Just last week Britney Spears’ former bodyguard Tony Barretto filed a declaration with the court, making sure his take on the crumbling pop star’s parenting skills was considered in her custody case. Less than a week later, Barretto takes his claims to the court of public opinion and speaks to the UK’s News of the World.
“I couldn’t stand by and let the kids stay around her any longer. She has mental problems, and they are not helped by her taking drugs and alcohol. Her children need attention, and Britney doesn’t appear to be willing to give them that at the moment,” Barretto told the paper. “She can’t cope with being a mother, as she has such a low boredom threshold… With her drug and booze issues, her home is no place for children to be raised.”
But why did Brit’s former employee wait until after he got the axe, and after the highly publicized trail made headlines, to speak out? According to the NOTW report, Barretto claims, “At one stage I was going to speak to child protection services, but I was worried they wouldn’t take my case as I was questioning a multi-millionairess. So when the custody case came to court, I contacted the judge to assist in the case.”
The bodyguard alleges that Britney was out of control with drugs and alcohol, including one incident that he refers to as an overdose. “We were desperately concerned about her mental and physical welfare. She was acting very nervously and biting her acrylic nails down to the base… She was deeply upset and appeared distraught, with tears in her eyes. I’ve never seen her so bad.”
Of course, despite this “overdose,” he made no mention of medical intervention and even stated in his interview with News of the World that Britney was able to perform on stage that very night.
A baby from Burma for Brangelina
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Angelina Jolie
Are Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie ready for child number five? That’s what an insider told the Daily Mail. The unnamed source claims that Angelina is currently in talks with one of Burma’s leading monks about “a safe travel route through the military state and a visit to an orphanage.”
Dr. Jane Aronson of the Worldwide Orphans Foundation is said to be helping Angelina, who may be interested in adopting another daughter, reports the Daily Mail.
All the while, the paper’s source explains, Angelina has grown “increasingly despondent” about her Third World work. “(She) feels she is barely making a dent in the suffering she sees throughout the Third World as she travels incognito to different countries as a United Nations representative.”
Dish on the flyMove over Lindsay Lohan, the Cirque Lodge in Utah has another celebrity guest. Star magazine reports that Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora recently checked into the rehab hotspot. This will make Richie’s second rehab stint since his divorce from Heather Locklear and that mess with Denise Richards that followed it. … “Big Brother 8” loser Zach Swerdzewski tried to mingle with the “it” crowd at Hyde just a day after the reality show wrapped, but TMZ cameras caught the Z-lister’s rejection. Zach and door staff swapped words in a giggle-worthy heated exchange. Hyde staff: “You’re going to do big things with your life.” Zach: “You’re going to do big things with your life!” Indecipherable curse words followed.
Tabloid Tidbits is compiled by Ree Hines and Helen A.S. Popkin