Chris Brown has admitted he would be “affected” if his former girlfriend Rihanna began dating someone else.

The R&B singer was sentenced to five years' probation last month for attacking Rihanna in Los Angeles in February.

During an appearance on Larry King Live, Brown, 21, admitted that he “definitely” still loved the singer, and was “pretty sure we can always be friends”.

"I'm not sure about our relationship, but we ended as friends,” he added.

Brown, who pleaded guilty to assaulting the star, was also asked how he would feel if she began seeing someone else.

He replied: "I'd definitely be affected by it. But at the end of the day, we aren't together. If she's happy, I'm cool."

Brown beat Rihanna outside a parked car in Los Angeles in February.

Last month, an LA judge also sentenced him to 180 days community labour and ordered to attend domestic violence counselling.

Chris Brown and Rihanna