Chris Brown removes tattoo of ex

Chris Brown has had a tattoo of his ex-girlfriend's name removed.

The 23-year-old star has reportedly had the inking of his former lover Karrueche Tran taken off as a love gesture towards on/off girlfriend Rihanna - who he assaulted in 2009 - after the pair recently reconciled.

Rihanna cut her festive holiday in Barbados short to be with him on Christmas Day (25.12.12), when they attended an LA Lakers basketball game together.

While the 24-year-old star was spotted cuddling Chris and whispering into his ear as they watched the game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the 'Don't Judge Me' hitmaker is believed to have called and text Karrueche to wish her a "Merry Christmas".

A source told Hollywoodlife.com: "Even though he was with Rihanna, he still called Kae and told her Merry Christmas and told her how he misses her and how he hopes she was having a good day and all that s**t.

"He was texting her throughout the day, too."

But Chris - who is still on probation for his assault on Rihanna - is said to have warned Karrueche he would be spending Christmas with the Bajan beauty.

The source added: "Chris told Karrueche he was going to be with Rihanna for Christmas like two days before Christmas. Because he had told her already, she was just like 'F**k it, whatever.' "