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Britney Spears Still Barred from Visitation
Britney Spears by Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com
After today's hearing on Britney Spears' custody options, the commissioner announced that she would not have her visitation rights restored, TMZ reports. The case will be reevaluated at the next hearing, on Feb. 19.
The decision came on the heels of a day in which Britney's presence was just as significant as the lack thereof. Following a conspicuous absence during the morning's proceedings at Los Angeles Superior Court, she later made a brief cameo outside the venue. Spears did not testify today, but, in comments to reporters this afternoon, one of the case's officials repeated that she had not been "ordered" to be there.
Brit's quick cameo followed speculation over whether she'd show up for the custody hearing at all. All morning, as media swarmed the scene and spectators gathered outside, lawyers for Brit emphasized how important it was for their client to appear in person. But as the event that an AP source described as "the most significant hearing in the [Spears-Federline custody] case so far" broke for lunch, Britney had still not appeared, and the speculation intensified.
Monday's hearing at the Los Angeles Superior Court was the latest lens on Britney's ordeal in recent months, and is all the more dramatic thanks to the 26-year-old singer's police standoff and overnight hospitalization last Thursday. And while the hearing's outcome was predictable, Britney's state of mind will remain TBD until she shows whether she's willing to give us more... to believe in.
Give us your take: Does Brit have any hope of finding the personal support she needs and getting back on track? — Anna Dimond
Related:
• VIDEO: Kevin Federline arrives for court.
• Watch TV Guide Network's brand-new Hollywood 411, tonight at 9 pm/ET, for the 411 on Britney's latest travails.
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Jan 14, 2008 3:42 PM
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Is there hope of her not being seen by judges as toxic to her kids?
If she wasn't a celebrity she'd have lost the battle for her kids long ago. Given that she is a celebrity who knows? Who cares? No matter what the kids have years of therapy in their future.
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Jan 14, 2008 4:34 PM
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I just want to know when the court can make her get help. I mean, she's clearly not ok mentally and after the incident with her kids you'd think they'd say she needs to be committed until she gets herself figured out with the help of professionals. All of this is more sad than anything else because she obviously has no clue what she's doing (even if she thinks she does).
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Jan 14, 2008 4:56 PM
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You made a good point Amybabe. She is definitely a danger to herself and to others. The courts should know that and try to do something about that.
Anyway has anyone heard or been to that site that is predicting and taking bets on the day Brit is going to die? I just heard about and I think its sick for anyone to do.
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Jan 14, 2008 5:07 PM
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This has been the saddest melt-down of a public figure since Robert Downey Jr. (who seems to have been faring MUCH better these days). Personally, I don't think Ms. Spears has a fraction of the talent of Mr. Downey, and she doesn't have the excuse of life-long severe drug use either. She is a sterling example of what happens when someone with questionable up-bringing and few positive influences comes under the kind of intense public scrutiny that today's "stars" are subjected to. Worst of all, this kind of psychological abuse is not so much the fault of the paparazzi who receive the blame as of the "adoring" fans who create the market to begin with. This young woman is unlikely to ever have control of her children again; for their sake, I am glad.
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Jan 14, 2008 7:11 PM
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She is a sterling example of what happens when someone with questionable up-bringing and few positive influences comes under the kind of intense public scrutiny that today's "stars" are subjected to.
...don't forget the unlimited cash flow, the inflated sense of self-importance she has derived from that, and the complete and total lack of recognition that she has any responsibility for anything in the universe. I'm tired of the general public diagnosing her as "post-partum" and "bi-polar". Let's call it what it is: a heady sense of entitlement and an arrested adolescence out of control. She needs to grow up and get a real life- and stay away from her kids until she does so.
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Jan 14, 2008 7:16 PM
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I just want to know when the court can make her get help
A court can't just decide to commit an adult against their will on its own- even if there are children to think about.
In order to have an adult committed (i.e. due to mental illness or substance abuse), a person with a legally recognized relationship to that person (i.e. a parent or spouse) has to petition the court for an order finding the person incompetent or incapacitated (i.e. unable to make such a decision on their own).
It usually requires a hearing or mini-trial re: the person's mental capacity (for mental illness) or level of impairment (for substance abuse).
So, unfortunately, the only thing the court can do at this point is keep the kids away from her (for their own safety). It can't make her get help.
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Jan 14, 2008 7:16 PM
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I want to tell you something about Britney. Britney is not worth. Why? She have been problem with heavy bipolar discorder can be dangerous to cause around near her own sons....NOT safety...... Reason She NEVER, NEVER learn how to be responsible to take care of two toddler sons. Becuase She ALWAYS go out the wild parties, sex, alcoholic and leave her sons out???? She seems she doesn't care about her life. She not think of her own kids while going to the wildiest parties screw up. I point at Britney is not good mother. I want Britney NEED to get help and stay in mental hospital for good verty safety.
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Jan 14, 2008 7:44 PM
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Brit used to annoy me but now I hope that somehow, someone can help her. she's obcviously got problems and it all seemed to start when she married that golddigger guy. It's sad. maybe when the kids are taken away for good she'll finally realize she needs help.
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Jan 14, 2008 8:49 PM
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I am so over the whole Britney Spear bad parent thing. There are a lot of bad parents out there. She just gets coverage because she is a celebrity.
I know of a father who has not paid child support in over year (besides the occasional toss of money right before a court date), has been founded on 3 counts of child neglect / endangerment, quit his job when his wages were garnished and then works off the books so nobody can get money from him, is in violation of a court order to pay back child support (a large sum, plus extra over the child support amount to catch up & lawyer fees for his ex-wife because it is his fault they have had to go back to court so many times), etc... but he still has visitation with his kids 2 weekends a month.
The court system doesn't do anything about him because he isn't beating the kids or smoking crack with them, but he is no example of a father. His ex-wife still has to hand over the kids 2 weekends a month & the deadbeat gets to claim one of the kids on his tax return though he is not supporting them. She has had to max out credit cards to make monthly bills & he gets to be "super dad" because he gets to be the fun guy with absolutely no responsibility.
I think those who are so concerned with the well being of a screwed up celebrity's kids she realize that there are A-holes all over that should not have access to their children. Spears in nothing special.
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Jan 14, 2008 10:40 PM
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I want to tell you something about Britney. Britney is not worth. Why? She have been problem with heavy bipolar discorder can be dangerous to cause
blueflameshd to say that if you have bipolar you are dangerous to your kids is a stupid comment. Many people have bipolar and are parents. I have two close friends who have a parent who is bipolar, many people don't know enough about bipolar dissorder. I just feel that many people just don't know to much about this illness.
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Jan 14, 2008 10:53 PM
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IsThereTooMuchTV? your story sucks. I have a friend who is divorced with four kids living pay check to pay check, her ex-husband doesn't have to pay child support because the judge said since he's a drunk, he's disabled. So he's collecting for disability and she's barely making ends meet. He gets to see his kids twice a week and overnight weekends. He's a terrible father, his kids want nothing to do with him but yet if they don't go see their father, their mother gets in trouble. Sometimes I don't understand certain rulings of family court. If she was famous maybe it would be different.
I think if Britney was a non-celebrity, but still had the same problems she has now, she still would of had her kids. I seriously believe that.
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Jan 14, 2008 11:04 PM
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I think she's at the stage where hospitalization is needed. IF she is bipolar, that diagnosis doesn't mean automatic hospitalization -- However, in severe cases where there is drug involvement and other dangerous situations,hospitalization is often advised. Having several members in my extended family who deal with mental illnesses on a daily basis -- why I escaped the genetic pool is beyond me -- I know how terrible it is for them as they learn to cope with new drug treatments,etc. Some have voluntarily entered hospital for brief times for medication adjustments, etc. Most of my family members are doing well, working, coping, and contributing to society. Some have raised their children well, others are heart broken as their disease carried down to the next generation. They've all learned to take responsibility for their own actions, no matter how much it hurts to be ill.
However,they've all had to learn to trust those who have proven themselves trustworthy -- when they can no longer trust their own judgement. Does Britney have such a support system in place at the moment? I doubt it. Perhaps she can find such support within a hospital or intensive outpatient therapy situation.
Ms Speers desperately needs to get away from Hollywood, I know her kids are close and she wants to be near them but for their sake and her own, she must step back from the limelight.
I am sort of surprised that Carrie Fisher hasn't been interviewed on this situation as she went through a hell of her own until she found help in the 90s. She's an outspoken advocate for the mentally ill. Perhaps she's afraid of being seen as another "Dr Phil" publicity seeking type?
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Jan 15, 2008 12:18 AM
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LadyOfTheLake - I agree 100% that if she were not a celebrity, she would have her kids still. She gets the attention & the whole world watches, not realizing there are parents as bad, if not worse, that still have their kids.
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Jan 15, 2008 6:53 AM
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The case will be reevaluated at the next hearing, on Feb. 19.
How many chances does she deserve? IMO, she's already gotten too many. And how come the judge hasn't ordered her to appear in court? This circus show needs to end now.
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Jan 15, 2008 9:44 AM
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