As new preview clips of Rihanna’s 20/20 interview surfaced, affiliates of her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown have taken to Twitter in his defense.

As previously reported, Rihanna spoke to Diane Sawyer about the challenges of leaving an abusive relationship and being ashamed of falling in love. While Brown has made the media rounds, the 20/20 interview marked the first time RiRi addressed being assaulted by Brown on the eve of the Grammys.
 
“I caught him in a lie and he wouldn't tell the truth, so I wouldn't drop it,” she told Sawyer in a clip that aired on Good Morning America. “I couldn't take that he kept lying to me and he couldn't take that I wouldn't drop it because obviously his back was against the wall; the truth was right here in the text message. So, it accelerated towards him being violent towards me and it was ugly.

“It wasn’t the same person that says I love you,” she continued. “It was not those… eyes. He had … no soul in his eyes. Just blank. He was clearly blacked out. There was no person when I looked at him.”

The February 2009 assault left the 21-year-old Rihanna battered and bruised, and Brown was eventually sentenced to five years of probation, community labor, and one year of domestic-violence counseling.

After the preview debuted, some members from Brown’s camp took to Twitter in the embattled singer’s defense.

“I wish dancers can speak about things that really go on! Let me just say, Chris Brown was pushed to the extreme!” tweeted one of Brown’s dancers.
 

“Awwww man I am Mad!!!! Truth will come to Light !!! It always does!!!!” said another.

Rihanna’s interview with Diane Sawyer on 20/20 premieres tonight (November 6). Her album, Rated R, hits stores November 23rd.