Chris Brown wants Rihanna to stop talking about his assault on her three years ago following the pop star's tearful interview with Oprah Winfrey.
In an interview due to screen in America on Sunday night, Rihanna tells the talk show queen that she felt "concerned" for Chris Brown in the aftermath of his assault on her.
The incident led to Brown pleading guilty to a felony battery charge, but he feels his ex-girlfriend constantly bringing up the drama isn't helping.
A source told website RadarOnline: "Chris is just confused about Rihanna's decision to bring up the past again and again - this time in an interview with Oprah.
"Rihanna has previously given wide ranging interviews about the beating to Diane Sawyer and several print magazines. Chris just doesn't think it's productive or relevant to rehash the events since essentially nothing new is being revealed in the interview Rihanna has done with Oprah.
"Apparently he thinks that they need to stop addressing the rough patch in their relationship in order to progress with their friendship and careers.
The insider continued: "Chris doesn't begrudge Rihanna at all for talking about it but he thinks that in order for them to both move forward and not be defined by that one night, it would be better to stop bringing it up."
Rihanna admits in her upcoming interview on Oprah's Next Chapter that she felt "protective" over Brown and was more concerned with his well-being than her own in the wake of the 2009 incident.
She said: "It was embarrassing, it was humiliating. I lost my best friend - everything I knew switched - switched in a night and I couldn't control that ... it's not easy for me to interpret - it's not easy to interpret on camera with the world watching."
The We Found Love hitmaker admitted the time following the incident in February 2009 was "confusing" because she felt her then-boyfriend needed help and people could only see him as a "monster".
She said: "I felt like the only person they hate right now is him. It was a weird, confusing space to be in.
"Because as angry as I was - as angry and hurt and betrayed - I just felt like he made that mistake because he needed help. And who's going to help him? Nobody's going to say he needs help, everybody's going to say he's a monster, without looking at the source. And I was more concerned about him."
Rihanna admitted the incident - for which Brown was subsequently convicted of battery and sentenced to 80 hours of community labour, five years probation and required to attend a 12-month domestic violence counseling programme - turned her world upside down because she "lost everything" that was familiar.
Watch a preview of Rihanna's interview with Oprah:
- Bang! Showbiz