There’s another tell-all book about Britney Spears coming out, but this one isn’t written by her mother. This one is written by photographer Ian Halperin, and is titled Stalking Britney: Britney Under Seige. Do you think he’s trying to be a bit sensational?
Halperin claims that Britney tried to commit suicide four times after splitting from Kevin Federline, and claims her most recent, and most public, breakdown was not her first.
The pressures of her career — which began at 12 as one of the youngest cast members on The New Mickey Mouse Club — led to her deep insecurities. “At 15, she had a huge breakdown and had to return home to Louisiana,” he reveals. “She was very insecure and felt like she wasn’t pretty.” But rather than get help, Britney focused on her outward appearance: “She went on a huge diet.”
Today, Britney is on medication, but Halperin believes she’s far from recovered. “There’s no doubt, based on the last two years, that she is a highly unstable person,” he observes. “She’s on a temporary high right now, but she’s never really dealt with all the problems she had. I don’t think it’s possible to turn over a new leaf just like that.”
Halperin researched his book for 18months as a photographer of Britney, so I don’t think he has the real, inside story either. I think if you lined twenty people who were all involved with Britney’s care over the last two years you would probably get twenty different stories, none of which were entirely accurate. At least Lynne Spears’ book will be told with love, and probably the most embarrassing part of it for Britney will be some nude photos of her as a baby.
I also don’t think it takes a genius to suggest that Britney isn’t miraculously cured, but she seems happy and healthy and hopefully has a chance to develop a strong relationship with her children in the next few years.
Britney is shown out shopping with her brother Bryan on 8/25/08. Credit: Fame Pictures
WTF!? So, he’s calling the book Stalking Britney….. He researched it by ACTUALLY STALKING BRITNEY, and then he blames her nervous breakdown/s on her childhood traumas. That’s interesting. I’m sure she had an effed up childhood but, come on, credit where credit is due.
I’ll read a Britney tell all when Britney writes one. That will be AWESOME, like Tatum O’neil’s.
I think she’s finally starting to look healthy again. And, it’s amazing what a bra can do for a lady…
People need to leave this girl alone. In all reality, that section of the book or interview isn’t telling us anything we haven’t heard before. I hope the book bombs.
Nobody needs to read a book on Britney’s breakdown, we all watched it happen through the paps’ lenses. Amazing what people will do to other people just for money.
That poor girl. I think the look on her face in the top picture says it all. It’s like that Twilght Zone episode when the guy lands on the moon and the martians give him everything he would ever need and want,he’s thrilled till he looks out the window and sees the bars and gawkers and realizes, he’s stuck for life as the main attraction at the zoo.
A paparazzo cum author? Pass. I’m not a fan but I’m glad she is nowhere near the low she hit when she was taken away in an ambulance. That was sad and scary and I was convinced she was going to end up
dead.
I know it’s supposed to be somewhat of a trend but I never liked the bra straps showing over the tank look. Especially if they look a little grimy. Eh.
Well publishing a tell-all isn’t going to help her recovery process. What an ass
I’m pretty sure I’m gonna get stoned by the Britney-haters, but I say this anyway…
I grew up living less than 20 minutes away from her. My stepdad and one of her uncles were best friends from grade school. I didn’t see her very often, and what I did see made me dislike her. Then, when her granny (that’s what our families called her) needed a new car, Britney refused to pay for anything more than a used one which made us all mad.
I hated her for a very long time because she made all of us Southerners look so bad; we are not ALL ignorant trailer-trash,just because we were born and raised below the Mason–Dixon line! Then, when her dad got control of her and she began to struggle back from the precipice of her mental illness, I realized how awful these last years must have been for her. It’s true that she’s screwed up royally by making all those poor life choices, but we all do that from time to time—we just don’t have our mistakes laughed at by the world.
Now, I’m cheering for her and wishing her the best of luck on her road to recovery, and kudos to her dad for making sure she stays on her meds, and for being the better parent.
Nice post, SolitaryAngel, couldn’t agree more.
I hated her for a very long time because she made all of us Southerners look so bad; we are not ALL ignorant trailer-trash,just because we were born and raised below the Mason–Dixon line!
Hear hear, SolitaryAngel! I wish her nothing but the best
Agree with Solitary, Bodhi… I don’t see Brit as a symbol (good or bad) of the South. Maybe she was at some point, but now she’s just a really screwed up young woman trying to reclaim what’s left of her sanity. Doesn’t have anything to do with regional stereotypes (although, if we’re doing *that*, we could make the argument that she didn’t go crazy until she moved to California).
Does anyone have a guess about what Brit’s on now? My guess is Lithium.
“Going crazy” is what happens to little girls when they become the family meal ticket. I wish Britney all the best. She’s beginning to love herself, and that’s got to happen before you can love anyone else.
No one buy this s— book. BEST WISHES TO BRITNEY SPEARS!
Do you ever get the feeling like Britney is just walking carrion with vultures constantly flying over then swooping down to take a big bite?
Solitary–I think it is gracious of you to overlook what you might think of her character to wish her will in her recovery.
She might NOT be a very nice person or particularly likable, but it still doesn’t make the misery of her life any less tragic.
I wouldn’t touch this guy’s book with a ten foot pole. Not only is he a vulture cashing in on a young woman’s breakdown and suffering, but all he’s doing is speculating and rehashing “theories”–I doubt anyone who actually knows Britney has given him the time of day.
Thanks for the comments, y’all (LOL). I appreciate them!
Regarding the book; I agree–this guy will not see one red cent of my hard–earned money. I refuse to reward anyone who makes another person’s life hell and not only tries to cash in on it, but blatantly admits that he stalked her to get the material! What unmitigated gall. 👿
Can she not impose legal action on this guy considering that he’s admitting to stalking her? I think that she should. Yes, he might have included that wording for dramatic effect, but she could use his own verbage against him should she want.
I agree with SolitaryAngel as well, however, the whole car situation re: her Granny… I think that beggars cannot be choosers and nobody knows how many times this girl has been bombared with requests for money or cars… or who knows what else. She probably felt that a used car would suffice. 😕
Interesting how the number of suicide attempts went up from two to four… any important court dates coming up?
Ian also said, on TELEVISION that it was two. He also said he thought Brit would be happy with the book. He said the book is sympathetic to her.
Look for his TWO television interviews back in June/July. Look for the one where he isn’t constantly interrupted and talked over.
The unfortunately named, “skank basher,” has it right about little girls becoming their family’s meal ticket. Someone should do a book on the phenom of these situations – Lindsey, Britney and countless others who become the main focus and breadwinners of their almost universally bizarre and media-hungry families. Not only the effects on the child/star themselves but on their siblings and the parent’s marriage as well.
Is it a coincidence that most of these kids come from broken homes and parents who have forgetten their role as protector and instead crave the spotlight for themselves? Then factor in the brothers/sisters who must feel either ignored or unworthy in comparison.
I’m not sure what the answer is – child stars exist and a few have relatively normal home lives and sane parents …how come there are such extreme situations like the Lohans? If the parents can’t deal with the fame and money, how can we expect the kids to?
Nikki: It is an interesting topic. Some child stars do really well (think of Ron Howard or Melissa Gilbert), while others seem to be destroyed by their early fame and their families (McCauley Caulkin (spelling?) actually had to take his parents to court, for goodness sakes!)
It WOULD make an intriguing book. A lot better than some stalker/paparazzi “Get all the juicy dirt on Britney’s breakdown!” tell-all trash psuedo-fiction!!
@ Kaiser:
She was in such a severe crisis, her doctors probably started her on Depakote(a hardcore bi-polar drug) b/c it is a mood stabilizer plus anti-depressant. It can cause serious weight gain/bloat (which is why she looked a little tubby in the bikini shots in Costa Rica-NO JUDGEMENT). They probably also put her on an actual anti-depressant and an anti-psychotic to help with the racing thoughts, allowing her to go to sleep at night. If she’s stabilized now, they may have switched her meds, but in the beginning, I’m sure she was knocked out. I hope she isn’t on Lithium for a long time. My friend’s mom was and it has caused her to have serious epileptic issues, none of which she had before. Lithium starts to build up in the brain and can cause issues down the road.
The only reason I know any of this is because I was severe Bi-polar 1 and I’m now stable. It was personally painful to watch her go through this and read the horrible things people said about her. She was in hell and no one was helping her. I’m so glad she’s doing better and I would give her a huge hug and tell her that life will go on, just in a different and often better way. Good luck to her.
I can’t believe people are still interested in this piece of trailer trash! She is as unstable as a bomb and I wish she would go away. I am sick of seeing that bloated, pimply face all over the place!
morgs, what do you mean no one was helping her?
ash, bla bla.
nikki, czarina, bla bla
No one is Britney Spears but Britney Spears.
Off Topic: Wow, Ash, snot much?
And it really takes a lot of nerve to call her bloated. I can’t stand when people attack her for her “weight problem” which at worst only exceeded fifteen-twenty pounds at its worst. She never was skeletal-thin, but calling someone fat who isn’t is spreading a terrible message to young women.
People like you are the reason why I starve myself and have self-esteem and body image issues. Give yourself a pat on the back.
I digress.
Back on topic, I hope this poor woman recovers. I don’t really listen to her music or anything, but she deserves to be successful after (over the past five years) being exploited and pushed to her limit repeatedly. I hope she continues to remain happy and healthy, and resumes to a functional, normal life. I wish her nothing but personal and business-wise success.
@ concerned:
Oh, there were plenty of people helping her get high, spend her money, egg on her manic swings among other things. All things a severe bi-polar person needs help with *said with severe sarcasm*. I will be the first to admit she was out of control, and there is a part of that that’s on her. But when someone is drugging your food…c’mon, cut her a break.
Concerned: While filled with admiration at your sparkling way with words, I don’t quite understand the (ahem) “bla, bla” reference.
Since I am sympathetic to Britney, do you disagree with that?
However you also “bla, bla”-ed Ash who dislikes Britney.
Was this meant to indicate that we shouldn’t be discussing her at all?
That would be somewhat contrary to the point of commenting on a gossip blog, wouldn’t it?
Czarina bringing the snark! Love it.
It’s all old news anyway. People did and continue to do the same thing to the late Princess Diana, not that I’m comparing those two in any way.