Celebrity News February 16, 2007
Exclusively on 'Extra:' Britney Spears Finally Gets Help, Enters Rehab
“Extra” has learned exclusively that after months of hard partying, pop princess Britney Spears has entered rehab.
Our sources tell us that Brit, who has been notably absent from the paparazzi scene in recent days, is seeking professional help at Eric Clapton's Crossroads center in Antigua.
This comes after the emotional letter that rocked Britney's world, composed after her non-stop partying took her from coast to coast and back again.
Those close to Brit were fed up, frustrated and pleading with her to seek professional help; it appears they finally staged a long-anticipated intervention.
Friday, other media outlets said reps for Spears denied the rehab story. But late last night, a spokesperson for Jive records confirmed Spears did in fact visit the facility. Spears left Antigua with her manager Larry Rudolph , flew by private plane to Miami, then took a commercial jet to Los Angeles.
Brit's former assistant of nearly 10 years, Felicia Culotta, just posted her plea to the mother of two on thatotherblog.com.
Culotta revealed she's “crushed” by the way Britney's life is unfolding, writing, “We, as her family and nearest and dearest, not on the payroll anymore, are doing everything in our power to get help for Britney.”
And it seems Brit's family was ready to fold in their mission to help the one-time world sensation.
“I cannot save her from herself, nor can I commit her to any type of treatment program against her wishes and will,” the statement reads.
On Friday, OK magazine Entertainment Director Rob Shuter told “Extra,” “People are speculating that the force behind this letter might in fact be Britney's mother reaching out to Britney.”
With her recent girls gone wilds antics, which include hard partying at Vegas hotspot Pure and stripping down to her skivvies to dance with go-go dancers in New York, it seems only natural that her behavior is raising questions and concerns.
“By going out and drinking and partying at the clubs, she kind of feels the people she meets at clubs are her friends,” dished Us Weekly's Senior Editor Albert Lee.
Lee also broke news to “Extra,” revealing that Brit is slipping again when it comes to car seat safety and her two little boys, Jayden James and Sean Preston.
“She was driving with Jayden James, her youngest son, with the car seat again facing forward,” Lee told us.
And this just in: TMZ.com reports that bombshell Brit has already checked out of rehab, less than 24 hours after checking in!
But it is Brit's former assistant and family friend who is putting what many are feeling into words, which may have pushed Britney into sobering up and getting help: “When she does indeed hit rock bottom, she'll stand up and walk away from this whole fiasco a new, confident, changed, career driven Britney like we all knew and loved.”
Britney's rep had no comment.