Probe into Rihanna photo leak
Police in Los Angeles are investigating whether an officer leaked a picture of a bruised and beaten woman that appears to be singer Rihanna to a celebrity website.
TMZ.com, which posted the photo yesterday, did not explain its origin. The site wrote only that it was taken after an altercation between the platinum-selling singer and her boyfriend, fellow pop star Chris Brown.
Los Angeles police chief William Bratton admitted today that the photo could prove embarrassing to the woman pictured, a view shared by advocates for abused women.
Mr Bratton said that along with launching an internal investigation into whether the photo was police evidence, he was also looking into how TMZ.com obtained the picture.
He said the department may pursue a felony conspiracy case against TMZ.com and whoever might have helped them obtain the image.
Mr Bratton said he suspected someone within the department leaked the photo, but did not elaborate or confirm that it came from police evidence files.
“We are not treating this lightly,” he said. “It’s an embarrassment to this department if in fact evidence was leaked.
“It’s going to be a very painful experience for any personnel from this department and possibly those who they may have engaged in a conspiracy with to violate the laws of California.”
Brown, 19, was arrested on February 8 on suspicion of making criminal threats, but police have not publicly identified his alleged victim. The woman was Rihanna, according to a person familiar with the situation.
A spokesman for Brown said the singer had no further comment beyond a statement released last Sunday in which he said he was “sorry and saddened” about the incident.
Rihanna broke her silence yesterday, her 21st birthday, by releasing a statement through Rubenstein Associates.
“At the request of the authorities, Rihanna is not commenting about the incident involving Chris Brown,” the statement read.
“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.”
The singer cancelled a planned birthday party in New York and postponed concerts overseas in the days following the incident.
Prosecutors are still waiting for police to present more evidence against Brown.
