Chris Brown's new tattoo 'not an abused woman'

Chris Brown has a new tattoo on his neck. Photo / AP

Chris Brown has been spotted with a large new tattoo of what appears to be Rihanna's battered face - but a rep for the star denies it's of her.

The pop star sported the new ink on his neck in a photo on the website of The Hollywood Reporter.

The industry website suggested it was eerily similar to Rihanna's face, but with stitches on her lips and a black eye.

The pair dated but split in 2009 after Brown attacked her, leaving her bruised and battered.

Rihanna recently told Oprah Winfrey she still has feelings for Brown and called him "the love of my life", though the two are not involved. They shared a kiss at the MTV Video Music Awards on Friday.

But a representative for Chris Brown told TMZ the tattoo wasn't related to Rihanna.

"His tattoo is a sugar skull (associated with the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead) and a MAC cosmetics design he saw.

"It is not Rihanna or an abused woman as erroneously reported."

Check out the tattoo here.

- nzherald.co.nz with AP