Several days ago, when I asked if Britney Spears would be “saved” by Oprah, I was being facetious. But, as it turns out, I was being prescient. Over the weekend, Spears’ parents asked Oprah protégé, Dr. Phil McGraw to speak with their troubled daughter at Cedars Sinai Medical Center; apparently without Britney’s knowledge.
As fellow Idol Chatterer Esther Kustanowitz writes, McGraw planned to film a special about the issues surrounding cases such as Ms. Spears’, featuring her parents. But, moments ago, McGraw’s camp issued a press release (as posted on TMZ.com) stating, “We had planned to tape a Dr. Phil Now show today, focusing not on the tabloid side of Britney’s latest problems, but instead on the very serious issues surrounding this case.”
“Clearly, it is not just Britney’s family struggling to find a way to protect adult children who cannot be ordered or compelled to seek help. Because the Spears situation is too intense at this time, and out of consideration to the family, I have made the decision not to move forward with the taping at this particular time.”
Funny how the release doesn’t mention that Britney’s parents pulled out of the interview. According to TMZ, Spears’ father, Jamie, wanted nothing to do with the show in the first place. So, I have a newsflash for those who were considering being on the show: Hollywood created the problem and Hollywood healthcare is not going to solve the problem.
For all the protests from Thomas Nelson Publishers that Lynne Spears’ delayed memoir “will provide a window into the real-life world of fame and worldly success, including the toll it extracts from some who aspire to it,” providing “a much-needed corrective to a world obsessed with the wrong priorities,” this latest step of involving Dr. Phil is giving into the same damning celebrity culture she’s warning others about.
And for all of her exposure to the world through her daughters’ careers and all of the resources available to her, Lynne Spears seems like she is still stuck in with a Middle-American mindset, looking to television–and television’s authority figures–for help. (I’m a Middle American, no hate mail please.)
It seems Mrs. Spears is, true to the past, more loyal to celebrity, as goal and ethos, than to the well-being of her children. And what of Dr. Phil? Clearly he is being an opportunist in this situation. Does Britney need an “intervention?” An involuntary commitment, perhaps, but a 40-minute televised therapy session is beyond laughable.
Dr. Phil has said that he will keep all details of his meeting with Britney private, which is admirable since she is not, technically, his patient, having been called by her family. But, why should we have known of his visit in the first place, why even go on “Entertainment Tonight” and acknowledge that you were there? The girl is probably already embarrassed enough, thanks to the stigma mental disorders carry in this country, without someone flacking her doctor’s visits. No wonder she doesn’t want to voluntarily check herself into a “mental hospital,” as some outlets are reporting.
On the other hand, why would Cedars-Sinai allow Phil in without at least checking with the patient who is already in an emotionally fragile state? They should be held accountable, too.
If Britney really is severely bi-polar, as reports suggest, she needs serious medical attention. Yes, Dr. Phil is a psychologist and his tough-love approach to therapy may work for some. But here is an emotionally stunted young woman whose mental health problems are being splashed upon the headlines of newspapers around the world; would you bring in a celebrity shrink?
I can only hope this drama will not only get us talking about the state of mental health in this country, but also the ethics surrounding the treatment of mental health disorders. Author Ayelet Waldman often writes about her own struggles with mental health on Slate.com and is often lambasted on the boards for being so open. Her work could be called self-indulgent, but she is talking about matters which are often only discussed in hushed tones behind closed doors.
While bi-polar disorder has a genetic component, it surely is the pressure of constantly being in the spotlight that put Britney where she is now and the only way she’s going to get help is to stay out of the spotlight for a while; something that those around her, save her father, seem to be remiss to do themselves and unable to help her to do.
posted January 7, 2008 at 11:42 pm
BRITNEY NEEDS LOTS OF “LOVE”.SHE NEEDS TESTS DONE ON HER JUST IN CASE SHE IS BI-POLAR OR HAS ANY OTHER KIND OF MENTAL/EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS.THAT SHOULD BE THE FIRST THING,MAYBE REHAB,LOTS OF LOVE,REHAB,MEDICATIONS THAT MAY HELP AFTER AND WHEN ANY TEST OR RESULTS ARE DONE.GOD BLESS HER. I HOPE SHE GETS HELP.
posted January 8, 2008 at 5:55 pm
What Britney needs is to go away for a little while with a team of people who truly love her and have her best interest at heart. She has been programmed and systematically groomed since she was little to be a “Star”. Now that she’s in her Mid twenties and obviously just a product of the machine that they created, people want to judge. It’s obvious that she is hurting. I would be too if I had to live every second of my life under the lights of flashing cameras. It’s disgusting what the press do to this young mother. It’s also painful that a marriage that has two young babies involved was destroyed by a guy who’s lawyers are laughing all the way to the bank while he sits back silent on the issues, as they continue to alienate her from her children. It’s clear that he is not reaching out to try to help the mother of his children. Why should he, what does he have to gain by sticking it out with the women that he chose to have two babies with. It’s obvious from his past that he doesn’t consider making babies with someone a reason to stay faithful. He’s a poor excuse for a father and is planning to run this thing until he gets a nice cut of her money. Why isnt anyone demanding that he speak up. Its no wonder she wanted a little more time with her baby. Every minute she spends with them is with a court appointed supervisor. Cut her a break people. She’s obviously hurting. Who wouldn’t be. We should all be collectively praying for that girl. Did you see those photographers chasing that ambulance down. Give me a break!!! It’s unconscionable.
posted January 8, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I have to admit that at first I viewed the Britney Spears scenario as a
Hollywood star type drama. No sympathy for her self inflicted news media attention not to mention the hurt she was causing not only to herself but to her children. Then I realized, take away all the glamour and glitter, and she is just another human being that has fallen into a disease that many have. I agree with the writer that stated she needs to be away from her mother and exhusband and be with people who love and can help her throught this horrific time of her life. I hope somebody realizes her as one of God’s children and helps to become the person she was intended to be. Maybe if somebody truly shows her love for herself not her act, maybe then she can become whole. In the end only Brittney and her children will suffer if she does not get help soon. We should all pray that that is the end result of all this hype.
posted January 9, 2008 at 11:34 am
Is it any wonder Britney and others like her are in trouble. Star struck fans fawn over them; the press hounds them;sick tabloids print every perverted moment of their lives they can dig up. They are made to believe they are larger than life and can do anything and everything they want without consequences. They live in an “If it feels good do it” pseudo world that cares nothing about the real person. One would think plain old common sense would cause many of their problems to disappear but in today’s world that’s become a lost art as well. Britney needs help. She doesn’t need it on a nation wide TV show. Her parents (especially her stage door Mother) needs to take her out of the lime light to a reputable DR and allow time for her to heal, perhaps be put on proper medication if she is bi-polar etc. It is doable but not in the celebrity mad arena she is living in now.
posted January 10, 2008 at 7:11 am
I think that they all hit the nail on the head here!!! Ann , Cynthia ,Dawn and Taffy !! Stardom and Money Carried a Price, This girl probably never saw coming .. The Mother and the Ex husband all have more Axes to Grind then meets the eye.. There is Publicity and more greed in this Girls life then She Needs.. What happened to her now should be just as important to them
posted January 15, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I am sorry but why don’t we just throw a coliseum around America and call it Rome? Thisis my perception of what is going on these days.
Only if you totally humiliate yourself are you an acceptable person worthy of adulation from adoring[scorning] fans.
We take these junkie celebrities and adulate them to no end. I am sick of it, and ever so glad that my children are raised. This way I don’t have to contend with having to explain that this isn’t real life. I had a much easier job of explaining the 3 stooges, I believe.
posted January 19, 2008 at 12:28 pm
DEAR MRS. SPEARS I TO HAD A PROBLEM, AND I’VE BEEN CLEAN FOR 20YRS. AND NO I’AM JUST A WOMAN FROM N.C. AND I ALSO SUFFER FROM BIPOLER EVEN NOW I KNOW EVERYONES GOING TO READ THIS E-MAIL AND I’AM TAKING A CHANCE BECAUSE, NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT IT. YOU HAVE TO CONTROL THE PROBLEM DON’T LET THE PROBLEM CONTROL YOU. I HOPE FOR YOUR SAKE, YOUR CHILDREN WILL COME FIRST I TO HAD A CHILD AND I KNEW SHE NEEDED HER MOMMY IN HER LIFE I AND AT FIRST I DID’NT CARE THEN WHEN SHE BOUGHT ART WORK AND DRAWINGS FROM SCHOOL AND I SEEN THEM I KNEW THEN SHE NEEDED ME. AND I NEVER NEEDED REHAB OR ANYONE ELSE I WAN’TED TO DO IT ON MY OWN IT COST ME A WONDERFUL HUSBAND OF 15YS. AND A VERY NICE HOME AND I WAS DETERMEND IT WAS NOT GOING TO COST ME MY DAUGHTER OF 2YRS,OLD.I’AM SORRY YOU CAN NOT BE ALONE WHERE EVER YOU GO. BECAUSE, OF BEING A CELEBRITY WHICH MAKES IT EVEN HARDER YOU CAN’T BE ALONE TO EVEN COLLECT YOUR THOUGHTS. EVEN IF YOUR RICH OR POOR IT DON’T MATTER IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM ONLY I DON’T HAVE PEOPLE WATCHING EVERY MOVE I MAKE. GO SOME WHERE NO ONE KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE AT.THERE IS GOT TO BE SOME WHERE YOU CAN SNEAK AWAY FROM ALL THE PEOPLE THAT JUST BUG YOU ALL THE TIME.SOME WHERE NO ONE KNOWS YOU AND BE BY YOURSELF TO FIND YOURSELF JUST REMEMBER THE GOOD TIMES YOU HAD WITH YOUR CHILDREN THAT WILL BE YOUR STRENTH YOUR NOT WHAT THEY ARE CALLING YOU LOOK WHATS A HEAD NEVER BEHIND YOU . YOU CAN’T CHANGE THE PAST BUT YOU CAN CHANGE THE FUTURE PLEASE DO IT FOR YOURSELF AND THE CHILDREN I BELIEVE IN YOU CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM IF YOU REALLY WAN’T TOO. I HOPE YOU FIND WHAT YOUR LOOKING FOR. DON’T LET IT COST YOU WHAT IT COST ME. BUT NOW THERE IS NOTHING I CAN’T DO I WEN’T FROM A WAITRESS TO A DRIVING A 2000 GALLON PROPANE TRUCK YES I WAS A GAS GIRL DELIVERY IN PEOPLES HOMES ALL YOU NEED IS TO DO FIND SOMETHING POSSITIVE AND KEEP GOING HELP CLEAN SOMEONE ELSE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL GREAT ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOU CAN RELATE TO THE SAME THINGS THEY ARE GOING THROUGH BECAUSE, YOU HAVE BEEN THERE MY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, THAT CARES FOR YOU THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THATS WHY DO IT ON YOUR OWN BECAUSE, IF NO ONE UNDERSTANDS YOU AND YOUR LIFE THEY HAVE’ T BEEN THERE THE BALL IS IN YOUR HANDS YOU CAN CHOICE TO THROW IT ALL AWAY OR YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR PROBLEM JUST A THOUGHT I KNOW WHERE YOUR AT AND WHERE YOUR GOING ANY YOU CAN CHANGE IT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND TRUST NO ONE UNTIL YOU CAN OUT WHAT YOU WAN’T TO DO.GOD BLESS YOU AND BE WITH YOU THROUGH THIS TIME IT WILL GET BETTER JUST BELIEVE IN GOD AND YOURSELF YOU CAN DO THIS I PROMISE IT JUST TAKES ALITTLE TIME TO FIND YOURSELF AND DON’T LET NOONE TALK YOU OUT OF IT AND IF THEY TRY TO THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS THEY JUST WAN’T YOUR MONEY AND I WILL SIGN A LETTER I DON’T WAN’T A DIME I JUST HOPE THIS LETTER REACHES YOU AND I HOPE IT MAKES A DIFFERANCE SINCERLEY, BEEN THERE. Susan sad1957@yahoo.com
posted January 19, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Found a positive site predicting what good things will happen to Britney that I wanted to share to counter act all the negative stories about her. Check it out http://www.VisionForBritney.com…right now she needs all the healthy energy she can get!