Chris Brown dumps girlfriend Karrueche Tran after being pictured with Rihanna for the third night in a row

Chris Brown has publicly announced he has dumped his girlfriend Karrueche Tran after being pictured with ex Rihanna for the third night in a row.

Chris Brown, 23, admitted his close bond with Rihanna was the reason for the split, but stopped short of saying the exes had reconciled.

He said in a statement: “I have decided to be single to focus on my career. I love Karrueche very much but I don’t want to see her hurt over my friendship with Rihanna.”

The singer continued: “I’d rather be single allowing us to both be happy in our lives.”

Karrueche Tran, a 23-year-old model who has been dating the singer since earlier last year, posted a tweet last night which read: “Bye baby.”

Chris Brown and Rihanna were spotted attending the Jay-Z concert at the Brooklyn Barclays Center on Wednesday, with a picture of the couple inside the event showing his with his arm around her as they sat in the VIP section watching the gig.

Prior to the concert, Rihanna was seen leaving the Gansevoort Park Hotel, followed just 10 minutes later by a slightly sheepish looking Chris Brown.

Rihanna, 24, wore a sheer black blouse, Chanel belt and mini skirt that showed off her toned legs, while Chris Brown kept it casual in jeans and a printed T-shirt for the evening out.

The concert date marked the third night Rihanna and Chris Brown have been seen out together in New York.

The pair was first seen together on Monday night, partying together at celebrity hotspot Griffin in New York’s Meatpacking district.

An eyewitness said the two were “hugging and kissing, and they went to the back of the club alone together”.

Rihanna allegedly arrived just five minutes after Chris Brown and sat down two tables away from him.

Chris Brown is then alleged to have taken off his shirt and began “dancing on the table for Rihanna”, according to Celebuzz and continued “dancing together and being very smitten”.

After dancing and kissing, Rihanna and Chris Brown then went into a bathroom together, according to the New York Post.

When Rihanna emerged, a source told the paper: “She seemed a little ruffled.”

And on Tuesday night, Rihanna was seen leaving her hotel and heading to the recording studio after reportedly spending time with Chris Brown inside.

They were also seen planting a kiss on the lips and embracing inside the Staples Center at MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles last month.

Rihanna and Chris Brown’s recent racy antics come after Rihanna admitted to Oprah Winfrey that she still considers Chris to be the “love of her life”.

This is despite the fact Rihanna took a restraining order out against Chris Brown after he was charged with assault after hitting her at a pre-Grammy party in 2009.