Wednesday, 9 January 2008

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Britney's family: Dr. Phil violated trust

Family rep speaks out about Dr Phil show

Britney Spears's family is accusing Dr. Phil McGraw of violating their trust by making public statements about his hospital visit with the troubled pop star and his call for her to receive therapy.

Family spokesman Lou Taylor, a business manager for mother Lynne and daughter Jamie Lynn Spears, appeared on Wednesday's Today show and also said that at no time had the family planned to do a show with McGraw, despite his statements about such a program. (McGraw later said the scheduled episode would not go on as originally planned.)

"It was decided it would be detrimental to ever do that," said Taylor, who described McGraw's request for such a show in the first place to be "self-serving." She also said that McGraw has now "compromised" Lynne and Jamie Lynn's relationship with Britney.

Taylor confirmed that McGraw had been sent to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Saturday to meet with Britney at the request of the family, and that Lynne Spears and McGraw's wife, Robin, know one another.

Asked by Today's Meredith Vieira if McGraw had ever treated Britney on any previous occasions, Taylor replied, "Not to my knowledge."

After his visit, McGraw issued the following statement to Entertainment Tonight: "My meeting with Britney and some of her family members this morning in her room at Cedars leaves me convinced more than ever that she is in dire need of medical and psychological intervention ... "

"What's wrong with Dr. Phil's statement," said Taylor, "is that he made a statement. The family, basically, extended an invitation of trust for him to come in as a resource to support them, not to go out and make public statements."

She added, "He was not invited to make this part of a public display or part of the media."

Describing Lynne Spears as "a mother who is heartbroken, just to be separated from her daughter," Taylor said Lynne and Jamie Lynn "were looking for support here, not to add to the trouble that is already upon them."

By Stephen M. Silverman