Ne-Yo Defends Friend Chris Brown

24 July 2009

R&B star Ne-Yo has defended Chris Brown despite the incident involving Rihanna back in February, saying he won't turn his back on him.

Ne-Yo is friends with both stars, having recorded a duetted with Rihanna on 'Hate That I Love You', however he's determined to stick up for Brown.

The 'So Sick' singer is currently working with Rihanna on her next album, but makes it clear he won't address the assault incident in any new songs.

"I don't think there isn't a person alive that doesn't know what happened and what it was. I don't think that needs to be a song that's sung or written," he told MTV.

VIDEO - Watch Rihanna & Ne-Yo's 'Hate That I Love You'

"It's sad that it took that happening to get the attention it deserves. Women get beat up all the time, and nobody says anything about it or chooses to do anything about it."

"But now that it happened to a celebrity, it's 'let's talk about it on Oprah Winfrey.'"

Ne-Yo also said that Chris Brown is a friend and he that he's really a great guy.

"...he has some lessons to learn and some maturing to do," Ne-Yo explained. "...I'm not gonna bash him for that. I'm not gonna turn my back on a person I call my friend because he made a mistake. So I can't write the Chris Brown bash song and then turn around and look myself in the mirror."