diff --git a/cloudevents/abstract/event.py b/cloudevents/abstract/event.py
index de1e230..95d9a56 100644
--- a/cloudevents/abstract/event.py
+++ b/cloudevents/abstract/event.py
@@ -26,55 +26,27 @@ class CloudEvent:
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
     @property
-    def _attributes_read_model(self) -> typing.Dict[str, typing.Any]:
+    def attributes(self) -> typing.Dict[str, typing.Any]:
         """
         :return: Attributes of this event.
 
         You MUST NOT mutate this dict.
         Implementation MAY assume the dict will not be mutated.
-
-        The reason this is only a read model and not a write model is
-        because you MAY not have an easy write access to the data.
-
-        For example - a database row or a cached value.
-
-        We don't wont to restrict our future selves.
-
-        When a write model will be needed, it will be implemented
-
-        The we don't have an `attributes` property is to prevent API confusion
-        Examples of confusion:
-        * What is the difference between `event.get("myattr")` and
-        `event.attributes.get("myattr")`
-        * What SHOULD I use `event["myattr"]` or `event.attributes["myattr"]` ?
         """
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
     @property
-    def _data_read_model(self) -> typing.Optional[typing.Any]:
+    def data(self) -> typing.Optional[typing.Any]:
         """
         :return: Data value of the  event.
         You MUST NOT mutate this dict.
         Implementation MAY assume the dict will not be mutated.
-
-        The reason this is only a read model and not a write model is
-        because you MAY not have an easy write access to the data.
-
-        For example - a database row or a cached value.
-
-        We don't wont to restrict our future selves.
-
-        When a write model will be needed, it will be implemented
-
         """
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
     def __eq__(self, other: typing.Any) -> bool:
         if isinstance(other, CloudEvent):
-            return (
-                self._data_read_model == other._data_read_model
-                and self._attributes_read_model == other._attributes_read_model
-            )
+            return self.data == other.data and self.attributes == other.attributes
         return False
 
     def __getitem__(self, key: str) -> typing.Any:
@@ -84,7 +56,7 @@ class CloudEvent:
         :param key: The event attribute name.
         :return: The event attribute value.
         """
-        return self._attributes_read_model[key]
+        return self.attributes[key]
 
     def get(
         self, key: str, default: typing.Optional[typing.Any] = None
@@ -100,21 +72,19 @@ class CloudEvent:
             no attribute with the given key exists.
         :returns: The event attribute value if exists, default value otherwise.
         """
-        return self._attributes_read_model.get(key, default)
+        return self.attributes.get(key, default)
 
     def __iter__(self) -> typing.Iterator[typing.Any]:
-        return iter(self._attributes_read_model)
+        return iter(self.attributes)
 
     def __len__(self) -> int:
-        return len(self._attributes_read_model)
+        return len(self.attributes)
 
     def __contains__(self, key: str) -> bool:
-        return key in self._attributes_read_model
+        return key in self.attributes
 
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
-        return str(
-            {"attributes": self._attributes_read_model, "data": self._data_read_model}
-        )
+        return str({"attributes": self.attributes, "data": self.data})
 
 
 AnyCloudEvent = TypeVar("AnyCloudEvent", bound=CloudEvent)
diff --git a/cloudevents/http/event.py b/cloudevents/http/event.py
index bc91002..e55375f 100644
--- a/cloudevents/http/event.py
+++ b/cloudevents/http/event.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class CloudEvent(abstract.CloudEvent):
         :type data: typing.Any
         """
         self._attributes = {k.lower(): v for k, v in attributes.items()}
-        self.data = data
+        self._data = data
         if "specversion" not in self._attributes:
             self._attributes["specversion"] = "1.0"
         if "id" not in self._attributes:
@@ -75,12 +75,20 @@ class CloudEvent(abstract.CloudEvent):
             )
 
     @property
-    def _attributes_read_model(self) -> typing.Dict[str, typing.Any]:
+    def attributes(self) -> typing.Dict[str, typing.Any]:
         return self._attributes
 
     @property
-    def _data_read_model(self) -> typing.Optional[typing.Any]:
-        return self.data
+    def data(self) -> typing.Optional[typing.Any]:
+        return self._data
+
+    @data.setter
+    def data(self, value) -> None:
+        """
+        Exists for backwards compatibility
+        :param value: new data vale
+        """
+        self._data = value
 
     def __setitem__(self, key: str, value: typing.Any) -> None:
         self._attributes[key] = value
diff --git a/cloudevents/tests/test_abstract_cloudevent.py b/cloudevents/tests/test_abstract_cloudevent.py
index 148222f..bd5bdb2 100644
--- a/cloudevents/tests/test_abstract_cloudevent.py
+++ b/cloudevents/tests/test_abstract_cloudevent.py
@@ -27,17 +27,17 @@ def test_create_is_abstract():
         assert CloudEvent.create({}, None) is None
 
 
-def test_data_read_is_abstract():
+def test_data_is_abstract():
     """
     exists mainly for coverage reasons
     """
     with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError):
-        CloudEvent()._data_read_model
+        CloudEvent().data
 
 
-def test_attributes_read_model_is_abstract():
+def test_attributes_is_abstract():
     """
     exists mainly for coverage reasons
     """
     with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError):
-        CloudEvent()._attributes_read_model
+        CloudEvent().attributes