Rihanna is reported to have fled to Barbados to escape the media swarm after her recent bashing by pop star Chris Brown, but also to celebrate her 21st birthday.

Rihanna was 21 on Friday (February 20) but instead of a home party, the singer is said to have skipped the country.

The original plan was to have a gala event in New York to mark the milestone birthday. It was to have had a carnival theme and feature sideshows,

200 guests had been invited to the party that was to have been put on by her record label.

The timing for Chris Brown’s vicious attack could not have been worse. That day, Rihanna had to cancel her performance at the Grammy Awards because her face was bruised and lip bleeding after Brown turned violent.

Birthday greetings were published in a Barbados newspaper yesterday, fuelling the rumour that the Barbados born singer was back in her home country.

Rihanna thanked fans via her publicist today, saying she, 'deeply appreciates the outpouring of support she has received during this difficult time'.