Rihanna’s new year . . . and new relationship?

Rihanna has talked candidly about her assault after being beaten by R&B singer Chris Brown – and told of the “advice and support” she received from Beyonce’s husband Jay-Z after her break-up.

In a frank interview with American GQ – for which she posed in tiny hotpants and a cut-off top, the singer said: “The physical pain comes and it goes. The bruises fade away. But the emotional scars stay with you.”

She added: “I never blamed myself, but I wondered, ‘What did I do to provoke it?'”

The popstar also wanted to clear-up rumours about a ‘mark’ on her lip.

Some internet sites have suggested that Rihanna had a cold sore on the night of the attack –which can be caused by the sexually transmitted virus, herpes – and this was the reason for Chris Brown’s anger.

But Rihanna said: “It’s not true. It’s a f****** scar. On my lip. That’s there every day of my life.”

She also admitted that she did not contact police immediately after the attack.

The popstar said: “I didn’t call 911. No. I know everybody thinks I did, but it was someone else.”

The couple – who had been dating for two years – split after the attack.

She told the men’s magazine that Jay-Z helped her cope.

“He gave me advice and support”, Rihanna said.

Rihanna was assaulted last year by then-boyfriend, musician Chris Brown. A photograph of the bruised and battered star was posted on the Internet and Brown was sentenced to five years probation and 180 days community service.

2009 wasn’t the best year for Rihanna – what with her boxing match with ex-lover Chris Brown. And unfortuntately 2010 didn’t get off to a much better start when her New Year’s Eve concert in Dubai proved to be a disaster for the R&B babe.

One down-in-the-dumps former fan moaned (in the Daily Star newspaper): “She didn’t do a countdown or wish anyone happy New Year, and sat down for most of the time with hardly any interaction with the audience.”

“The big screens went down a couple of times so most of us couldn’t even see. People started walking out, it was that bad.”

That’s pretty shocking stuff, considering she was rumoured to have been paid half a million to do the show.

We’re stunned that Ri didn’t say goodbye or take a bow. It’s not like her to play Russian Roulette with her fans’ affections.

The Umbrellasinger rang in the New Year with a show at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi last week and according to reports, she was accompanied by her new boyfriend, Los Angeles Dodgers player Kemp, reported contactmusic.com.

Rihanna has also seemed to confirmed rumours that she is dating baseball star Matt Kemp after the two were snapped arriving in Los Angeles together following the singer’s New Year’s Eve concert in Abu Dhabi and after he was seen grabbing her ass(ets) while on a romantic yacht trip in Mexico.

Rihanna has been romantically linked to a string of men including Justin Timberlake, rapper Drake and actor Tristan Wilds in the last few months. But she has previously denied reports, insisting it was too much following her split from singer Chris Brown.

Below is a funky remix video from her smash hit Umbrella: