Reese Witherspoon uses Brown as example of abuse

Reese Witherspoon has used Chris Brown’s infamous assault on ex-girlfriend Rihanna to teach her children about domestic abuse.

The This Means War actress said that her children Ava, 12, and 8-year-old Deacon are clear that behaviour like Brown’s 2009 attack is “absolutely not acceptable”.

“We talk about domestic violence and what that means,” she told People. “Although the concept is somewhat foreign to them, they’re starting to understand that this happens to families in our country and all throughout the world.

“My daughter knows what happened [with Brown and Rihanna]. My son knows as well. We talk about what is abuse.

“I think it’s important to talk to our daughters – and our sons – in order to educate them at an early age about what’s appropriate and what is absolutely not acceptable.”

Witherspoon, who is an ambassador for women’s charity the Avon Foundation, also admitted that she is apprehensive about Ava turning 13 in September.

“I don’t know anything about teenagers, so I’m on a big learning curve here,” she said. “This is the time where I start asking all my friends who have kids who are older, ‘What do you do about a cell phone? What are your rules about the computer? Is she allowed to go out with friends or is she not?’ So I learn a lot from other mothers.”

Brown was sentenced to five years’ probation and six months of community service for assaulting Rihanna. The pair recently collaborated on remixes of their songs ‘Turn Up The Music’ and ‘Birthday Cake’, prompting rumours that they are back together.