Rihanna has issued her first public statement concerning her alleged assault by boyfriend Chris Brown, following the leaking of a photograph which reportedly shows her badly bruised face. According to a statement by the LAPD, the "photograph has the appearance of one taken during an official Domestic Violence investigation."

Rihanna's statement comes four days after Chris Brown's, in which he said, "Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired."

Rihanna's statement reads “At the request of the authorities, Rihanna is not commenting about the incident involving Chris Brown. She 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.” [NME]