Britney Checks Out
Britney Spears is a free woman. Whether or not she's a well woman remains to be seen.
E! News has confirmed the 26-year-old pop star was quietly released from the UCLA Medical Center Wednesday, a week after she was forcibly admitted and a week before she was scheduled to leave.
Spears was escorted off the premises by a private security detail shortly before noon. Police took extra precaution to ensure Spears' privacy during her departure, as with her arrival, going so far as to use the code name "Karen" in dealing with her exit.
She returned to her home in Beverly Hills, but only remained a short time before joining an unidentified male in a black Mercedes-Benz and leading a parade of paparazzi and reporters, including a helicopter providing live TV coverage, through Los Angeles. The caravan pulled up at the Beverly Hills Hotel, and she disappeared inside, where she remained late Wednesday.
"Britney's relieved, as is everyone," said a source close to the Spears family. "The goal was for her to get well, not to be stuck in a hospital."
While Spears' release seemingly indicates positive results from her round-the-clock in-house treatment, the singer is expected to continue receiving psychiatric therapy as an outpatient.
The source told E! News that while the treatment was beneficial, the fact that Spears was forced to undergo the treatment within the confines of the psych ward made the singer feel "like a caged animal."
Her new standing as a free woman, however, will not affect her current legal standing.
"This doesn't change the terms of the conservatorship," the source told E! News. "Jamie is still calling the shots."
Spears' father, Jamie, along with attorney Andrew Wallet, has temporary control over the singer's legal and medical affairs.
Meanwhile, the source also revealed what prompted the Spears family to file a police report about a burglary at the singer's home. The family discovered several things missing, among them "Britney's awards, including a Grammy, and some jewelry." Police are investigating but have not yet named any suspects.
Britney Spears was admitted to the hospital in the early morning hours of Jan. 31 and initially placed under a 72-hour psychiatric hold. Over the weekend, her psychiatrist, Dr. Deborah Nadel, extended the pop star's stay to 14 days. She had been tentatively slated for release on Valentine's Day, the same day as the next hearing in the conservatorship of her estate.
Spears' usual group of hangers-on have yet to surface at the pop star's home, for varying reasons.
A restraining order has been issued against manager-pal Sam Lutfi, based on allegations he attempted to manipluate the pop singer, charges Lutfi told E! News earlier today were "untrue." He has yet to be found and formally served with the temporary harassment order, and it's unlikely he'll try his luck in approaching the newly sprung Spears.
As for the other man in Spears' life, paparazzo Adnan Ghalib, the family insider told E! News that he, too, has yet to reinsert his presence in the singer's life, a loss none of the Spears are particularly keen to mourn.
"No one in the family has heard from him, and no one trusts him. For now, he is a nonissue."
(Originally published Feb. 6, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. PT.)
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