U.S. recording artist Chris Brown has apologized via video for beating up his former girlfriend Rihanna during an argument last February.

Brown, 20, pleaded guilty last month to felony assault. He was sentenced to probation and ordered to perform community service and attend anger-management classes.

"I've told Rihanna countless times and I'm telling you today, I'm truly, truly sorry that I wasn't able to handle the situation both differently and better," MTV News quoted Brown as saying in the two-minute clip, which first appeared on TMZ Monday afternoon.

Brown explains in the video how his lawyers instructed him to keep silent about the incident until the legal issues surrounding it were settled, MTV News reported.

He also said he is "very sad and very ashamed" about what he'd done and insisted he "accepts full responsibility" for his "unacceptable" behavior.

"I only can pray that you forgive me, please," he told his fans.