Jay-Z is standing up for his artist Rihanna by calling on fans to think of the singer as a family member who has been the victim of domestic violence.

Rihanna was allegedly attacked by longtime boyfriend Chris Brown, 19, in Los Angeles last Sunday. The R&B singer was arrested and charged with felony counts of making criminal threats.

“You have to have compassion for others,” the hip-hop mogaul, who helped the 20-year-old Barbadian beauty launch her career, told People Magazine on Saturday. “Just imagine it being your sister or mom and then think about how we should talk about that.”

“I just think we should all support her. She’s going through a tough time,” Jay-Z said. “You have to realize she’s a young girl, as well. She’s very young.”