A Crack in Amy's Facade?

Friends, record label express concern for singer in response to video depicting her allegedly huffing fumes

By Natalie Finn Jan 23, 2008 12:57 AMTags

Amy Winehouse prominently stood by her man last week, but under what circumstances? 

Friends and colleagues were expressing their concern for the Grammy-nominated singer Tuesday after a grainy video depicting her inhaling fumes from some sort of pipe was posted by the U.K.'s Sun tabloid, which reported that the video was shot shortly before her husband's court hearing and that it is in possession of more footage of Winehouse doing drugs. 

The Back to Black chanteuse, who has recently dyed her famed black tresses blond, can be heard on the video saying, semicoherently, "If I was that cat I'd leave on my own accord—I'd call a cab. It ain't right. This ain't Toys 'R' Us. They took my cat." 

When friends ask her to go out with them, she says, "I'd be useless to you because I've had about six Valium."   

Winehouse attended a procedural hearing in hubby Blake Fielder-Civil's witness-tampering case on Friday in London, allegedly just hours after the tape was made. The 25-year-old Fielder-Civil has been in jail since November as he awaits trial on assault and conspiracy charges.    

Winehouse, 24, blew kisses to her man in court and, as officers were leading him away, shouted, "I love you handsome, gorgeous one!"

Fielder-Civil has pleaded not guilty to assault, which stems from an alleged bar fight last year, and is reportedly expected to cut a deal on a single charge of perverting the course of justice.

But while he's behind bars, Winehouse is seemingly trapped in a prison of her own device. 

"We are deeply disappointed and upset by these latest revelations and are doing everything we can to offer Amy our full support in dealing with her problems," Universal Records said in a statement obtained by E! News.  

Winehouse's various problems, including a bust for pot possession in Norway she's currently appealing, could prevent her from performing at next month's Grammy Awards, where she's up for six honors, including Album of the Year and Best New Artist.   

But while the Sun item could be construed as rock-bottom, a rep for the singer told People that, contrary to some reports, Winehouse has not checked into a treatment facility to cure what's ailing her and what is concerning so many others.  

"Amy is not in rehab," the rep said. "She was seeing a doctor who she regularly sees as part of her ongoing treatment. It was a regular appointment which she attends all the time. She has not checked in overnight."  

Winehouse began the out-patient healing process in November after she cleared her touring scheduled for the rest of 2007, writing on her Website, "I can't give it my all onstage without my Blake."   

These days, however, it looks as if her friends are more interested in seeing Winehouse get to rehab rather than sing about it onstage.   

"It's really sad. Everyone knows she needs help—even she knows she needs help," a friend of the singer told People. "The video is horrible but I hope it forces her to do something."  

"People are tiptoeing around her because of Blake—it's like someone died. She's so crazy about him. When he first went to jail she couldn't function. She didn't know what to do with herself."  

"Amy is locked in a nosedive toward oblivion—she is killing herself," another concerned mate told The Sun. "The video shows a woman completely out of control."