Los Angeles Times Outs Rihanna As Chris Brown Victim, Defends Editorial Policy: "Fair Game"

The Los Angeles Times went where other news organizations would not: it identified pop singer Rihanna as Chris Brown's alleged assault victim:

R&B singer Chris Brown has been booked tonight on suspicion of making felony criminal threats in connection with an incident involving his girlfriend, pop singer Rihanna, according to Los Angeles Police Department sources familiar with the case.

"Who says we need journalism's old rules?" asked Jossip's David Hauslaib, referring to the journalistic convention of protecting victims' privacy by not printing their names.

Indeed, every other major publication referred to Brown's alleged victim as an unidentified woman, allowing readers to make their own conclusions that his girlfriend, Rihanna, was the victim of his alleged assault.

But the Los Angeles Times decided to run Rihanna's name — despite the LAPD's refusal to confirm her identity, citing state laws meant to protect abuse victims' privacy.

The story's author, LAT reporter Andrew Blankstein, told me by phone Monday that the public nature of the case made it "fair game" to report her name.

"The Times has a blanket policy when it comes to not naming victims of sexual assault," he said. "There isn't a set policy when it comes to physical assault or a criminal threat. In that case, there's a decision internally and on a case-by-case basis of whether to name somebody. In this case, obviously there was a discussion among the editors about this. The nature of this case — against the backdrop of the Grammy's, the delay in changing things, the explanations put out by both camps — the decision was made that this was fair game."

Blankstein's comments were reiterated by the newspaper's Readers' Rep, Jamie Gold.

"The Times chooses to follow an established, non-binding practice on sexual assault victims in which The Times does not identify them by name," she said in an e-mail. "But that is for sexual assault, which is not the case here."

Comments

[kissmygrits]

It's grand that they don't think domestic violence is a big deal. I really am beginning to hate the traditional media - every single outlet.

[Gatorboy]

I agree that the paper crossed the line, but I wonder if Chris' crimes would have being taken this seriously if the victim had remained simply "unidentified woman".

[sepiasiren]

If it had been an unidentified woman, she would already be accused of just trying to get publicity and money as most women who are assaulted try to do right? *shakes head*

[Riani]

Maybe being "outed" is not a bad thing, as it might help the victim to deal with what happened. Very often victims go into denial, or start down-playing the incident to themselves, or blaming themselves. Some spend a lot of energy trying to hide the abuse. Having been outed, it forces her to deal with what happened, and hopefully, out the coward who did this to her. Also, with regards to people who say there are two sides to the story. Honey, when it comes to abuse, there are two sides - one side is a victim, the other side is an abuser. Nothing she said or did can be used as an excuse for beating her. You don't like what she says, pack your bags and leave. And even if she attacked him first, the extent of her injuries does not indicates that he was defending himself, it clearly shows that he layed into her with the intent to do serious injury

[jesselee26]

what she said!!!!!!!

[hsirt]

Ok, here's an honest question: Why should we as a society and our media keep the names of "victims" a secret? Why would it be wrong to have our community rally behind "victims" and let them know their not alone and it's not ok what happened to them? Wouldn't that be empowering rather than humiliating? Aren't we in some way implying they *should* be humiliated by not talking out loud? Doesn't it in some way protect the perpetrators of these crime to not reveal (and thus humanize) their victims? Maybe we should shine a brighter light on these crimes?

I don't know what the answer is or how I feel about this issue-- these are just some thoughts...

[soulistic]

I understand where you are coming from. But doing that is a double edge sword, not every one has good intentions. And its a traumatic event for the victim. Some may not want all that attention from strangers. People deal with issues of abuse in differently. So its better to leave a victim, in my opinion unidentified, just so their is no added drama.

[sepiasiren]

or at least let the victim choose for themselves...

[banja]

This was way below the belt, LAT was quick to throw Rihanna under the bus. Now she has to deal with all her injuries and trauma from being assaulted by her boyfriend under intense media scrutiny.
Chris Brown can kiss his career goodbye.

[KataVideo]

Who is Rihanna and who is Chris Brown?

[Seven7s]

They WERE R&B singers...

Now they'll be known as "victim" and "defendant" lol

[OverIt]

They are right. I was wondering why they were keeping her identity secret to begin with. That is NOT standard in domestic violence cases that DO NOT involve a sexual assault. From the beginning it seemed like it was more of a courtesy because of the celebrity of both parties. Or perhaps they were confirming the absence of a sexual assault before going forward with the identification. Whichever course this took, identifying Rihanna now as the victim of this cowardly act is squarely within the boundaries of journalistic ethics.

[soulistic]

I heard that SHE requested not to be identified in the police report. She may not have wanted all the attention being that she is a celebrity.

[Seven7s]

More phony indignation by HuffPo posters.

I wonder when it comes out that she struck him repeatedly while driving which is why he had to pull over in the first place how many of you so-called "feminist" (really female supremacist) will apologize to him and call for her prosecution. NONE..
Just goes to show you sexism is alive and well and both genders are guilty.

[BethA]

Was that how your parents worked, mommy said something daddy didn't like and so daddy punched and bit her and that's therefore ok in your book? If your a guy, do women a favor....go gay.

[Seven7s]

Very insightful and mature. Does it hurt to be that ignorant and anti-intellectual or have you grown used to it?

[kissmygrits]

HAHAHAHA. Right. Um, sexism is equal on both sides and society isn't sexist towards women? I guess you know nothing about rape and dom violence stats. Look at your media. Who is valued and objectified for the sex appeal? Primarily women. Look at your congress. Look at the small percentage of women who are in power. Look at your corporate boardrooms. Women are a frickin' underclass. Stop pretending they are not.

[Seven7s]

No YOU know nothing about rape and domestic violence stats.

A woman is more likely to hit her partner and is also most likely to sexual and physically abuse her child in the household.

TRUTH HURTS.

HERE IS STUDY DONE AT UCLA......

Regarding perpetration of violence, more women than men (25 percent versus 11 percent) were responsible. In fact, 71 percent of the instigators in nonreciprocal partner violence were women. This finding surprised Whitaker and his colleagues, they admitted in their study report.

As for physical injury due to intimate partner violence, it was more likely to occur when the violence was reciprocal than nonreciprocal. And while injury was more likely when violence was perpetrated by men, in relationships with reciprocal violence it was the men who were injured more often (25 percent of the time) than were women (20 percent of the time). “This is important as violence perpetrated by women is often seen as not serious,” Whitaker and his group stressed….

Of the study’s numerous findings, Whitaker said, “I think the most important is that a great deal of interpersonal violence is reciprocally perpetrated and that when it is reciprocally perpetrated, it is much more likely to result in injury than when perpetrated by only one partner.”

[Seven7s]

WHOAAAA hold on sister solja lol

There is WAYYYY more sexism towards women than men. And it should be addressed and corrected.

BUt I am speaking specifically about domestic violence. And most domestic violence is STARTED by women. Period.

So says the CDC and any sociologist. It's just that women are able to use their femininity against the man.

[AGarcia]

How old are you seven? YOU WALK AWAY, LIKE A MAN. You don't pull over and start wailing on her and BITE HER. I don't care if she hits you, insults your sexual ability, or threatens to spread vicious rumors about you - YOU WALK AWAY. PERIOD. There is no legitimate reason to hit a woman ever. LAT is just a paper trying to print stories people will read but Chris Brown is a punk. My anger is towards him, not at the LAT.

[Mitch McFadden]

I dunno...It's hard to question the manhood of someone who uses such a classically "manly" fighting technique as biting. Apparently, it was effective enough that he didn't have to resort to the current MMA super man move of pulling her hair.
*whew*

[Seven7s]

THinking age has anything to do with intelligence is ignorance in itself.

I am able to recognize hypocrisy no matter what my age.

So spare me your bloviations.

[kirssstens]

You have a point. In my world, the police just arrest everyone and let the courts sort it out. Even if HE says he doesn't want to press charges, they'll still arrest HER.

[Seven7s]

Very true. Domestic violence goes both ways and people need to stop approaching it as a male vs. female issue.

Its really a person who can not talk their problems out issue and both genders are equally guilty.

[sepiasiren]

There are plenty of men defending Rhianna so assuming that only women think violence against a female is deplorable is in and of itself sexist and "false indignation"...

And besides which you have no idea what occurred so all you can do is theorize and try to make Brown a vcitm--in any event Rhianna is the one being hospitalized so I will lay my odds on who suffered serious injury you woman hating hypocrit.

[Seven7s]

"violence against a female is deplorable"

^^^ Way to lose your credibility. Is violence against a male equally deplorable? If you think differently then you are a hypocrite and maybe you should just sit this conversation out until you grow a brain.

Thanks.

[CmdrTomalak]

Chris Brown is a sad pathetic excuse for a man! What a coward!
Rihanna, don't you let him get away with this crap. Kick that boy's @ss to the curb and move on.

[sueno]

I agree, and the LA Times is sleazy for letting Rihanna's
private information out-

[OneWoman]

"Fair game"??? Yeah, that's what Chris Brown thought too.

[realitychecks]

And you are so right

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

I don't know neither of these people or their music, however, I will hold judgement until you hear both sides of the story. After all theirs her side, his side and somewhere in the middle is the truth.

[johnnygoodwud]

newspapers are desparate for readership. brown should be 'outed', and the truth should be made public. maybe than she'll do what is right and file charges against this guy. also, this can't help his dwindling career.

[OMG1]

We don't have a national media any longer. We have a bunch of blabbering chatterheads on television spewing hours and hours on nonsence and newspapers that waste time exposing the personal lives of movie, sports, and music stars while ignoring real issues and conducting real investigation. The media stopped doing investigative reporting long ago. The media has all the credibility of the Pope and the Catholic church...... none!

[ibivi]

Amen. No responsibility, no compassion, totally intrusive. Everything is infotainment!
She needs to get rid of that man and have him charged with assault. I wish her a speedy recovery.

[LollieDotCom]

Wait a minute... I agree that the fourth estate has crumbled into a trash heap that doesn't deserve to survive, but even back in the day when we had real news, sensational stories about celebrities ruled. Anyone we see up close and repeatedly, our brains decide are members of our own tribe. So celebrity stories are always a local story for most people no matter where they live.

But I do wish we could file a class action lawsuit against every member of the fourth estate who isn't Rachel Maddow. Oh alright, I know, I know, there are a few other good ones. But still, most of em really don't deserve a dime they've gotten (I started to say 'earned,' what a joke.). I just keep thinking that in the vacuum of a lack of real investigative news reporters that young people are soon to fill those shoes left empty far too long. And I just want to shout at them, HURRY, GD DMMIT! HURRY! If you're a journalism student and you've got the cajones to put the important stories above all else, always.... HURRY.

[HoneyBQuick]

Amen.

[petphotos]

Just goes to show how LOW CLASS a newspaper can be. Would not be surprised if the reporter gets "abused" for his trouble. He deserves it.

[angelrunning]

"fair game"???!!!!???? That's a great way to treat a young woman who's apparently been brutalized by the man she loved. Guess what, dear, you're "fair game" -- for your boyfriend and the media both, apparently. Shameful.

[OneWoman]

We apparently had the same reaction to this article.

[SpaghettyIrish]

Much ado about nothing. It was obvious from initial reporting who the vic was. I was the first comment on the first story about it on HuffPo (not bragging!) and I already surmised what the deal was by the time I finished the article.

[tangelan]

Me too. He's wanted for domestic assault in a car and coincidentally, Rhianna suffered facial bruising in a separate car accident that happended almost at the same time? Please. There was no "outing" necessary.