On Monday, Houston told Winfrey that Brown wasn't physically abusive but that "he slapped me once but he got hit on the head three times by me."
The 46-year-old singer says she "was horrified he spit on me, in my face" and that left her "very hurt, very angry."
Houston says she was attracted to Brown because he had control in their relationship.
Houston is one of the best-selling artists of all time, but her career stalled as she grappled with drug problems and a troubled marriage to Brown.
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