Rihanna praises Chris Brown

Rihanna would "never wish anything horrible" for Chris Brown.

The 'We Found Love' hitmaker was assaulted by her former boyfriend in 2009 and although she admitted she resented him for some time, Rihanna now believes disliking Chris - who is serving five years of probation after pleading guilty to the attack - "was taking up too much" of her time and wishes him every success in his career.

She told Esquire: "I would never wish anything horrible for him. Never. I never have.

"It was too much anger. I'm really excited to see the breakthrough he's had in his career.

"It's incredible to see how he pulled out the way he did. Even when the world seemed like it was against him, you know? I really like the music he's putting out. I'm a fan of his stuff. I've always been a fan."

Rihanna is reportedly now dating British boxer Dudley O'Shaughnessy after she chose the hunk to take part in her new music video for single 'We Found Love' and while shooting in Northern Ireland she was particularly taken with him, even sitting on his lap during one break.

A source said: "Rihanna was making no secret that she fancied the pants off Dudley. They hit it off straight away. She had seen his modeling shots and other pictures when he was a boxer.

"Rihanna took every opportunity to get close to him and at one point she was sitting in his lap during a break from filming. She's very tactile anyway, but this was something else."