Rihanna attends the grand opening of the 40/40 Club Sept. 27 in the Brooklyn. (Photo by Allison Joyce/Getty Images)
Chris Brown addresses Judge Patricia M. Schnegg as he appears in court with his attorney Mark Geragos for a probation progress report hearing on Sept. 24.(Photo by David McNew/Getty)
UNDATED (CNN) -- Was there something more behind that quick kiss and hug Rihanna gave Chris Brown at the MTV Video Music Awards?
Thursday Chris Brown announced he broke up with his model girlfriend telling CNN he didn't want to see her hurt over his "friendship" with Rihanna.
Brown and Rihanna have had a tumultuous relationship. He was convicted of felony assault for beating Rihanna on the eve of the 2009 Grammys and still has two more years of probation to serve.
Brown was even under court order to stay away from her but a judge lifted that last year. The break-up comes on the heels of recent paparazzi photos showing Brown and Rihanna together in public.
Even though Brown says he's "staying single" there have been rumors the two are more than friends.