Mel Gibson Tried To Set Britney Spears Up With One Of His Rehabbed Sons

The following italicized article is from www.celebitchy.com:

Mel Gibson has twin sons who turn 26 this year, Edward and Christian, who both have stints in rehab. Ed was out of rehab late last year for an alcohol and cocaine addiction, and Christian got a DUI in 2006 and checked into rehab in late January of this year. Mel, who has also has a well publicized DUI under his belt, has recently befriended pop singer Britney Spears, 26. Britney has spent time at Mel’s estate in Costa Rica and has been seen out to dinner with him and his family.

While some speculated that Mel wanted to help Britney with her personal problems, and others wondered if he was trying to convert her to his unique brand of Catholicism, Mel may have had another motivation for spending time with Britney. The National Enquirer reports that Mel tried to set Britney up with the less messed-up twin her age, Edward, but that Britney wasn’t having that. Mel’s son Edward is working his recovery program and the Enquirer says Mel believed he would be a good influence on her.

[Mel Gibson] believed his son Edward - who was in rehab last year for cocaine and alcohol addition - had turned his life around and could help Britney do the same, an insider told The Enquirer.

“Mel felt Ed would be a great influence on Brit, and if the relationship turned to romance, all the better,” said the insider.

So Gibson arranged a meeting between the pair at Britney’s home in the Hollywood Hills last March, said the source.

“He sincerely believed that his son could help Britney stay on the straight and narrow and that they might hit it off as a couple as well,” the insider explained.

But Britney, 26, gave the cold shoulder to Mel and Edward…

“She hid from them most of the night,” revealed the insider. “Mel and his son spent most of the evening talking to her bodyguards.”

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, July 7, 2008]

There must have been no hard feelings between Britney and Mel after she tried to avoid the set up with one of his sons. She was seen at his Costa Rican getaway in mid-May. Britney also brought along a man with whom she’s been romantically linked in the past, agent Jason Trawick. Maybe Britney and Jason were already dating at that point and she wasn’t open to meeting Mel’s son or maybe she just wasn’t interested in the guy. Can you imagine thinking it’s a good idea to set up Britney Spears with a member of your family, though? At that point it had only been two months since she had that big melt down and was hospitalized.

In related news, OK! Magazine reports that Britney and Kevin had a “secret meeting” with their lawyers over the custody of their two boys. It is thought they are working to avoid having to go to trial to hash out custody issues. The talks were said to be unsuccessful, though, with neither of them willing to compromise. Britney went back home and then had a massage at the Ritz Carlton.

Source: Celeb Itchy

MTV: Britney Could Return to VMAs

The following italicized article is from www.ok-magazine.com:

If Britney Spears is serious about making a comeback, she can prove herself this September at the Video Music Awards.

Despite last year's reviled, head-scratching, lip-synching performance the singer put forth, MTV claims it'll never say "no" to Britney Spears.

''Everyone deserves a second or third chance, right?'' Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music Group, says.

Don't get too excited though. Van admits that he was "sorta" kidding about welcoming Brit back with open arms.

"Who knows?" he adds.

Last September, a bikini-adorned, uncoordinated Britney opened the network's marquee award show with a lackluster performance of her new single, "Gimme More."

"She looked lost and confused," a VMA audience member told OK! at the time. "She was definitely not into it. People were shaking their heads and wondering what happened."

If the 26-year-old is invited back, she won't have to travel far to attend the ceremony. After stints in New York, Miami and Las Vegas last year, the VMAs are returning to Los Angeles this year.

Van says producers and crew members are already planning the show, but know they have their work cut out for them.

''I'm not sure how we top Britney opening the show,'' he says. ''We are working on it every minute of every day.''

Source: OK Magazine

K-Fed Attorney: Mediation With Brit "Positive" Step

The following italicized article is from www.eonline.com:

Kevin Federline wants Britney Spears to once again play a major role in their children's lives. Just not a bigger role than his.

K-Fed's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, spoke exclusively to E! News in the wake of Thursday's all-day mediation session, in which both sides were seeking to hash out a custody agreement in advance of an August trial.

"Kevin is seeking to maintain the sole legal and physical custody that he presently has," Kaplan said. "There's nothing magical about 50-50. There's nothing magical about 60-40. What's magical is that whatever order is in place, it's the order that best suits the best interest of the children."

Which, ideally, would give the 30-year-old Federline full custody, simply making permanent the present temporary order.

"Kevin has had sole legal custody since January. He wants that to become the permanent order at trial, and the visitation to be consistent with what the court expanded it to this week."

Namely, allowing Spears, 26, overnight visitation with sons Sean Preston and Jayden James, which will begin Saturday night. In addition to the sleepover, she is also allowed two day visits per week.

For his part, Kaplan said Federline is more than happy to give the stabilized Spears not only more custody rights but the ability to be "involved in their lives in a very substantial and meaningful way," and credits the conservatorship with her recent turnaround.

"He wants to have an order...that takes into account a certain stability and structure for the kids...regardless of whose house they happen to be in at any given moment.

"When the conservatorship was imposed, it brought a certain sense of structure and stability to an environment that seemed to be continually in flux. And in flux is not a description of what you want for a child's environment."

But while Thursday's mediation didn't result in any brokered accords—it would have been surprising if it had—it did get both parties started on the right path to like-mindedness.

"The mediation didn't result in an agreement that would avoid the trial set in August...The mood was comfortable, positive and it was a mood that was consistent with opening at least a great dialogue, which is necessary."

As for what would call off this summer's planned court date...

"The trial in August is going to determine two primary issues," Kaplan said. "Custody and visitation, and attorneys' fees...In order to avoid the trial in all respects, there would have to be an agreement between the parties to resolve the attorneys' fees, and to put in place a custody arrangement that would carry forward...an expansion of the visitation.

"If the existing arrangement was acceptable to both parties, we would have an agreement and we wouldn't have to go to trial...But that didn't happen."

Source: E! Online

K-Fed's Lawyer: Meeting Was a "Positive" Step

The following italicized article is from www.ok-magazine.com:

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline's top-secret meeting on Thursday was a "positive" step towards a custody agreement, Kevin's lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan tells E!."

The mediation didn't result in an agreement that would avoid the trial set in August," he says. "The mood was comfortable, positive and it was a mood that was consistent with opening at least a great dialogue, which is necessary."

Although the meeting went well, Mark is quick to point out that neither party budged when it came to the custody status, as OK! has reported. Kevin still intends to maintain legal and physical custody of Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, with Britney have visitation, which now includes overnights.

"Kevin has had sole legal custody since January," Kapan tells E! "He wants that to become the permanent order at trial, and the visitation to be consistent with what the court expanded it to this week."

He continues, "There's nothing magical about 50-50. There's nothing magical about 60-40. What's magical is that whatever order is in place, it's the order that best suits the best interest of the children."

The August trial date will iron out the two outstanding issues: custody and visitation and attorneys' fees. Because Thursday's meeting reached a stalemate, Mark expects the trial to take place.

"If the existing arrangement was acceptable to both parties, we would have an agreement, and we wouldn't have to go to trial... but that didn't happen."

Source: OK Magazine

Britney and Kevin Headed for Custody Trial

The following italicized article is from www.people.com:

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline appear to be headed for a custody trial in August, after an attempt Thursday to settle out of court failed.

After a day of talks with a mediator, Federline's attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan told E!, "The mediation didn't result in an agreement that would avoid the trial set in August ... The mood was comfortable, positive and it was a mood that was consistent with opening at least a great dialogue, which is necessary."

Kaplan added that his client is seeking sole physical and legal custody of sons Preston, 2 1/2, and Jayden, 1 1/2, and wants Spears to continue her current visitation terms.

The singer has been spending three days a week with the boys and was recently granted overnight privileges.

"If the existing arrangement was acceptable to both parties ... we wouldn't have to go to trial," Kaplan said. "But that didn't happen."

The trial, which is scheduled to begin Aug. 25, would result in a final custody ruling, which can remain in place for years – unless one parent successfully convinces the court to modify it.

"It's very likely both Britney and Kevin will testify in a trial," says L.A. family lawyer Lynn Soodik, who's not involved with the case. "Britney has to show the court that she's improved as a mother. If she loses, the gut-wrenching part is that she could miss out on a significant portion of her kids' childhoods.

"However, since she's under conservatorship, it's unlikely she'll win any legal custody," Soodik adds. "If she can't make decisions for herself, how can she decide things like which doctors, schools and religion, if any, are best for the kids?"

Still, says Soodik, "It's possible that both sides can settle at any time."

Calls to lawyers for Federline and Spears were not returned. Their next hearing is set for July 15.

Source: People

Confirmed Producers Of Britney’s New Album

Bloodshy & Avant (”Toxic”, “Piece Of Me”, “Do Somethin’”)
Sean Garrett (”Toy Soldier”)
JR Rotem (”Everybody”)
Guy Sigworth (”Everytime”, “Someday (I Will Understand)”, “Over To You”)
Danja (”Gimme More,” “Break The Ice”, “Get Back”, “Perfect Lover”, “Outta This World”)
Jim Beanz (”Gimme More,” “Break The Ice”)
Dallas Austin
Fredwreck
Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins (”Overprotected Darkchild Remix”)

Source: Break The Ice

Darkchild Working On Britney’s New Album

Producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins has confirmed to news blog Rap-up.com that he is working with Britney on her new album. The first part of his interview has been published on the site, where he talks about working on Beyoncé’s new album, and the second part will be posted next week, when he reveals all about working with Britney.

Check out the first part of the interview here!

Source: Britney Spy

Britney At The Ritz-Carlton

The paps caught up with Britney Thursday afternoon, as she was making her way over to the Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey. Once there, the photogs were able to get a few quick glimpses of her before capturing her getting into the van to leave.

Source: X17 Video

OK! Exclusive: Brit & K-Fed's Secret Meeting

The following italicized article is from www.ok-magazine.com:

Despite their differences over the last year, Britney Spears and her ex-hubby Kevin Federline have one thing in common — they'd both like to avoid going to trial this summer over the custody of their two young sons Sean Preston and Jayden James.

On Thursday, the pop singer, her father Jamie Spears and K-Fed managed to sneak away to a secret location where they and their attorneys began to try and hammer out an out-of-court custody deal ordered by commissioner Scott Gordon.

However, the all-day meeting (rumored to have been at a 5-star hotel) ultimately resulted in nothing. Both Brit and K-Fed refused to give an inch beyond the current custody status: K-Fed has temporary physical custody and Britney has visitation, which now inlcudes one overnight visit per week.

The long, drawn-out conference seemed to take its toll on the recovering pop star. An eyewitness tells OK! that following the meeting, Brit went directly back to her Studio City home at The Summit and then headed to the Ritz Carlton Hotel where she promptly booked a massage and sauna session.

Looks like the August trial date is still on — for now!

Source: OK Magazine