Banks: 'I feel sorry for Chris Brown'

Tyra Banks has revealed that she feels sorry for Chris Brown.

Speaking on Larry King Live, the model explained that she had been shocked when she heard about Brown's assault of Rihanna.

"There are so many rumours in the entertainment industry," she explained. "And I was like, 'Oh, that's just a rumour'. And then more and more, you know, police evidence and things come out and photos and things. And I was just like in shock.

"I went back to the interview that I had with Chris Brown. He told me that he experienced this abuse of - I think it was a father figure - on his mother.

"And that he was so scared, you know, hearing his mother scream and in so much pain... So when I heard [about the attack] I said, 'Wow, the cycle is repeating'. That's the first thing I thought.

"I feel sorry for him because we all know... that it is a cycle. When you experience something, there is a large chance that you are going to become the perpetrator.

"So that is where the sympathy goes out, because he is a victim. But at the same time, your reasoning for doing something does not excuse the fate of somebody else."