Mel B "shocked" by Rihanna 'attack'

Mel B sent Rihanna a message of support after hearing that she was allegedly assaulted by ex-boyfriend Chris Brown.

The former Spice Girl got to know Rihanna last year and admitted that she was stunned when she heard about the altercation.

"I was shocked when the news broke last week of my pal Rihanna allegedly being beaten up by Chris Brown," she told Closer.

"I heard Kanye West on the radio talking about it and I sent Rihanna a text to check if she was OK. I got to know her when she was working in the studio next door to me last year."

The singer added that she thinks the authorities should deal with Brown seriously.

"For this to happen to a superstar like her is eye-opening. If the rumours are true then Chris should be punished. No woman deserves to be treated like that - and I hope she knows there's tons of support for her," she said.

Brown's father recently revealed that his son is "very remorseful" but insisted that there are "two sides to every story".