Rihanna On Why She’s Spoken Out About Chris Brown Incident: ‘I Wanted People To Move On With Me’

Rihanna doesn’t want the events of February 8, 2009 to define her.

In a new interview for GQ magazine’s January 2010 issue, which features the pop star in a host of sexy poses, the singer revealed she’s been speaking out as she promotes her new album, “Rated R,” about what happened with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown, to put what happened on that night, behind her.

“Because I wanted to move on,” Rihanna answered when asked why she’s recently opened up about the abuse at the hands of Brown on February 8. “I knew that was the only way I could have done it. And I wanted people to move on with me. ‘Cause the last big thing they know about me is That night. And I don’t want that to be what people define me as.”

The pop singer said speaking about the issue has been “very liberating.”

“It’s relieving,” she continued. “Because it was built up for so long, and all these thoughts and emotions have been running through my mind for the past eight months. And now it’s like I finally get to let go and move on.”

Rihanna said a host of friends were there for her following the incident, especially her former record label boss and mentor, Jay-Z.

“Me and Jay-Z, we have a very close relationship, so he was there helping me through it and giving me advice and guidance, and just words of support. Like, strength,” she said.

But she also credited getting back to work with helping her get on with her life

“I was getting bored of being in the house and sittin’ around. I called Jay Brown – he’s my A&R – and I was like, ‘I want to get back to the studio,” she told GQ. “I want to get back.”

But it wasn’t easy. Ending her relationship with Chris was very tough.

“It took a lot of strength to pull out of that relationship. To finally officially cut it off. It was like night and day,” she said. “It was two different worlds. It was the world I lived for two years and then having the strength to say, ‘I’m gonna step into my own world. Start over.’”

When asked if the two could ever be friends, Rihanna said time will tell.

“Maybe in like ten years,” she said. “But it’s not something that I’m depending on. I’m not depending on his friendship.”