A spokesperson for Rihanna has blamed the singer's no-show at the Grammys on Sunday on a traffic problem, although would not reveal if that 'traffic problem' was being punched in the face by her boyfriend, Chris Brown, while standing near a car.
As speculation grew as to Rihanna and Brown's no-shows at this weekend's Grammy Awards, and as police confirmed Brown had been arrested in relation to allegations he "made a criminal threat" against an unnamed woman, Rihanna's publicist, Amanda Silverman, told E! News that her client had been involved in an "unspecified traffic mishap", adding: "Rihanna is well. Thank you for concern and support".
Reports that the woman alleging Brown attacked her was, in fact, Rihanna grew in number as the day went by yesterday. The LA Times cited unnamed police officers as saying it was Rihanna who Brown had allegedly hit, while gossip mags/sites Us Weekly, People, TMZ.com and Radaronline.com all also cited unnamed sources saying there had been an altercation between the pop couple after a pre-Grammy party.
Life & Style magazine, meanwhile, ran a report that the couple had been seen arguing at another pre-Grammy party on Friday night.
They quote one guest as saying: "I saw Chris Brown and Rihanna fighting at the Verizon party on Friday night. They were in this room and they were just screaming at each other, totally cussing each other out. They were right in each other's face. It was scary. They were surrounded by all these execs and they were all just ignoring it, as if it was something they saw every day. It was so shocking".
According to police reports, Brown was no longer present by the time they arrived at the alleged crime scene, but he later reported to a police station where he was charged with making a criminal threat rather than any actual assault charges. That said, insiders say the District Attorney may as yet choose to expand the charges against him.
Whatever the authorities decide, chewing gum makers Wrigley, who have a marketing partnership with the R&B star, said yesterday it was suspending all advertising campaigns he was involved in. The gum firm said it had not made any decision on their long term relationship with Brown, but that they had decided to suspend marketing activity involving him because of the "serious allegations" that had been made against him.