ site regarding the photo.

The LAPD and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department are ever grappling with the challenge of keeping investigations involving celebrities confidential. The problem has grown only worse with the meteoric rise of celebrity gossip websites, which have joined traditional tabloids and paparazzi agencies in the cutthroat industry of airing stars' dirty laundry.

TMZ's coming out party came in summer 2006 when it obtained a leaked Sheriff's Department arrest report detailing the abusive, anti-Semitic rants of actor Mel Gibson after he was taken into custody on suspicion of drunk driving. The Sheriff's Department conducted an intensive investigation into the breach, though there has been no conclusion.

That incident prompted lawmakers to pass legislation last year that makes it a misdemeanor for peace officers or law enforcement employees to profit by leaking confidential reports or images. In pushing for the crackdown on for-profit leaks, now dubbed "Mel's Law," Assemblywoman Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica) and Sheriff Lee Baca argued that information obtained during a criminal investigation could compromise the ability of detectives and prosecutors to make a case against a suspect.

But the push for that law did not stem the flow of sensational tidbits from law enforcement authorities to always-hungry websites and magazines. In 2007, an LAPD officer videotaped rapper The Game inside a holding cell at a South Los Angeles police station. The video ended up on TMZ, but officials said they could not determine whether the officer had been paid for it.

Although a photo showing Rihanna's injuries had been the Holy Grail among the tabloids, one paparazzi veteran estimated its value as being fairly moderate. Frank Griffin, a partner of the Bauer-Griffin photo agency that has sold some of the best-known tabloid images, said the picture was not offered to him and thought the seller would not make more than $25,000. The price, he said, would be limited because, without a legitimate contract from a known photographer, TMZ would not be able to prevent other sites from copying the photo and claiming it as their own.

"A picture of Rihanna kissing a new boyfriend is going to be worth a lot more," he said.

A TMZ spokeswoman declined to comment on how the photo was obtained, other than to say it was acquired legally.

Police officials on Friday refused to discuss details of their investigation.

The handling and access to photos of abused women has been a issue recently in the department. For years, officers typically attached photos from domestic violence cases to the hard-copy reports they wrote during their investigations. With the advent of digital technology, however, patrol officers now commonly carry department-issued cameras and use them to take images at the scene of alleged abuse cases. Those photos are downloaded to a central computer server in the department, so they can be retrieved later by detectives assigned to a case, according to an LAPD detective supervisor who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak about the case.

If the photo was leaked, the effect will depend on whether it came from one of the officers directly linked to the case, said defense attorney Dmitry Gorin, a former Los Angeles deputy district attorney.

"If I had a police officer involved [in the leak] then I would attack their credibility," Gorin said.

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Rihanna Injuries Revealed

A graphic photograph apparently showing Rihanna with injuries from an alleged assault by Chris Brown has been leaked.

The picture is a close up of a young woman's face and shows cuts on her lips, bruises to her cheeks and forehead and a swollen nose. The victim's eyes are shut.

Los Angeles police - who are investigating allegations Chris beat Rihanna in his car earlier this month - have launched an internal inquiry about the leaked photos.

The police department said in a statement: "The unauthorised release of a domestic violence photograph immediately generated an internal investigation. The photograph has the appearance of one taken during an official Domestic Violence investigation. The Los Angeles Police Department takes seriously its duty to maintain the confidentiality of victims of domestic violence."

The department called the leak a "serious misconduct" adding the person responsible could be fired.

Chris was charged with making criminal threats and released on $50,000 bail following the incident.

It has been claimed the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office has since requested the 19-year-old singer be investigated for a range of other felonies, including domestic violence, assault resulting in great bodily injury - reportedly based on allegations made by Rihanna - and attempted murder.

Rihanna has reportedly told police the pair began fighting in Chris' rented Lamborghini, resulting in Chris putting his hands around her neck and shouting: "I'm going to kill you."She is believed to have told officers he then began beating her, and choked her until she passed out.Chris has since released a statement saying he is "sorry and saddened over what transpired".

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Mel B Sends Rihanna Support

Mel B has sent her support to Rihanna.

The former Spice Girls star - who struck up a friendship with the 'Umbrella' singer last year - was shocked to hear Rihanna had allegedly been attacked by boyfriend Chris Brown.

Mel said: "I was shocked when the news broke last week of my pal Rihanna allegedly being beaten up by Chris Brown. I heard Kanye West on the radio talking about it and I sent Rihanna a text to check if she was OK. I got to know her when she was working in the studio next door to me last year."

Mel also called for authorities to come down heavily on the 'Run It' singer.

She added to Britain's Closer magazine: "For this to happen to a superstar like her is eye-opening. If the rumours are true then Chris should be punished. No woman deserves to be treated like that - and I hope she knows there's tons of support for her."

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Rihanna's 'ongoing Abusive' Relationship

Rihanna has reportedly told police she was in an "ongoing and escalating abusive relationship" with Chris Brown.

The 'Umbrella' singer - who is believed to have suffered a bloody nose, facial bruising and a split lip after Chris allegedly attacked her in his car on Sunday (08.02.09)

- is said to have opened up to the police about the nature of her violent relationship with the 19-year-old singer.

According to gossip website TMZ, Rihanna has confirmed Sunday's argument started when Chris - who has been charged with making criminal threats and released

on $50,000 bail - received a text message from another girl.

As the row escalated Chris began hitting her. She then ordered him to drive her home before "faking" a call to a friend, during which she said things like: "He's

dropping me off. Make sure the cops are there."

The singer claims the call make Chris even angrier, causing him to shout: "You are really f***ed up now. I'm going to kill you."

He then began beating her with his fists.

Police are now said to be investigating whether Chris previously hurt Rihanna.

Officers are also allegedly looking into whether Chris caused Rihanna's scratched cornea - which forced her to wear an eye patch - last year.A police source said:

"We're investigating if her eye injury could have been caused by Brown."There could be an innocent explanation - but police believe Rihanna has previously refused

to make a complaint against Brown. She is now being asked about her previous injuries and is beginning to open up about incidents in their relationship."

A Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) source added: "We're talking to her friends and management, who say she's appeared with mysterious marks or injuries

before, but always refused to explained what happened."Chris Brown's cousin has spoken out in support of the star, insisting he must have been "provoked" into the alleged attack.

Phylicia Thompson said: "Chris was not brought up to beat on a woman. So it had to be something to provoke him for Chris to do it. He wouldn't have done it just to

be having fun...But what happens behind closed doors, nobody ever knows."He might feel down right now because his fans are looking down on him, like he's done

something wrong. Of course, yes, he's done something wrong because he put his hands on her, but like I said, you don't know what happened."

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Rihanna no diva

Rihanna will never become a diva or have a drug problem. The Barbados-born singer - who shot to fame last year after her song 'Umbrella' became a global hit - has vowed not to become too egotistical.

She said: "People really thought I was going to get out of my head andbecome some super diva chick and to this day that never happened.

"I don't ask for extravagant things like flowers flown in, or the room to be all one colour."
The 'Shut Up And Drive' singer will never to follow in troubled singer Amy Winehouse's footsteps by "doing a Winehouse" and abuse drugs.

She also said seeing her father go through crack cocaine addiction when she was young has put her off illegal substances for life.

She added to Britain's The Guardian newspaper: "Because I've seen up close what an effect those things can have on someone, I would never want to put myself in that situation.
"It would be very careless and just not smart at all."

Rihanna's single 'Take a Bow' is out now and her album 'Good Girl Gone Bad' will be reissued on June 2.

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Rihanna's Umbrella love

Rihanna still isn't sick of her song 'Umbrella'.

The track - the first single from her latest album 'Good Girl Gone Bad' - was a worldwide hit and despite being constantly played on TV and the radio, Rihanna still loves hearing it.

She told BANG Showbiz: "I can still listen to it, and do all the time. I love playing it live. I can't wait to get to the end of the show so I can sing it."

Rihanna previously revealed she battled Mary J. Blige to get to record 'Umbrella'.

The stunning star loved the song as soon as she heard it but was devastated when she heard Blige wanted it as well.

So, Rihanna used all her charms to convince the songwriters to give it to her.

She revealed: "Any songwriter would die for Mary to sing one of their songs. So I just prayed that I got it. It was perfect for me - it had a West Indian groove.

"When I saw one of the songwriters at the Grammy Awards, I went up to him and said, 'Listen, 'Umbrella' is my song.'

"He must have thought I was really pushy and laughed it off. But I held his face and I turned it back to my own, 'No, I'm serious, I need 'Umbrella'!' "

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Rihanna dating Shia

Rihanna is dating Shia LaBeouf, it has been reported.

The 'Umbrella' singer is said to be smitten with Shia - who is currently filming the fourth 'Indiana Jones' movie with Harrison Ford - and the couple are believed to have been an item for a couple of months.

A source is quoted by online gossip columnist Perez Hilton as saying: "Shia and Rihanna are officially a couple. It's the talk of the 'Indiana Jones' set."

The couple, who are said to be taking things slowly, were seen having a romantic meal in Beverly Hills restaurant Kate Mantilini on Tuesday (28.08.07).

Rihanna is reportedly planning to make her first public appearance with the 'Transformers' actor at the MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas later this month.

The 19-year-old singer recently revealed Jay-Z screens all her dates, and her protective mentor must give his approval before they are allowed to date her.

She said: "I just found out from a mutual friend that guys will talk to Jay first before they try to approach me.

"He's very protective. Jay has my best interests in mind. If it's a good guy I know Jay won't shut him down. But if he's not, Jay will be like, 'No, no, no.' "

Rihanna - who Jay-Z discovered and signed to his Def Jam record label - also revealed the rapper never tells her who failed to make the cut.

She added: "He actually never tells me. I have no clue who they are and I guess I'll never know."

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RIHANNA: 'THERE IS NO RIVALRY WITH BEYONCE'

R&B beauty RIHANNA has dismissed suggestions she’s feuding with pop chart rival BEYONCE KNOWLES, insisting she has bought three copies of the IRREPLACEABLE singer’s new album.

The Umbrella hitmaker has been caught up in a storm of controversy, which started with reports she was making moves on Beyonce’s boyfriend Jay-Z.

And, of late, reports have suggested Beyonce and Rihanna have become sworn enemies as they battle for R&B supremacy on the charts.

But the pretty Barbados-born star insists nothing could be further from the truth - she’s a huge fan of the former Destiny’s Child singer.

In fact, she’s so devoted to Beyonce, she has bought three copies of her so-called rival’s last album B’Day - because her friends keep stealing it from her house.

She tells WENN, "She’s definitely not the enemy, it’s not a competition. I love her, I love her so much. "I’ve bought that album three times - because my friends keep stealing it from me."

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