This seems to be the real deal.  TMZ, an entertainment site, has an exclusive photo of Rihanna taken after the incident with Chris Brown.  Apparently, someone, possibly fromthe LAPD, leaked this to TMZ.  And the LAPD has launched an investigation, seeking to find out who leaked this important piece of evidence.  That smells real to me…

And I know it’s an exclusive pic, because I tried to copy it to here, and it wouldn’t let me.  So, as galling as it is to send you to another site, you can go to TMZ and look at poor Rihanna’s battered face.  The injuries are pretty bad, including a split lip, bruises and scratches. 

She’s getting a lot of public sympathy, and she should.  Nobody should have to go through this, especially in such a public way.  And Chris Brown is getting a lot of public contempt, as he should, because what he did is contemptible.  But I have read that Chris is seeking counseling, and he’s publicly apologized multiple times.  Not only is there help for women who are battered, there is help for male batterers, too.   I guess we’ll see if he follows through with it, but if he does, I’ll have a lot of respect for that choice.