Britney's "life at risk" say her parents after her discharge from UCLA Medical Center

[Ireneparalegal]

For the second time this month, Britney Spears was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. Early Thursday morning (January 31), according to reports in the Los Angeles Times.

Spears, 26, was physically removed from her home by police and put into an ambulance at around 1 a.m., then escorted to the UCLA Medical Center by a phalanx of more than a dozen motorcycle officers, two police cruisers and two police helicopters. The singer is resting at the hospital, her mother, Lynne Spears, confirmed to reporters on Thursday, according to CNN.

The action came as a result of yet another call for a "5150" hold for a mental-health evaluation, which means that Spears is considered a threat to herself or those around her, authorities told the paper. The motorcycles and a Los Angeles Fire Department ambulance swept through the gates of Spears' hilltop home in Studio City, California, shortly after 1 a.m., with a police helicopter hovering overhead, and removed the singer eight minutes later. Officers inside the home reportedly radioed to commanders that "the package is on the way out."

According to the Times, the winding street leading up to Spears' home, the Summit, was jammed with paparazzi vehicles for several hours prior to the arrival of the police.

On January 3, Spears was placed on a 72-hour mental-health evaluation hold when police were called to her house after she would not give up custody of her two children to a representative for ex-husband Kevin Federline, who had come to pick them up; she was released two days later. Unlike that incident, during which Spears' trip from her home to the hospital was swarmed by paparazzi, this time officials blocked vehicles from following them.

The Times reported that authorities said the action was prompted by a call they received from Spears' psychiatrist, and though it was unclear exactly when they received the call, the paper said it was apparent the operation had been carefully planned over a period of time. It was the second time police had rushed to the singer's home this week, following an incident Monday night when someone reported that a group of paparazzi were trespassing in the singer's gated community. No trespassers were found, but a number of paparazzi were given citations for illegal parking.

According to TMZ, Spears' psychiatrist was the one who called police because she was alarmed by the singer's recent reckless driving and conduct and decided that another 5150 hold was necessary. The site reported that the plan to hospitalize Spears had been launched days ago and was abandoned at the last minute on Wednesday, then put into place early Thursday and was so intricate that the Federal Aviation Administration had to be contacted to clear airspace on the route to the hospital. Several outlets are reporting that Spears went calmly, and had not slept for three days; she was videotaped purchasing a case of an energy drink earlier this week, and was photographed nodding off in her car.

The troubled singer lost visitation rights of sons Sean Preston, 2 and Jayden James, 1, on January 4 after her hospitalization following her refusal to hand the children back to Federline.

[This story was originally published at 7:56 am E.T. on 1.31.2008]

[AB]

I actually feel kind of sorry for her.

[*ClassicPinUp*]

I'm keeping her in my prayers! Fingers crossed that this time is IT and that she stays and gets the help she needs. I'm still rooting for her and wishing nothing but the best!

[Dean Winchester]

I seems like this is almost a weekly occurance for her at this point in time. When is she going to stop this downward spiral, it's not cute anymore

[Ireneparalegal]

For those who are wondering what does "5150" mean here is a partial legal explanation:

WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE SECTION 5150-5157


5150. When any person, as a result of mental disorder, is a danger
to others, or to himself or herself, or gravely disabled, a peace
officer, member of the attending staff, as defined by regulation, of
an evaluation facility designated by the county, designated members
of a mobile crisis team provided by Section 5651.7, or other
professional person designated by the county may, upon probable
cause, take, or cause to be taken, the person into custody and place
him or her in a facility designated by the county and approved by the
State Department of Mental Health as a facility for 72-hour
treatment and evaluation.
Such facility shall require an application in writing stating the
circumstances under which the person's condition was called to the
attention of the officer, member of the attending staff, or
professional person, and stating that the officer, member of the
attending staff, or professional person has probable cause to believe
that the person is, as a result of mental disorder, a danger to
others, or to himself or herself, or gravely disabled. If the
probable cause is based on the statement of a person other than the
officer, member of the attending staff, or professional person, such
person shall be liable in a civil action for intentionally giving a
statement which he or she knows to be false.



5150.05. (a) When determining if probable cause exists to take a
person into custody, or cause a person to be taken into custody,
pursuant to Section 5150, any person who is authorized to take that
person, or cause that person to be taken, into custody pursuant to
that section shall consider available relevant information about the
historical course of the person's mental disorder if the authorized
person determines that the information has a reasonable bearing on
the determination as to whether the person is a danger to others, or
to himself or herself, or is gravely disabled as a result of the
mental disorder.
(b) For purposes of this section, "information about the
historical course of the person's mental disorder" includes evidence
presented by the person who has provided or is providing mental
health or related support services to the person subject to a
determination described in subdivision (a), evidence presented by one
or more members of the family of that person, and evidence presented
by the person subject to a determination described in subdivision
(a) or anyone designated by that person.
(c) If the probable cause in subdivision (a) is based on the
statement of a person other than the one authorized to take the
person into custody pursuant to Section 5150, a member of the
attending staff, or a professional person, the person making the
statement shall be liable in a civil action for intentionally giving
any statement that he or she knows to be false.
(d) This section shall not be applied to limit the application of
Section 5328.

[*ClassicPinUp*]

When is she going to stop this downward spiral, it's not cute anymore
She's mentally ill. She probably doesn't truly realize what she's doing to herself. I don't think she's doing it to be "cute."

[EmoJoe]

She's mentally ill. She probably doesn't truly realize what she's doing to herself. I don't think she's doing it to be "cute."
yeah, she really is just mentally unstable at this point and needs help. it's not a publicity stunt anymore.

i'm no Britney fan, but this is really just sad.

[Pus$y Galore]

It does sound as though she's bi-polar. Poor thing. I really feel for her now. I agree that she's not doing this to be cute or for publicity now. She's definitely in need of medical intervention.

[Janice]

That woman needs help, and I pray she gets it. She's going the way of Anna Nicole. I hope she gets well, for her sake, and for the sake of her childrene, who need their mother.

[Ireneparalegal]

Those poor kids. Probably wondering where is their mother and not having a clue (Thank God) as to what is really going on. Let's hope in five years we can look back and remember how bad Britney used to be and how much better she is doing.

[Mikado]

Lindsey Lohan for instance, is just a self-destructive brat who doesnt care what she does and enjoys being mischeivious, and I have no sympathy for her, but, I really feel badly for Brit, she doesnt seem to be in control of her own mind, it's very sad.

[Stuck In The '70's]

I hope Britney has a full recovery. :(

[Janice]

Mom Says Hospitalized Spears Is Doing OK

LOS ANGELES (AP) - With Britney Spears whisked out of the public LOS ANGELES (AP) - With Britney Spears whisked out of the public spotlight Thursday Thursday and committed to a hospital psychiatric ward, it's now up to a team of professional caregivers to reverse her seemingly endless downward spiral.

Spears, accompanied by more than a dozen police officers, was taken to the UCLA Medical Center before dawn Thursday in what one officer would only say was an effort to "get help" for the troubled pop star.

It was her second 72-hour commitment in four weeks, though her previous stay lasted less than two days and was followed by more strange episodes that have accompanied her divorce and bruising child custody battle.

The law allows a person to be placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold for up to 72 hours if they are believed to be a danger to themselves or others. Spears' mother, Lynne Spears, was seen leaving the medical center's psychiatric hospital about 5:30 a.m. Asked if her daughter was all right, she replied, "Yeah."

http://ad.turn.com/r/error?errMsg=noiframe&adUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fad.turn.com%2Fserver%2Fads.htm%3F%26pub%3D1101377%26code%3D1101395%26cch%3D1101380%26l%3D300x250%26clr%3DDEFAULT%26tmz%3D5%26area%3D1%26rnd%3D0.9993421660679275%26lmd%3D1201841949%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fapnews.excite.com%252Farticle%252F20080201%252FD8UH8P400.html%26ref%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fentertainment.excite.com%252Findex.html%253FPG%253Dhome%2526SEC%253DfeatUnder the law, doctors may keep an individual under round-the-clock observation but may not medicate the person without his or her permission unless there appears to be grave danger, said Dr. Bruce Spring, assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Southern California.

"The hold is not a carte blanche for treatment," said Spring, who is not connected to Spears' case.

Spears' public emotional spiral began in November 2006 when she filed for divorce from Kevin Federline, the father of her infant sons, 1-year-old Jayden James and 2-year-old Sean Preston.

Neither Spears' attorney nor Federline's lawyer immediately returned calls for comment on her hospitalization. The pop star's spokeswoman declined to comment.

It was not immediately clear who initiated Spears' commitment process. The latest effort to get her help comes as various people in her life appear to be jockeying for influence, from her immediate family to two men who have recently surfaced.

Sam Lutfi, has described himself as Spears' manager and "very good friend." Earlier this week, Barbara Walters said on ABC's "The View" that Lutfi had contacted the veteran newswoman and told her that Spears saw a psychiatrist and "is starting some kind of treatment."

The other is Adnan Ghalib, a paparazzi photographer who recently announced that he is Spears' boyfriend. Soon after that announcement, Ghalib's wife of four years filed for a legal separation.

Ghalib has been seen escorting Spears on shopping excursions, restaurant outings and to court during her ongoing child-custody battle with Federline. He reportedly followed the motorcade to the hospital with Spears' mother.

The pop star was seen arriving in an ambulance, accompanied by the type of escort normally reserved for a president. Nearly a dozen officers on motorcycles, as well as more in police cars and in a pair of helicopters hovering overhead, shepherded her to the hospital.

UCLA spokeswoman Roxanne Moster, citing patient confidentiality laws, declined to say whether Spears was at the hospital Thursday.

Generally, a person on psychiatric hold receives a physical and mental evaluation and undergoes tests that can include X-rays and blood samples. Doctors can also recommend a course of treatment during that time.

If a person is still considered a danger after the initial hold, doctors can extend the confinement to up to 14 more days and a court-ordered hearing is held at the hospital during that time to determine if the person should be let go.

An estimated 40 to 100 people are committed against their will in Los Angeles County every day, Spring said. Most, however, arrive with only an escort of two police officers or a psychiatric mobile response team.

"It's unusual that there would be a parade of people," Spring said of the circus-like atmosphere under which Spears arrived. Her visit drew complaints from neighbors who contacted the Federal Aviation Administration about the helicopters.

Police Capt. Sharyn Buck said some people complained, but the motorcade was provided to get Spears through a paparazzi swarm without endangering her or the public.

"It's not preferential treatment by the LAPD, it's protecting public safety," Buck said.

Because paparazzi photographers trail Spears' every public move, she is forced to conduct almost all of her life in the equivalent of a moving fish bowl. As the world has watched, her behavior has gotten increasingly erratic.

Earlier this week, she was videotaped speaking in a faux British accent as she ordered Lutfi out of the driver's seat of her black Mercedez-Benz, shouting at him, "I want to drive my f------ car."

At other times she has arrived at public events in short skirts and without underwear, shaved her head bald, ran over a photographer's foot, left the scene of a fender bender, flogged another car with an umbrella and abandoned a car in traffic when it had a flat tire. Earlier this week, she was photographed holding her pet dog and crying.

Spears was hospitalized on Jan. 3 after police were called to her home when she refused to return her children to Federline following a visit. That episode resulted in her losing custody of her sons.

As she was about to leave the hospital the first time, Spears was confronted by TV personality "Dr." Phil McGraw, who said he was sent there by her family. At one point, McGraw had planned an episode of the "Dr. Phil" show about Spears, but quickly abandoned the idea amid criticism that he was exploiting her problems. He has since apologized for discussing his visit publicly - but not for going to see her.

Meanwhile, another hearing in Spears' child-custody case was scheduled last week but she didn't attend. She arrived at the courthouse wearing a short, black party dress, bright pink lipstick, shiny gold platform shoes and sunglasses. But after passing through the courthouse metal detector, she announced, "I want to leave" and returned to her car.

[Dean Winchester]

I don't trust that Adnan guy she's dating either. If he's not in it for the money and notoriety, why else would he be selling his stories and giving interviews to Entertainment Tonight and all the sort of tabloid television. If he cared about Britney, he wouldn't be doing that.

[Janice]

Meanwhile, another hearing in Spears' child-custody case was scheduled last week but she didn't attend. She arrived at the courthouse wearing a short, black party dress, bright pink lipstick, shiny gold platform shoes and sunglasses. But after passing through the courthouse metal detector, she announced, "I want to leave" and returned to her car.
I don't find Britney's situation funny one bit, but this paragraph did make me laugh, just the visual of it all. If this isn't a sign of mental illness, nothing is. It's like something out of a Joan Crawford movie.
I think of Kevin Federline. He hooks up with Britney, leaving pregnant Shar Jackson in the dust. Probably thought to himself, wow, Britney Spears, I'm set for life. They have two kids, and it's been one meltdown since. Now he has the kids. I do give Kevin credit for one thing. I hear he's a good father to all four of his children. Shar Jackson has stated that in interviews, even when he was still with Britney.

[Janice]

I don't trust that Adnan guy she's dating either. If he's not in it for the money and notoriety, why else would he be selling his stories and giving interviews to Entertainment Tonight and all the sort of tabloid television. If he cared about Britney, he wouldn't be doing that.
Who is this creep you speak of?

[Dean Winchester]

Who is this creep you speak of?
he's this guy who she's been spotted with many times in the past couple weeks. A few days ago I decided to watch Entertainment Tonight and the feature story besides Heath was "Adnan speaks", which was him spilling all about his relationship with Britney to one of the E.T. journalists in a sitdown interview. Yet, Brit's still going out with this guy. My feelings about Brit are well-established but I do think it's really low that he's using her so blatantly that he's cashing in and doing tell-all interviews when she thinks he loves her.

[Janice]

^ He sounds like an opportunist. Britney is in no condition to have a relationship now. She needs to resolve her own issues before jumping into a mess with anyone. The thing is, most people are at their most vulnerable from an emotional standpoint during a mental crisis, rehab, detox, etc.

I know two people who met their spouses in rehab (alcohol). One was a married friend, who dumped her husband and married the other guy. It's been about 18 years now, and they're still together. Another was a co-worker who married a guy she met in rehab (alcohol). That didn't last because he couldn't stay sober. Liz Taylor met her last husband in rehab.

[SBTB Geek]

Finally... a sign of compassion from the paparazzi--one of them quits:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2250392,00.html

[Dean Winchester]

Finally... a sign of compassion from the paparazzi--one of them quits:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2250392,00.html
good article. I am not very religious, but I do believe there are reservations in hell awaiting the majority of these paparazzi scumbags who would rather push Britney to death instead of trying to back off on her.

I don't understand why there haven't been laws against them following the way they killed Princess Diana. I think there should be a 100 feet minimum restraining order between paparazzi and celebrity and anyone who breaks that distance while "at work" should be fined, or jailed if a repeat offender.

[coffield3]

I'm glad that she is finally getting some help, it was about time that her family took control, i wish her all the best. ;)

[Janice]

good article. I am not very religious, but I do believe there are reservations in hell awaiting the majority of these paparazzi scumbags who would rather push Britney to death instead of trying to back off on her.

I don't understand why there haven't been laws against them following the way they killed Princess Diana. I think there should be a 100 feet minimum restraining order between paparazzi and celebrity and anyone who breaks that distance while "at work" should be fined, or jailed if a repeat offender.
I guess California has one.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_kmafp/is_200510/ai_n15646282

[Dean Winchester]

that's messed up, because that law went into effect in October 2005 yet California seems to be where they stalk Britney and co. the most. I guess they found ways to bend the law.

I have never liked Britney but I think that the paparazzi should seriously back off on her. If anything, they're pressuring her to commit suicide because I don't think anyone wants to have the kind of life that they have 300 high school dropouts with cameras capturing every split second of her life. Sadly, while Chris Crocker sounded like such a loon six months ago, the more and more they stalk her and push her to go over the edge, I have to say he was right.

[Janice]

http://www.aolcdn.com/ch_news/news20-logo-poll.gif (http://news.aol.com/)


Poll Results

Has hounding by the paparazzi contributed at all to Britney's rocky month?

Yes -- 77% --117,930 Votes

No -- 23% -- 35,195 Votes

[Janice]

'Gravely Disabled' Spears in Psych Ward
(http://music.aol.com/news/headlines)

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 1) - With Britney Spears whisked out of the public spotlight Thursday and committed to a hospital psychiatric ward, it's now up to a team of professional caregivers to reverse her seemingly endless downward spiral.

Spears, accompanied by more than a dozen police officers, was taken to the UCLA Medical Center before dawn Thursday in what one officer would only say was an effort to "get help" for the troubled pop star.

Sources tell TMZ that the pop starlett has been classified as "G.D." -- gravely disabled. (http://www.tmz.com/2008/01/31/britney-could-be-involuntary-commitment-candidate/) "That means the patient is unable to take care of basic needs, such as the acquisition of food, clothing or shelter," the site said.

It was her second 72-hour commitment in four weeks, though her previous stay lasted less than two days and was followed by more strange episodes that have accompanied her divorce and bruising child custody battle.

The law allows a person to be placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold for up to 72 hours if they are believed to be a danger to themselves or others. Spears' mother, Lynne Spears, was seen leaving the medical center's psychiatric hospital about 5:30 a.m. Asked if her daughter was all right, she replied, "Yeah."

Under the law, doctors may keep an individual under round-the-clock observation but may not medicate the person without his or her permission unless there appears to be grave danger, said Dr. Bruce Spring, assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Southern California.

"The hold is not a carte blanche for treatment," said Spring, who is not connected to Spears' case.

Meanwhile, the father of Spears was named her temporary conservator Friday, putting him in control of her welfare a day after she was whisked to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

While James Spears was named conservator of the troubled pop star herself, he and an attorney, Andrew Wallete, were name conservators of her estate. The singer's mother Lynne Spears, was also in court.

The court also issued a restraining order against Britney Spears' sometimes manager and friend, Sam Lutfi, and gave permission to change the locks on her estate and remove anyone who is there.

A court creates conservatorships when a person cannot care for themselves or handle their affairs.

Spears' public emotional spiral began in November 2006 when she filed for divorce from Kevin Federline, the father of her infant sons, 1-year-old Jayden James and 2-year-old Sean Preston.

Neither Spears' attorney nor Federline's lawyer immediately returned calls for comment on her hospitalization. The pop star's spokeswoman declined to comment.

It was not immediately clear who initiated Spears' commitment process. The latest effort to get her help comes as various people in her life appear to be jockeying for influence, from her immediate family to two men who have recently surfaced.

One, Sam Lutfi, has described himself as Spears' manager and "very good friend." Lutfi was seen leaving the hospital around 7:30 p.m. When paparazzi asked him about Spears' condition, he replied, "She's great, she's fine."

Earlier this week, Barbara Walters said on ABC's "The View" that Lutfi had contacted the veteran newswoman and told her that Spears saw a psychiatrist and "is starting some kind of treatment."

The other is Adnan Ghalib, a paparazzi photographer who recently announced that he is Spears' boyfriend. Soon after that announcement, Ghalib's wife of four years filed for a legal separation.

Ghalib has been seen escorting Spears on shopping excursions, restaurant outings and to court during her ongoing child-custody battle with Federline. He reportedly followed the motorcade to the hospital with Spears' mother.

The pop star was seen arriving in an ambulance, accompanied by the type of escort normally reserved for a president. Nearly a dozen officers on motorcycles, as well as more in police cars and in a pair of helicopters hovering overhead, shepherded her to the hospital.

UCLA spokeswoman Roxanne Moster, citing patient confidentiality laws, declined to say whether Spears was at the hospital Thursday.

Generally, a person on psychiatric hold receives a physical and mental evaluation and undergoes tests that can include X-rays and blood samples. Doctors can also recommend a course of treatment during that time.

If a person is still considered a danger after the initial hold, doctors can extend the confinement to up to 14 more days and a court-ordered hearing is held at the hospital during that time to determine if the person should be let go.

An estimated 40 to 100 people are committed against their will in Los Angeles County every day, Spring said. Most, however, arrive with only an escort of two police officers or a psychiatric mobile response team.

"It's unusual that there would be a parade of people," Spring said of the circus-like atmosphere under which Spears arrived. Her visit drew complaints from neighbors who contacted the Federal Aviation Administration about the helicopters.

Police Capt. Sharyn Buck said some people complained, but the motorcade was provided to get Spears through a paparazzi swarm without endangering her or the public.

"It's not preferential treatment by the LAPD, it's protecting public safety," Buck said.

Because paparazzi photographers trail Spears' every public move, she is forced to conduct almost all of her life in the equivalent of a moving fish bowl. As the world has watched, her behavior has gotten increasingly erratic.

Earlier this week, she was videotaped speaking in a faux British accent as she ordered Lutfi out of the driver's seat of her black Mercedez-Benz, shouting at him, "I want to drive my f------ car."

At other times she has arrived at public events in short skirts and without underwear, shaved her head bald, ran over a photographer's foot, left the scene of a fender bender, flogged another car with an umbrella and abandoned a car in traffic when it had a flat tire. Earlier this week, she was photographed holding her pet dog and crying.

Spears was hospitalized on Jan. 3 after police were called to her home when she refused to return her children to Federline following a visit. That episode resulted in her losing custody of her sons.

As she was about to leave the hospital the first time, Spears was confronted by TV personality "Dr." Phil McGraw, who said he was sent there by her family. At one point, McGraw had planned an episode of the "Dr. Phil" show about Spears, but quickly abandoned the idea amid criticism that he was exploiting her problems. He has since apologized for discussing his visit publicly - but not for going to see her.

Meanwhile, another hearing in Spears' child-custody case was scheduled last week but she didn't attend.

She arrived at the courthouse wearing a short, black party dress, bright pink lipstick, shiny gold platform shoes and sunglasses. But after passing through the courthouse metal detector, she announced, "I want to leave" and returned to her car.

[Ireneparalegal]

I just seen the latest news on our local news channel. I am so glad they put that restraining order on that Lufti guy. He was bad news. As for the guy that John mentioned above too, he is nothing but bad news for Britney. What kind of friend goes on television and spills abt having sex with her, doing all these things that should be private? When my local news channel showed that tape of that guy spilling that kind of private stuff, it made me furious. :mad: He also showed the papparrazi the text messages Britney sent to him!!!! WTF???? That guy is bad news.

I am so glad the parents are now in control of things now, as they should have been a long time ago.

I wonder if Britney filed for divorce from K-fed because of the mental state she is in? How much did that play a part in her decision-making?

[Dean Winchester]

I wonder if Britney filed for divorce from K-fed because of the mental state she is in? How much did that play a part in her decision-making?

I think ditching K. Fed was a misguided attempt at hoping to regain lost fans. K. Fed was always bashed by the media and she figured ditching him would salvage her career.

[Ireneparalegal]

I think ditching K. Fed was a misguided attempt at hoping to regain lost fans. K. Fed was always bashed by the media and she figured ditching him would salvage her career.
You think? I am thinking she is so messed up mentally that her decision-making is waaaaay off. My understanding is that K-fed was shocked at the news that she wanted a divorce, that he didn't see it coming. He was given the news via a text message. Don't know how true that is, but looking back, things seemed good, although to many people they were hoping she would ditch him. When she ditched him that was the beginning of the downward spiral, so I wonder if that divorce was some misguided attempt at supposedly freeing herself to go on these excursions, parties, hanging out with people, somehow letting go of what she thought was some evil in her life, when in reality she was common denominator of everything that was going wrong.

[Dean Winchester]

It is true about the way K. Fed found out about the divorce, the footage was posted on Perez about a year ago. He was having dinner and then got a text message. I thought it was incredibly shallow on her part, K. Fed's album was released a week or so before this happened and it bombed, so it seemed like a calculated attempt that maybe if she dropped the dead-weight, her fanbase would return.

[Ireneparalegal]

Funny, I remember how so many (including me) thought she needed to dump that guy and get her life back. It seems though WITHOUT him, she has obviously lost all control.

[Dean Winchester]

I know, right, who would've even guessed two years ago that Federline would wind up the responsible one and the good parent? Goes to show you can't always base everything on appearance

[Ireneparalegal]

I know, right, who would've even guessed two years ago that Federline would wind up the responsible one and the good parent? Goes to show you can't always base everything on appearance
I was basing it more on his history. He had left a pregnant girl behind, married another and according to Shar Jackson HERSELF, he was not paying child suppport and left her in the dust as soon as Britney came into the picture. Then here we had Britney buying her husband all kinds of trinkets and vehicles (rightly so, it is her man) but he wasn't working.

I know he is doing the best thing and the right thing now with Shar Jackson and their kids. Whether he ignored those kids and didn't pay a dime for their support is not the issue anymore. The mere fact he is doing it now is all that matters. He is a man who stepped up to the plate. Now he has the money, he can do the things he should have done earlier. Whether it was a few years or several years, the guy has made his amends.

[Dean Winchester]

actually, I'm no Federline fan, but from what I've heard from a huge Britney fan, him and Shar had split before he got together with Britney. Yes, she was pregnant at the time, but their breakup happened before he met Britney.

[Janice]

This 2005 interview with Shar Jackson is when the drama was still fresh. She sounds bitter towards Britney, but who can blame her. I've read in many articles that Kevin is a great father to all four of his kids. He left Shar, but never left his kids. Shar Jackson has always stated that from day one. She stated in an interview that I posted here, that Kevin pays for their kids education and it's not cheap, and also pays for other things.

Shar is actually helping Kevin with his and Britney's kids now, and has become good friends with Britney's mother, Lynne. She says all their kids are siblings, and it's important to her that they are close. Shar says now that Kevin is her best friend. She rose above it all. She had two kids before Kevin, so I give that woman a lot of credit.


http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-11-04-shar-jackson-federline_x.htm (http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-11-04-shar-jackson-federline_x.htm)

Shar Jackson says she was dating Kevin Federline when he met Britney Spears

NEW YORK (AP) — In a new interview, Shar Jackson says she and Kevin Federline were still together when he and Britney Spears began dating last year.

http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gifhttp://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif"All I want from Kevin is his time with his children. That's it, bottom line, " Shar Jackson said about ex-beau Kevin Federline.http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif

Jackson, then pregnant with her second child with Federline, says the truth came out only after he flew abroad for a commercial — which became a monthslong trip with Spears.

Federline and Spears were wed last year; their son was born in September.

"How do you call yourself a human being knowing that you put somebody else through that pain?" Jackson asks of Spears in the December issue of Sister 2 Sister magazine. "That's a vicious cycle right there, man. We gotta break that."

http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear1x5.gif
Jackson, 29, and Federline have a 3-year-old daughter, Kori, and a son, Kaleb, born in July 2004. Jackson, who co-starred in the TV series Moesha, has two older children from a previous relationship.

She and Federline "are still really good friends," Jackson says, but she doesn't want child support.

"Hell no. I am a very, very independent woman, OK? If I wanted child support that's an easy procedure," she tells the magazine.

Instead, "All I want from Kevin is his time with his children. That's it, bottom line."

Jackson is working on an album, her first. A track from Federline's debut recently appeared on the Internet.

[Janice]

I think ditching K. Fed was a misguided attempt at hoping to regain lost fans. K. Fed was always bashed by the media and she figured ditching him would salvage her career.
That's just silly. You make some keen observations on a lot of issues, but some of your theories have me scratching my head sometimes, lol.

[Lee]

Does anyone disagree with the LAPD response? What did you think of the
paparazzi presence?

[Dean Winchester]

That's just silly. You make some keen observations on a lot of issues, but some of your theories have me scratching my head sometimes, lol.
well, it does seem odd that weeks before the divorce, she and him were all cozy and she was professing her love for him. And then he released his record and it tanked right off the charts, and within a week she filed divorce papers. Makes you wonder if his album was huge, would they still be together, because she was his biggest supporter, but the moment she realized nobody else liked him, she dropped him like a dress she'd worn too many times.

[Ireneparalegal]

well, it does seem odd that weeks before the divorce, she and him were all cozy and she was professing her love for him. And then he released his record and it tanked right off the charts, and within a week she filed divorce papers. Makes you wonder if his album was huge, would they still be together, because she was his biggest supporter, but the moment she realized nobody else liked him, she dropped him like a dress she'd worn too many times.
That's my whole point, as to whether Britney's divorcing Kevin had anything to do with her mental instability. Was that the start of her decline? Was that decision made in haste? My opinion, it was. She didn't go overboard overnight. It started somewhere.

Janice, great article. I knew Shar was dating K-fed at the time he left her. I had heard that on E! news. I also read that Shar (at that time) was upset with Kevin and stating he wasn't paying support. I believe we also talked abt that issue somewhere here on the board. Something abt he wasn't even giving her money for diapers. I don't remember, but anyhow, Shar and Kevin were dating. Or at least she was led to believe she and him were a couple by Kevin's words and/or actions.

[Dean Winchester]

I personally think the beginning of the end was before K-Fed, but when she had her 72 hour marriage in Vegas. She was still massively popular at the time (since In The Zone had just come out and "Toxic" was one of her biggest hits), but that was when things started getting progressively weirder for her. Not long after that, she cancelled a six month tour because of a sprained ankle and then she and K. Fed fell in love and became the "it" white trash couple, etc... With her walking barefoot in public restrooms and all that, and don't forget the trashy Dateline interview where she was about seven months pregnant and dressed in daisy dukes and chomping on gum.

I think Britney's downward spiral has been a slow burn and goes back 4-5 years, it just didn't really start free-falling until she broke up with Kevin.

[Scoobiedoo30]

MSNBC is reporting that Britney Spears 72 Hour Stay will now be a 14 day stay at UCLA

[Scoobiedoo30]

Britney Spears got out of The Hospital the other day

[Ireneparalegal]

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Pop star Britney Spears is an "adult child in the throes of a mental health crisis" whose "life is presently at risk," her parents said Wednesday night after the singer was released from a hospital.

Britney Spears has been hospitalized twice in a month's time.

Jamie and Lynne Spears said in a statement that they were dismayed to learn that their daughter had been discharged from the University of California-Los Angeles Medical Center Wednesday over the recommendation of her psychiatrist.

They said the hospital could "best care for her and keep her safe."

"We are deeply concerned about her safety and vulnerability and we believe her life is presently at risk," the statement added.

"There are conservatorship orders in place created to protect our daughter that are being blatantly disregarded. We ask only that the court's orders be enforced so that a tragedy may be averted."

Spears left the Los Angeles hospital Wednesday afternoon, nearly a week after being admitted in the latest stage of an extraordinary public meltdown. Get a paparazzi-eye view of Spears »

Followed by paparazzi, a convoy of police escorted Spears to University of California-Los Angeles Medical Center on January 30, her second hospitalization in a month.

It was the latest step in the personal and career skid for the 26-year-old singer, now embroiled in a battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline over the custody of their two sons.

Spears left the facility Wednesday in her black Mercedes-Benz and drove to a hotel with television helicopters tracking every turn. A crowd of photographers swarmed around her when she arrived.

She also had been taken to another hospital January 3 for drug and alcohol tests and a psychiatric evaluation after a custody dispute at her home. The following day, a California court refused to grant Spears visitation rights with her children -- Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1 -- until mid-February at the earliest.

In the last year, the onetime Mouseketeer has shaved her head as photographers looked on; been cited for "habitual, frequent, and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol" by the judge in her custody case; and seen her "comeback" performance on the MTV Video Music Awards panned by critics who derided her singing, dancing, costume choice and weight.

Spears' parents obtained a restraining order against her manager earlier this week, accusing Omar "Sam" Lufti -- whom Spears met in October -- of drugging her and controlling her life, her finances and her exposure to photographers. The order barred Lufti from Spears' homes and those of her family, as well as her children.

Federline, Spears' former backup dancer, holds primary custody of the children. Spears had been in trouble with the court earlier concerning her compliance with court orders in the custody case. E-mail to a friend

[Janice]

I just hope that Britney gets the help she needs. I wonder if having children had anything to do with all this. I say this because a very close family member was mentally healthy until she had her first child. She ended up being institutionalized for a month shortly after having her child.

The doctors said that childbirth had triggered her many emotional conditions, mainly bi-polar disorder. She got through that, then two years later, she got pregnant again, and had a breakdown while she was pregnant. I don't want to post what happened next, as you never know who's reading these boards. If my friends are curious, they know my e:mail. It wasn't pleasant.

That story has me wondering. This woman was about Britney's age, even blonde and beautiful. The entire family was in a tailspin over this. She's never been quite the same either, and her first episode was 13 years ago. Perhaps Britney was teetering on the edge emotionally, and childbirth sent her over the edge. I saw this happen, with my own eyes.

[Scoobiedoo30]

my friend is The President of her Britney Fan Club and she has been keeping up with The Stuff With Britney Spears.

[Ireneparalegal]

Who knows Janice. Childbirth can do funny and weird things to a woman sometimes. I had the post partem blues after my second daughter was born. It was not a good feeling when two months after her birth I was feeling depressed and wanting to get back to work IMMEDIATELY! Luckily, I got over that period of depression.

As for Britney, my understanding is that she may have had bi-polar issues most of her life. I don't know, it is just what I read. Who really knows.

I feel for the girl because she obviously doesn't know how sick she is and probably thinks the whole world is out to get her. As for her speaking with that british accent, WTF IS THAT ALL ABT? :crazy:

[Dean Winchester]

the whole childbirth thing seems weird when it comes to Britney. It seemed like once Madonna had her first child, her entire persona and priorities changed... for the better (don't get me wrong, I loved Madonna as a selfish bitch who acted like a child, but she was pushing 40), yet with Britney, it's only made her worse.

I guess it shows some people are best to wait until they're older to have children, since apparently Britney wasn't ready to have a baby, whereas Madonna lived her life so by the time she had a baby, she was ready to settle down.

[EmoJoe]

this is really sad...her situation just seems to be getting worse and worse instead of better. SOMEONE needs to help her because obviously she isn't capable of helping herself.

it would be really sad to see her go the way of Anna Nicole Smith :( ive said this a million times, but she needs help, and fast.

[Janice]

the whole childbirth thing seems weird when it comes to Britney. It seemed like once Madonna had her first child, her entire persona and priorities changed... for the better (don't get me wrong, I loved Madonna as a selfish bitch who acted like a child, but she was pushing 40), yet with Britney, it's only made her worse.

I guess it shows some people are best to wait until they're older to have children, since apparently Britney wasn't ready to have a baby, whereas Madonna lived her life so by the time she had a baby, she was ready to settle down.
You missed the point of my post. Madonna didn't have emotional problems, so severe that she had to be institutionalized. Every woman is different when it comes to having children. Yes, having children made Britney worse, if by worse you mean, mental illness.

Age has nothing to do with this. Women have kids at all ages and go off the deep end. Some women go so crazy that they kill their kids. This isn't a moral judgement. Britney is sick. I'm simply speculating if childbirth triggered it, as I know someone that it happened to. Childbirth has a terrible effect on some women, of all ages.

[Ireneparalegal]

She was very on edge at the time of her second pregnancy. That is when she did the Matt Lauer interview.

Seeing how she is with the papparrazi now is weird, very weird. She knows they will be on her a$$, yet there she is driving. She gets out of her car in the middle of the road to change drivers. She is hanging out with and apparently sleeping with a guy who was (still is?) a papparrazi guy who is spilling intimate details abt their private life. She obviously has no clue what she is doing and every little thing is going to be judged by those who have her children's best interest at heart.

She keeps going off the deep end but the moment is coming when she will hit shallow waters and it won't be pretty. Not that it has been pretty anyways. :(

[Janice]

Seeing how she is with the papparrazi now is weird, very weird. She knows they will be on her a$$, yet there she is driving. She gets out of her car in the middle of the road to change drivers. She is hanging out with and apparently sleeping with a guy who was (still is?) a papparrazi guy who is spilling intimate details abt their private life. She obviously has no clue what she is doing and every little thing is going to be judged by those who have her children's best interest at heart.

Yeah, that's behavior of a person with mental illness, same as showing up at the courthouse dressed like a party girl. Does this girl have anybody who will save her from herself?

[Ireneparalegal]

Yeah, that's behavior of a person with mental illness, same as showing up at the courthouse dressed like a party girl. Does this girl have anybody who will save her from herself?
I sometimes want to scream at the tv when I see our local news airing the latest antics of Britney and company. It almost makes me sick to my stomach because I feel so bad for her parents who are helpless. Sure they got the restraining orders, the father is now in charge of her assets and money, but still, that girl is running around free as a bird to do more harm.

L.A. city council members are worried what will happen if she continues to drive around the way she does. Sure part of it is because of who is following her and her merely wanting to get away from them, but they also see a girl who is almost fascinated with the helicopters and the camera guys buzzing around her and her desire to play cat and mouse with them. I can't recall the city council member's name at the moment, but he was interviewed and his worry is that someone, either Britney or an innocent bystander is going to be hurt or killed with their antics.

[RoryGilmore]

I heard somewhere that Jamie and Lynne are trying to get her to go back to Louisiania. Has anyone else heard that?

[Ireneparalegal]

Not heard that at all. I wish she would. How can you get an adult child to do what you want? Hard enough getting a teen to go in the right direction.

[RoryGilmore]

Yeah being a teenager I see screw-ups every day at my HS