NEW YORK -- Bobby Brown admits Whitney Houston hits him more than he hits her.

He told "Dateline NBC" he and his wife "slap box" and she hits hard. He says he doesn't hit her back because his hands are so big he could hurt her.

Brown said he and Houston are closer than ever since he started filming his reality show, "Being Bobby Brown. He says it showed them that they're just normal people.

"Being Bobby Brown" premieres Thursday on Bravo.