NEW YORK - RIHANNA said Thursday that she feels 'embarrassed' for returning to ex-boyfriend Chris Brown after he beat her in April and warned other women struggling with domestic violence not to let themselves be blinded by love.

'It's completely normal to go back. You start lying to yourself,' the 21-year-old singer said on Good Morning America in her first public comments following the beating. 'I'll say that to any young girl who is going through domestic violence: 'Don't react off of love.'

Brown, 20, was arrested Feb. 8, hours after he was accused of beating Rihanna after the couple attended a pre-Grammy Awards party. He later pleaded guilty to felony assault and a judge ordered Brown and Rihanna to stay away from each other.

In the interview, Rihanna said she was ashamed she returned to Brown after the attack. 'That's embarrassing - that's the type of person I fell in love with. So far in love, so unconditional, that I went back,' she said. 'That's not what I want to teach people.'

Brown's career suffered after his arrest, with sponsors dropping him and radio stations refusing to play his music. Both he and Rihanna had to cancel several high-profile appearances, including planned performances at the Grammy Awards the day of the attack.

In the interview Thursday, she said: 'I am strong. This happened to me. I didn't cause this. I didn't do it. This can happen to me and it can happen to anybody.' -- AP