Winehouse to Rehab: Yes, Yes, Yes

Singer enters rehab program as Scotland Yard investigates footage of star inhaling substance from lit pipe

By Gina Serpe Jan 24, 2008 7:00 PMTags

They tried to make her go to rehab—and at long last, Amy Winehouse has said yes, yes, yes.

A day after Scotland Yard launched an investigation into footage of the troubled chanteuse, in which she is seen smoking a suspicious-looking pipe, snorting some kind of substance and admitting to having taken "six Valium," the singer has entered an undisclosed drug-rehabilitation facility.

"Amy decided to enter the the facility today after talks with her record label, management, family and doctors," her record label, Universal Music Group, said in a statement Thursday. "Amy entered the facility by mutual agreement and continues to receive the full support of all concerned.

"She has come to understand that she requires specialist treatment to continue her ongoing recovery from drug addiction and prepare for her planned appearance at the Grammy Awards."

Winehouse, who received six nominations from the Recording Academy, is expected to perform alongside über-producer Mark Ronson at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles Feb. 10, should her addiction—and visa—troubles resolve themselves before then.

Winehouse has already canceled a planned appearance at France's NRJ Awards, scheduled to take place this Saturday, in order to enter the clinic.

"Amy is the most talented and important musical artist of her generation and has made huge strides on her road to recovery. Universal Music Group wants nothing more than to see her take the time she needs to come back to full health and fulfill her incredible potential with the label.

"All concerned feel that Amy must put her health before all other considerations and will be by her side whenever and wherever they are needed."

The rehab news comes as police began an official probe into footage published online Tuesday by Britain's Sun tabloid. The video was reportedly filmed at Winehouse's east London home early Friday, hours before the briefly blond singer appeared late to a court hearing for husband Blake Fielder-Civil. (He remains incarcerated while awaiting trial on charges of assault and conspiracy.)

The footage—which features, among other things, Winehouse searching her home for her cat, rejecting an invitation to go out partying with friends, claiming she would be "useless" after taking half a dozen Valium to "bring myself down" and, most damningly, inhaling an unknown substance from a lighted pipe—was part of 19-minute binge the singer supposedly indulged in that night, per the Sun.

On Wednesday, a spokesperson for Scotland Yard confirmed the agency was "in receipt of the videotape from a media outlet, and it is currently being investigated." Officials also denied initial reports that they seized the tape, clarifying that the outlet fully cooperated in handing it over.

"We will assess the footage to ascertain whether any action needs to be taken," the spokesperson said.

Following both the print and online publication of the video—the footage appeared on the paper's Website, while stills were plastered across the tabloid's newsstand version—Universal, said it still backed its artist but that it was nonetheless devastated.

"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," the company said in a statement.

While reports surfaced Wednesday that the singer spent two hours at an unnamed rehabilitation clinic in north London, prompting speculation that the video may have finally pushed Winehouse to get help, her spokesperson said the visit was simply a standing appointment and a regular weekly session that was part of the singer's ongoing treatment plan.

However, the 24-year-old star's non-press-shy father, Mitch Winehouse, seemingly brought credence to reports that the video may be the rock bottom Amy needed to hit.

"Your video of Amy taking drugs may well be the best thing that has ever happened to her," the Sun quotes him as saying. "For all the hurt and pain, it may finally be the thing to focus her mind and convince her to get the help she needs to quit for good."

The Back to Black singer, who, incidentally, is back to both black and beehived hair is also due to return to court in Bergen, Norway, on Feb. 29 to appeal a fine lobbed against her and her husband for possessing cannabis.