R&B singer Chris Brown publicly apologized Monday for beating his then-girlfriend Rihanna after a pre-Grammy party in February.

In a two-minute video posted on his website, Brown calls his actions "inexcusable" and says he's seeking help to live his life as a role model.

Pop star Rihanna stands next to her lawyer during a hearing in Los Angeles last month. In a public video, her then-boyfriend Chris Brown has apologized for attacking her.

Brown said he is sad and ashamed of his conduct. He also tells viewers he has repeatedly apologized to Rihanna.

"I am truly, truly sorry that I wasn't able to handle the situation both different and better," Brown said. "What I did was unacceptable, 100 per cent."

Brown was arrested Feb. 8, hours after he fought with Rihanna in a rented sports car after the party.

According to a police affidavit, Brown tried to push the 21-year-old Barbadian-born singer from the car and repeatedly hit her and choked her.

He left the scene and later turned himself in to authorities during the Grammy Awards, where he and Rihanna were slated to perform. He was later charged with assault likely to cause great bodily harm and making criminal threats.

He pleaded guilty to the felony assault charge last month and faces formal sentencing Aug. 5. Under a plea deal, he will serve five years of probation and perform six months of community service.

On the video, Brown calls the beating "the incident." He vows to give interviews and answer some questions about what happened in the near future but said he wanted to speak directly to fans first.

"I felt it was time you that heard directly from me that I am sorry," he says on the video.

Saw violence as child

He says he is ashamed of his conduct and says his mother, who has attended some of his court hearings, has taught him better. He mentions that he witnessed domestic violence growing up.

"I saw first-hand what uncontrolled rage can do," he tells viewers. "I have sought and am continuing to seek help to ensure that what occurred in February can never happen again."

Brown says on the video he wanted to speak out earlier, but was advised not to by his lawyer.

He acknowledges that the beating has hurt his reputation. Although he doesn't mention it, Brown lost sponsorship deals, radio stations stopped playing his music and other artists condemned him after the attack.

Before the beating, Brown was considered a squeaky-clean R&B up-and-comer. He rose to prominence after the 2005 hit Run It! He was nominated for a Grammy for No Air with Jordin Sparks and named Billboard's top artist in 2008.

"I intend to live my life so that I am truly worth of the term 'role model,"' Brown says at the video's conclusion.