Rihanna Praises Chris Brown In Esquire Spread

Rihanna is putting the past behind her in her new interview with Esquire Magazine, in which she was named 2011’s Sexiest Woman Alive. The singer squashed any residual talk of bad blood between her and former beau by praising his recent revival in the music industry.

"It was too much anger," the 23-year-old said to Esquire. "I'm really excited to see the breakthrough he's had in his career."

Brown plead to guilty to felony attack in 2009 after assaulting then girlfriend Rihanna in the wee hours before that year’s Grammy Awards. Since then, he has been ordered to serve five years probation. His career suffered in the wake of the incident

Now, as the success of his F.A.M.E. (Forgiving All My Enemies) album, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts and went gold, draws him ever closer to the pinnacle of the star he once was, Rihanna is more than happy for him.

"It's incredible to see how he pulled out the way he did. Even when the world seemed like it was against him, you know?" Rihanna said to Esquire. "I really like the music he's putting out. I'm a fan of his stuff. I've always been a fan."

"I would never wish anything horrible for him. Never. I never have," said the singer to Esquire.

Rihanna is preparing to release her sixth studio album, Talk That Talk, in November. Her latest single, “We Found Love,” is cruising the Billboard charts at Top 10.

 Brown is currently making the ladies squeal on his F.A.M.E. tour.