Britney Spears: In Deep Denial?
Critics Say She Doesn't Seem To Understand Gravity Of Situation
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Britney Loses Custody Battle
A judge ordered that the two sons of Britney Spears live with her ex-husband, Kevin Federline. The pop star has lost physical custody, but still shares legal custody with her ex. Teri Okita reports.
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Britney Spears has lost custody of her two sons. (AP)
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From left, The Early Show entertainment contributor Jess Cagle, Court TV anchor Lisa Bloom and "Insider" anchor Lara Spencer discuss the latest Britney Spears drama. (CBS/The Early Show)
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Timeline
Britney's Meltdown
She shaved her head, went commando and drove with a baby in her lap. Here's a look at the recent antics of pop princess Britney Spears.
A celebrity Web sites says that Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, are already with her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, and were handed off yesterday as part of their regular shared custody agreement.
The court made its decision after a closed door hearing. All transcripts from that proceeding have been sealed, so the exact reason behind the decision is not known, but Court TV anchor Lisa Bloom said she wasn't surprised with the judge's decision because Spear's didn't follow what Bloom called "the first rule of litigation: Do not mess with the judge's order."
"I don't think the judge cares that much about her driving without a license, but he wanted her to sign up for parenting classes, go to drug counseling, random drug tests, even sign the order acknowledging she's supposed to do these things," Bloom told The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith. "She didn't do it, and that was the last straw for the judge."
Lawyers for Federline couldn't be happier. But for Spears, 25, the ruling is a new low.Photos: Britney And K-Fed
"Go back even just a week and a half ago, this court order came down where she had to undergo these random drug tests, we knew she had to meet with a parenting counselor, so you would have thought she was going to pull her act together and then that night we saw her out partying," Kim Serafin, senior editor at In Touch Weekly, told The Early Show national correspondent Hattie Kauffman.
Early Show contributor and assistant managing editor at People magazine Jess Cagle said it doesn't seem like Spears is aware of the gravity of the situation and is in deep denial.
"Even yesterday, after the order was handed down that she had temporarily lost custody of her children, she was out shopping and tanning and things like that," he said. "She did do one thing, which was she went to the DMV to take a driver's test so maybe she could get her license. She seemed to hear that."
Early last week Spears took another huge hit in the court of public opinion. Her former bodyguard called her an unstable mother, who pranced around naked and abused drugs and alcohol.Photos: K-Fed Gets A Text Message
She was also hit with a hit and run charge, and driving without a valid license. Then she was seen over the weekend driving without a license with her kids in the car.
"Britney has really tested everybody and this judge doesn't really care what the parents do he is looking out for the kids and I think he is getting to the point enough is enough," family law attorney Tina Schuchman said.
Spear's inner circle also seems to be dwindling. She lost the services of her attorney, Laura Wasser and her manager, Jeff Kwatinetz. She is estranged from her parents. One of her major problems, said "Insider" anchor Lara Spencer, is that she will not allow people in her life that question her behavior.
"If somebody tells her what she doesn't want to hear, then they're out," she said. "It's happened time and time again."
Her big chance at redemption came last month when Spears performed at MTV's VMAs, but even then, Spencer said, the singer wouldn't take expert advice.
"It was a perfect example of this, you know, systematic self-destruction," she said. "You know, she was out drinking and partying all night for two nights before going on. I mean, this is her -- you would think you would rehearse, you would be ready to go, you would listen to what the experts told you about what to wear. She didn't do any of that. Even down to her outfits. The MTV producers had a very ... chic bustier, elegant outfit and she said not sexy enough. She had a wonderful hairstylist who left because she wouldn't listen to him. She styled her own hair. She can't seem to make the right decisions."
Jive, Spears' record label, has been very supportive, Cagle said, and her new album is due in November.Timeline: Britney's Meltdown
"But it does seem that she is intent on alienating herself," he said. "I think what you're seeing is this sort of delayed, very rebellious, rebellious adolescence that she never got to have and is now doing it."
While some question whether Federline is himself a worthy parent, Bloom says there is no choice but to grant him custody for now. The fact that the judge took such young children away from their mother shows how serious the situation is. The judge, who called Spears a habitual drug user, said the safety of the two boys is at stake.
"Judges want parents to succeed. If she straightens up and flies right, as you said, complies with all the laws and the orders and gets back on track, she can get those kids back," Bloom said. "It's possible, at this point, not probable, but possible."
Spears, clearly enjoys playing the child. She drove around this weekend, sucking on a pacifier and when she ran out of gas, a paparazzo stepped in to fill her up.
There will be another hearing. Custody arguments can go on for years -- and Spears is most likely paying Federline's attorney's fees.
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See all 64 CommentsHis in-laws go to HIS house to see the kids so the family environment is there with him, not with Brit.
I do not think she is moved by this, she now has all of the time in the world to party and sleep without them around.
She also should be busted for driving without a seatbelt - I have not seen one photo with it strapped on.
I agree about the custody order, as to the drugging and partying, but the aformentioned nudity? Puhleeze!
Britney is at the deep end, depressed and doesn''t know what to do she needs help before other thoughts run in her mind. I really hope she snaps outta of it and get back on her feet. I just hope everybody who loves her are there with her.
Having her Mom being on Kevin''s side is hurting Britney and I don''t know her Mother knows it''s causing more pain for Brit.
The EARLY SHOW''s executives have foolishly missed a WONDERFUL opportunity to boost their 3rd position rating in network morning shows. I, for one, am SICK to DEATH of the media''s incessant coverage of this pitiful family''s plight. It''s a shame that the EARLY SHOW chooses to follow suit with the other networks and broadcast this garbage because, as a faithful TODAY SHOW viewer, I would have gladly jumped ship to watch Dawn''s segment (as would hundred of thousands of other fans) instead of being subjected to the continuing trailer-trash saga of Brit/K-Fed.
May God (and the family court system) help those kids!
'' ... most folk most time dance get well feed world, that little girl is evil, lurks among normal, but really get sick tax world, cuff collar mug rape, swear, not hike naked dance dressed porn songs or off backs of dragons to break bones for fun, most behave, but not her, or me till she''s gone ... ''
'' ... can''t give less than free food free medicine 4ever ... nah, to feed the world i must tax all & deny to begging .. soo laughing .. if avg county 577 sq miles, 90,000 folk, 300 16 acre trail crossings,300 (90,000) folk in 300 weeks turn out 90,000 (billions)(little eco friendly non resource depleting) museums of medical you are here map song dance skit kit for small tips, avg home 340 sq ft + 2500 sq ft garden at $2400 - $60,000; then, on cosmic scale: avg cosmic county makeup? how many naked folk dance get well feed world songs rallyd round the sick beds drifting the spore bloom weed dragon trail fickle first aid lunch farm cottage studio trail groups at each crossing? ... ''
'' ... eternal storyboards swimming infinite oceans of eternal storyboards ... ''
That girl is going to kill someone or kill herself before this is over.
Everyone treats her like a child, which she is metally, but for heavens sake this woman is 25 years old and many of us have to be a grown up at that age and be responsible.
I hope Federline can make it to these little boys. They are the real victims.!!!!!
Britney and the other are washed up has beens.
And I agree that our news attention needs to be on something a little more important!!!
I used to wonder why anyone would pay for the bland pablum that Britney churns out. Now I understand: her fans are tonedeaf and musically uneducated.
I think she needs to lose them permanently, until she''s been clean and sober and working and stable for a year.
No wonder she is in despair and acting crazy as she loved blindly. Britney should try and face the reality of live and be strong.
It is a shame that we still have a lot of con men not just sucking the women for their money but trying to humilate them and break them down.
Now she is just a little girl embarrassed and confused at the reality of the truth. Maybe next time she will think twice before she starts the baby machine factory and be sure that this is a real decent guy who respects women and works and earns his own money.
Britney Spears is not in denial ~ she is under the same delusions many celebrities are under, they''re special and everyone better treat them that way ~ they make ridiculous amounts of money, therefore they are literally able to buy anything they want, when ever they want. There are ZERO restrictions. The word NO doesn''t compute.
This is a case of a young woman who has been shown ''just how special'' she is her entire life (without anyone taking the time to teach her how to be an adult). Anything she wants she gets. Doors are opened simply because of who she is, rather than what she''s earned.
The industry creates these problems by paying children ridiculous amounts of money and then they stand back and shake their heads when someone like Britney goes off the reservation.
She realized somewhere along the line that her bank account opens any door she wishes ~ regardless of her behavior.
The joke is on all of us as Britney has proven that fact to be correct. No matter what this young woman does ~ someone is going to take notice and publish 500 different accounts of ''What does it mean when Britney holds her Starbucks cup in her left hand''?
Cause and effect.
All I''ve got to say is I feel sorry for the children.
Hopefully she gets a full physical, some therapy and gets back with her family - she''s going to need them now.
she only makes 300,000 dollars a month. that''s
only 6 million dollars a year. not very much
nowadays. bill gates assets are 60 billion dollars.
the national debt is 9 trillion dollars. a small
tract house in los angeles, ca costs half a million
dollars. but things are looking up, especially prices. records used to be 75 cents. cd''s now
are sometimes almost 30 dollars each. we''re
all getting gypped, tricked and fooled.
Now she is just a little girl embarrassed and confused at the reality of the truth. Maybe next time she will think twice before she starts the baby machine factory and be sure that this is a real decent guy who respects women and works and earns his own money.
Posted by Silvico at 03:27 PM
Hmmm seems pretty close to what I think too re K Fed, the kids were his meal ticket. Who knows, maybe "Char" and he really had a plan ...
As for Britney, She is on a fast train to a grave if she keeps this up. I hope everyone who see her life''s up''s and downs as just entertainment, and I''ve done it too, can back off. She needs to wise up before it''s too late.
is to have fun, fun, fun. they who have the most
fun wins. there are lots better ways though to
have fun besides, love, dope, rock n roll, which
is the main religion of the Empire.
all addicts know they have it. it scares the
heck outta them. she is not in denial, she''s hooked.
i can''t wait for her next cd to come out november
13th. i hope she doesn''t end up another janis
joplin, jimi hendrix or jim morrison who all
died of addiction at age 27. rotsa ruck kiddoe.
you''d be surprised at the millions who were rescued
from the brink of death, and made a quiet recovery.
Losing custody of my daughter is the worst feeling I have ever felt in my life. Britney Spears has been ordered to give up custody in front of the entire world. I feel horrible for her. You have to be tough to live through something like that sober. That is why these stories are important, so people like me can hear them and throw a new light on things.
If I could give anyone a gift, it would be to help them to learn to accept life on life''s terms. Instead of being upset, please take a moment instead to say a little prayer for these people who need help, whether the know it or not. I hope she finds the right path for her.
If you had been paying attention, you would have know that Cheney and Bush were LYING about WMDs, aluminum tubes, mushroom clouds, Saddam-Osama links, Niger Uranium, fake color coded ''terror alerts''...
3,800 Troops would not be permanently DEAD, thousands more maimed for life, $500 Billion wasted on a needless WAR for regional dominance and control of Iraqi Oil.
WAKE UP AMERICA! Give Britney some time off! PAy attention to the Democracy that you are losing slowly but surely.
Then they could all play in mousekateerland
were all this began.
Disneyland; dont they realize this is another
tragedy that people will blame on them,
the place where U never grow-up.
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