Chris Brown dumps girlfriend for ‘friendship’ with Rihanna

Chris Brown has confronted wide speculation about the status of his relationship with Rihanna by dumping girlfriend Karrueche Tran.

That’s one way to, uh, clarify what’s been happening with Brown and RiRi, as months and months of increased time spent together — and finally a reported makeout session in New York on Monday — have had fans and the industry buzzing.

“I have decided to be single to focus on my career,” Brown said in a statement via his publicist (CNN noted his thoughts came unsolicited).

PHOTOS | Domestic abuse accusations: A look at celebrity cases

“I love Karrueche very much, but I don’t want to see her hurt over my friendship with Rihanna. I’d rather be single, allowing us to both be happy in our lives.”

That Brown would categorize himself and Rihanna as friends is something of a corroboration. When she sat down with Oprah in August, Rihanna confessed she still loved Breezy, but said they were only pals thanks to his relationship with Karrueche.

That’s no longer an issue.

“Bye baby,” Tran, a model, said simply in a Wednesday tweet.

Following Monday’s kissing incident, which allegedly went down at Manhattan nightclub Griffin, Brown and Rihanna attended a Jay-Z concert Tuesday at Brooklyn’s just-opened Barclays Center.

Fan photographs of the outing saw Brown wrapping his arm around Rihanna’s chair, not touching in the pictures but certainly not far apart.

Brown is still on probation from his 2009 assault of the “Umbrella” singer, an incident that left her face considerably bruised, ended their public romance and continues to inspire criticism of both young stars over their enduring friendship.

ALSO:

Rihanna says she’s still in love with Chris Brown

Chris Brown and Rihanna: Together again in the Mediterranean?

Rihanna: Chris Brown collaborations were ‘innocent,’ for the fans

Follow Matt Donnelly on Twitter and Google+. Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter @LATcelebs and on Facebook facebook.com/ministryofgossip.

PHOTOS AND MORE:

PHOTOS: Celebrity portraits by The Times

PHOTOS: Peril on the set - Celebrity injuries

TIMELINE: Kristen Stewart cheating scandal