Gabrielle Union Defends Rihanna's 'Man Down' Murder And Rape Scene

Actress Gabrielle Union has defended Rihanna's controversial new video for 'Man Down'.

The video, released earlier last week, was criticised because it begins a scene where Rihanna appears to shoot a man who is later alluded to trying to rape her.

Union, who was raped by a stranger during a robbery at the age of 19, has praised Rihanna for her bold statement.

She told her followers over Twitter: '"#Mandown video did a GREAT job of getting the ENTIRE world TALKING abt RAPE. I hope tht it leads 2 HEALING & PREVENTS RAPE (sic),"

"During my rape I tried 2 shoot my rapist, bt I missed. Over the yrs I realised tht killin my rapist would've added insult 2 injury. The DESIRE 2 kill someone whose abused/raped u is understandable, bt unless its self defense n the moment 2 save ur life, just ADDS 2 ur troubles #mandown."

'Man Down' is the latest single to be taken from Rihanna's recent album 'Loud'.