NEW YORK (AP) ― People have been scratching their heads over Rihanna’s musical collaboration with Chris Brown, but she says it “made sense” and it’s “innocent.”

Brown appears on a remix of her song “Birthday Cake,” and she appears on a remix of his “Turn up the Music.” Their music union is noteworthy because Brown beat up Rihanna three years ago and is still on probation for the assault.

Rihanna says it was her idea for Brown to appear on her song because he’s “the hottest R&B artist” right now. He then asked her to be on his song.

She says the partnership allowed fans to come together, adding: “There shouldn’t be a divide. ... It’s music, and it’s innocent.”

She made the comments to Ryan Seacrest on his radio show on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles.