Wino's Mom Makes A Public Plea
Amy Winehouse's mother, Janis, has written her drug addict daughter an open letter, in the hopes of reaching her in a new way.
The Rehab singer has refused treatment for her junkie ways.
The letter reads:
"Dear Amy,
I HOPE you understand why I'm writing this. We have spoken recently but many people will wonder why I haven't run down to whatever hotel you're staying in, scooped you up and taken you home for a hot bath and a steaming bowl of chicken soup.
It's because your father and I know what you're like, Amy.
We want to help you, but we know that unless you want to be helped— unless you come to us—anything we tried would be in vain.
So this letter is my way of making sure that you know that—that all you have to do is come to us, Amy, and we'll do everything in our power to get you well again.
After all, you are still my baby and you always will be.
I pile hope upon hope that you will make that decision, Amy, and your strong will can bend for just a moment to make that decision and come home to me.
Even when you were only a rosy-cheeked five-year-old singing into a hairbrush in front of the mirror, you had a will as stubborn as a mule. Do you remember?
We couldn't ever get you to see things from any angle other than your own. You could swear day was night and Heaven help anyone who tried to disagree.
You were never a wayward daughter but you always had a strong will and a mind of your own—qualities your father and I were so proud of.
You were well brought up, you had a keen sense of right from wrong and you understood the values we always impressed on you as a family.
But you would never be pressurised or influenced into doing something if your heart wasn't in it.
I know there's no point in me ringing you, fussing over you or ordering you to do something. I need you to take that first step, darling. I need you to call me, to pick up that phone and tell me what's troubling you.
Your father and I would like nothing more—wherever you are, whatever you need, we're here for you day and night. I hope you know that. We were terrified after we saw those pictures of you earlier this week, wandering the freezing streets of London at dawn in your underwear. All I wanted to do was rush into those pictures and wrap you up in a big, warm blanket.
Do you remember those Decembers long ago when I used to swaddle you in a thick winter coat? I used to wrap you up and give you a kiss on the nose before you went out to play in the cold.
"Don't worry about me Ma, I'll be fine!" you used to laugh. But, like any mother, of course I worried. Just as I'm worrying now.
Because I know that however big, grown-up and successful my Amy gets, she still needs the love of her Ma.
Do you remember on January 14 this year, when your album got to number one? Do you remember how overjoyed your father and I both were? We shed tears of joy for you that night.
And not just because we were delighted for your success, that you had finally fulfilled that childhood dream of singing your heart out in front of millions. But also because finally, the whole country thought our little girl was just as special as we knew you were.
Some wonderful things have happened since that night, darling, but also some not so wonderful. Blake, your husband, might not be my favourite person—you know that, Amy—but he's your choice and I would never say anything about him to hurt you.
When I was quoted recently as saying "Thank God Blake's inside" what I meant was that putting him in jail might help him to clean up HIS act and change HIS life.
It wasn't said out of viciousness or to upset you. If your relationship is meant to be, it will survive.
I'm a great believer that everything in life happens for a reason, a purpose. And if you two are destined to be together forever, then so be it.
But I want you to love Blake for who he is, Amy. Not because you feel sorry for him, or because he can get you doped up. Not for any other reason than that you have respect for him.
I completely understand and sympathise with how you feel heartbroken over your separation and I'd do anything to help you end that unhappiness.
No mother likes to see her child suffering like that.
Having to cancel your tour, as well, has been very sad. But I know it's happened for the best.
Despite disappointing all of your fans, who I know you treasure so much, maybe it will pull you up and make you stop and think and take stock of where your life is going.
I pray it does. I hope it makes you realise that although you might be a superstar, you're not superwoman.
Early fame has overwhelmed you, it's dizzied you and muddled your mind. For a moment, forget you're a superstar. You're also young and vulnerable. Remember you're just an ordinary human being, no stronger than any of the rest of us. You think you're strong enough to get through this on your own, darling, but you're not.
I want you back, and I'll make you fitter and stronger. I'd like nothing better than to have you home and help you put on a bit of weight with some wholesome home cooking.
You're at your happiest in family situations, I remember. It's part of that strong Jewish tradition you were raised in. Remember how you spent time with my sister before the gig in Newcastle the other week? You felt comfortable and at ease. That's how I know family is important to you.
But I can't force you to do something you don't want to. You have to want it to happen darling, you have to ask for it.
Me and your father, and your brother Alex all want you to be happy and quickly restored to full health. For the moment, that's all of our priorities.
We are concerned, but we're not panicking. You've got to see things in your own time and I'm sure you will.
You are a brilliant talent, of course, and if you get yourself well, you'll be able to go on and fulfil your destiny.
You're a true professional who thrives on work and you need to get back into that routine.
We know you don't want to let your fans down. We know how important they are to you and how once you're over this present setback you'll give them a show they'll never forget.
You know I'm an optimist, and that I think, with our help, you will get back on top of things.
But I know you must come to me first for that to happen.
I just hope that, because of this letter, you do. Pick up the phone.
All my love, Ma"
The Oprah Effect
Listen To This: New Green Day!
I agree with her mom. When you love someone who is an addict spiraling out of control, you do want to rescue them so bad. Watch Intervention. It doesn't work that way. The best thing her mom can do is go to Narc-anon and listen to the addicts there who are willing to admit they have a problem. It is so hard to let go, but it is UP to the person to save themselves. And I AM glad she made this public.
That made me cry. I hope the letter gets through to her.
HEARTBREAKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
get better amy! we love u!
Awww this mother is so helpful. I think Amy should really go back home and get the help the family offers. Amy is talented and the fans dont want to see such a good talent be thrown away so easily and stupidly.
I wish my mom loved me like that
thanks for posting this, i know she reads your site.
Actually,I'm not a very sensitive person and all but yea,I almost felt like crying after reading this.This is a letter from a worried mother to her hopeless daughter.I can only hope that Amy realizes she needs her family's support right now.Things are getting hard for her.As unusual as Amy is,and as many mistakes she has done,I believe she is a good person.She's no Britney Spears,she's not a dumb woman.She just needs some time to realize what she has done.She is talented,she does sing very well.She's not a "Hollywood bimbo".That's why I am havign sympathy for her family and hoping she gets to be happy in her life.
Her parents must be feeling really, really helpless. If they didn't, they wouldn't feel the need to speak to her time after time through the mass media. It's obvious that she has cut them off somewhat. She is a bulimic, an alcoholic, a drug addict, she's bipolar and her husband is in jail. Which parents in theire right mind wouldn't be terrified? I would usually find it tacky when family members speaks to celebrities through public messages but Amy is playing with her life and has done so for a very long time. She is also a very gifted musician that we don't want to loose. Anyone of you that either praises or condemns her mother for speaking in public has got it wrong. Just recognize a mess when you see it.
Re: didi –
Maybe because if she just gave it to Amy, she would never have read it. She could've burnt the letter or something. So if Amy reads a newspaper or something, she might get the hint.
The skank should just OD already
amy, i just want you to know how lucky u are to have parents like this, some people would die to just hear their parents say i love you. amy, you come from a good and loving family, so please, listen to your mother and go get better!
You people are vicious, the girl needs to be helped and all you care about is your entertainment - she's human too and if the internet wasnt what it is today - this WOULD all be private. She's not some character on a TV show for you to judge and say"omg, im soooo tired of her" …. obviuosly not because you took the time to add a comment about it!
You people are vicious, the girl needs to be helped and all you care about is your entertainment - she's human too and if the internet wasnt what it is today - this WOULD all be private. She's not some character on a TV show for you to judge and say"omg, im soooo tired of her" …. obviuosly not because you took the time to add a comment about it!
Re: didi –
Because she can't reach her, she does not know where she sleeps.
blah blah blah , a bit like Charlie Brown ………….no wonder shes a drunk
how could she just do that???
i mean, an open letter!!
pretending to know and understand her daughter oh so well.
im sure this letter makes it sooo much harder for amy to go ask for help. impossible nearly.
"I pile hope upon hope that you will make that decision, Amy, and your strong will can bend for just a moment to make that decision and come home to me."
"hope that your strong will can bend for just a moment" -shes making it so much worse!
"Early fame has overwhelmed you, it’s dizzied you and muddled your mind. For a moment, forget you’re a superstar. You’re also young and vulnerable. Remember you’re just an ordinary human being, no stronger than any of the rest of us. You think you’re strong enough to get through this on your own, darling, but you’re not."
WHY WHY WHY did she have to write an OPEN LETER????
i just dont get it
Please please, grab your husband and go to an ALANON meeting. It will change your life.
dude this is ridiculous!!! u can totally tell that the mother feels public guilt for not being able to get her to turn her shit around,,,like fuck the public u r not the one who is famous! also u can totally tell that she is pissin her panties that noone will care about her daughter or listen to her music anymore (notice all the hints to her fans) if i was in Amy's situation right now it would have me running to the pusher man
Amy this is from a fan I would hate to not hear the beautiful sound of your voice we all respect and love your talent and it's to beautiful to let dissolve slowly please get help from a loving fan
Re: ResidentCynic – I hate to say it, but I agree with Resident Cynic. There is a motive that this letter was printed publically. Ma wants to make sure that no one thinks SHE had anything to do with Amy's problems. I know parents feel guilty, like they did something wrong and made their kid fucked up. SOmetimes they did, sometimes they didn't and addiction just happens because youa re around the wrong people. I do think Ma is feeling guilty and wants to clean her reputation with the public. Maybe she is one of those people who is so overly concerned with "appearnces" that she forgets to notice the "insides" of her daughter growingup. WEll, now she has to notice, doesn't she? Amy made sure of that! Another thing that bothers me about the letter is Ma says "I'm not panicking yet…" Well, she NEEDS to be panicking! Amy could OD and die any day! Plus with her eating disorder, that weakens one's heart, and if she is doing coke all the time, she could have a heart attack at 23! So panic, woman, Panic! What kind of calm-ass denial is that??
This sounds really fake.
Whatever is ment to be will be, but this can only go one of two ways:
Death
Survival
Whatever is ment to be will be, but this can only go one of two ways:
Death
Survival
It's all about love, Amy is strong willed and refuses to accept and cave into the love her family is there, she obviously didn't feel it at some point in her life, this is how it's manifesting itself.
Get off your ass girl and feel the love, there is no novelty in drugs and feeling sorry for yourself.
Live your life and love yourself and let your passion shine.
Amen!
amy's mom's letter was from the heart and hopefully amy will listen, but it is doubtful as drugs have taken her identity and she must hit what she thinks is rock bottom before she can change, she must want to change herself. Her mother is right amy must take that step to make a change.
I feel a lot of compassion for amy's family as you can tell that they truly love her and only want the best for her. Hope all turns out for the best………
Who does Amy respect and look up to in the world outside of her family? In the music business or otherwise? Who's the greatest living musician or author or humanitarian she admires? Get that person in to see her and talk with her. Just talk with her and show her she's valued. And keep up those talks, stay in touch with her, take her under their wing. Sometimes it takes more than family. This is a young person of great creative promise who needs some nurturing and guidance. There's no better investment you can make than to help the next generation. I'd be there in a second if I were asked.
wow…what some people would do for their 15 minutes of fame!
Re: gray – Im so sorry for your loss.. God Bless you
Blah blah blah blah blah, Amy probably wrote this letter for attention, (little twat) and is hawking it off for some more media money for drugs! She is can not obviously make money by cancelling tours that she booked that song is getting old. Do the world a favor and ……
wow what a great writer! my heart goes out to Amy's parents.. hopefully she will get back on the right track someday..
Amy, get better!
Re: An open letter serves one purpose: to redeem the author. If she wants to talk to her daughter, she should GO TALK TO HER DAUGHTER –
100% TRUE.
Her mom knows people blame her for what Winehouse is doing (obviously, it is partially her fault in some way).
She wrote this letter publically to tell people "Look!! I am a good mom! I'll list all the good things I've done for her! I'm not a bad parent"
If she wanted Amy to read this, she would have given it to her herself. If that wasn't possible, she could have given it to Amy's "people". I'm SURE they would have passed along a letter from her own MOTHER.
This woman just wants attention!!
[b] Why are people praising this woman for putting a personal letter on the Internet like this? Do any of you recall [u]MICHAEL LOHAN[/u]? How many times did people bitch because he tried to talk to Lindsay through the media? But now this woman's mother does it, and it's okay?? She's NOT being sincere. She's NOT trying to get through to her daughter. She's trying to REDEEM herself as a parent, so the public doesn't think she's a bad mother.
DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ.[/b]
I hope you make the right decision amy and think of what's right and healthy for you as you can see your mother realy cares about you
And for fans like me that don't know you, it's just sad to see such an amazing talent go to waste
Hope you recover
dude, this letter sounds more like her mother wants everyone to think that she's a good mom. as she says there's nothing they can do about her drug use. so tell me why she had to do this in public. this is terrible.
poor amy
dude, this letter sounds more like her mother wants everyone to think that she's a good mom. as she says there's nothing they can do about her drug use. so tell me why she had to do this in public. this is terrible.
poor amy
the letter had a good message, but personally i would rather tell my daughter that, or at least have it be a private letter! why have it go through the media if not for attention.
Re: CONTACT SIR ELTON JOHN – That is awesome! Right on! God willing, Sir Elton WILL help her help Wino. He's a friggin knight and it's 2007, this is what knights handle nowadays. Instead of ogres and princesses, it's young stars and their drug habits! Except, Amy's talent is so immense… it would just be unheard of if he didn't do something to help. I second that. CALL ELTON CALL ELTON CALL ELTON! Please help her mom. The letter ain't gonna do it, hun. LOVE AMY WINEHOUSE!!! Don't be a tragic ho, PLEAASE!!!
THAT MADE ME WEEP. YOU BETTER LISTEN TO MA, AMY
well thats bound to have her running home!
whats with her mum trying to implant "happy" memories - does amy have amnesia? there's something she's trying to forget, and its probably her family, like everyone else, isnt that what most of ouur issues are about.
i can understand any mother's grief, but going public w/ personal issues adds insult to injur. even a teacher or principal from amy's school days gave an interview and plea to be a good girl. if they're so close why don't they just call amy up? every one likes to hitch their wagon to a star, so their concern seems a little smarmy. amy is hardcore - too fast to live and too young to die. the gross husband is every junkie chicks type, good luck prying those dogs apart.
amy has such great talent. im sure that she will clean up her act soon. if the media would shut up and stop saying terrible things about her and letting everyone know about her private life she will get better. the media is just making it worse.
Heartbreakin'…
now let's hope she lissens… a talent like hers… she wouldn't be the first that would die young with all the potential success for a lifetime…
don't fuck it up any longer girl!!!
and no need to excuse for blake being arrested 'ma… he's a mingin' wanker!!!!!!!
Amy Winehouse is far from professional….cancelling her tour because she misses her husband and then gallavanting the streets of London until the early hours with cocaine in her nostrils…..yeah thats very professional!
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD GO HOME!
shes so damn talented…wish she would get her crap together
I'm sorry, while that is a lovely letter, I did not write it. Nor would I choose such a public forum to appeal to my daughter. I appreciate whomever wrote that heartfelt appeal, but it was not me nor any member of Amy's family to my knowledge.
that letter made me cry! amy go home to your mommy!
God I hope she takes her moms advice and just goes home! I'd hate to see something awful happen to her. She rules!
I love Amy Winehouse and i think that she do need to get her shit together. she is a great singer and i think a great person. and i think her mom i doing the right think by reaching out to her this way and letter her know that she and her family are there for her when she needs then and that what you need if your at that point in your life. people need to give amy some room to think and look on her life and get to the point where she can make to choice to change her life. i hope she get the help she need before she dont have a choice any more. life is short get well soon.
awwww that brought me to tears =(
it breaks my heart knowing she would do this to her family. amy has to know she is not just hurting herself, but everyone who has supported her throughout her journey to becoming a star.
Read the letters that Layne Staley's mom Nancy used to write to him… they are exactly the same. Get Born Again.
this letter made me cry.
i really hope something reaches amy.
Please help Amy!!!! Someone please help this child!! SHe has malnutritionand she is slowly dying!! I see it in her actions and in her strange behavior! Amy's Mom is what every celebrties Mom SHOULD be!! VOTE AMY'S MOM MOTHER OF THE YEAR!!!! Dina-saur could learn a thing or two!!!
AMY STOP POISONING YOUR BODY!!! IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!!!! PPLLLLEEAASSE SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPP!!!!!! Your fans lok up to you.. and by you killing yourself with poison, drugs, you are showing your fans that it is okay to ingure yourself and be in stat you are in! Be strong.. and go home to your Mom! - I'm a loving fan!
we all make mistakes including your parents wino, please go back to your mom, you can not get yourself out from that addiction you are on, you need your mother, she clearly loves you no matter what.
Wish my mom was still alive to care that much
WOW! That is really sad! I hope Amy is listening!
Bless her heart! That letter was so sweet, I truly hope that everything works out with Amy, lord bless her heart she looks horrible!
as a mother I can totaly sympathy with this poor woman whos only desire is to make her lil girl fine again. My sister suffered from depression and its a horrible disease, but she is right there is NOTHING u can do unless the person wants to be help! hopefully she will
No need for an open letter, damn. Go across the sea and smack Amy across the face and tell her to get into damn reality. D
I love Wino.
All theses people saying she's dumb should shut their mouths.
It's not like they've never done anything stupid.
Wow, I actually got really choked up reading that
Thats the love of a mom!
This letter looks to me like the work of a manipulative and controlling woman who perhaps has not been able to relax and allow her daughter enough autonomy to find hersellf fully when amy was a little girl.
Amy is lucky that she has a gift and is able to find herself through her music, but it appears to me that she does not get much joy out of the simple things in life and I can't help wondering if perhaps her over bearing mother may have been partly to blame for this.
All of us need to be nudged out of the nest at a young age if we are to master the art of flying without fear
Beautifully written! We should all be so lucky to have a parent so understanding and loving. Those of you who trash this letter might not be the lucky ones.
awwww that was such a nice letter. I seriously cried.
I can't believe people are giving her mom a hard time. It's not like her mom is the one supplying her?? I wish my Mom loved me half as much as her mom does. If I was able to get my head back on straight after what my family did to me - Anyone can. Bonus if their parents are good people and willing to help.
Man that's a long letter, i hope that she sorts her shit out she really is going down hill. Hope that her Ma aint writing to the press to try and get some celebrity herself LOL
wow…
what a super mom..
OMG! I'm not saying all of you but some of you are so pathetic you guys don't see real talent! Amy rocks maybe if you payed more attention to her instead of what everyone else is saying then maybe youd see! I feel so sorry for Amy and her mum she sounds like a great mum!
Get well soon Amy,
Love your biggest fan xxxooo
what an AWESOME letter.
it actually made me cry with its sweetness and love.
how nice that amy has such an articulate and sensitive and compassionate mum.
aww so cute! i love her mom, don't worry amy always run's back to black..give her some time, shes a young woman! who doesnt do heroine? lol jk!
Ever hear of intervention? SO, Amy's mom writes this "personal" letter to her daughter… for all to read… while she sits back, does nothing, and watches her "baby girl" kill herself. Brilliant.
=( I care. I love Amy. She has real talent and real brains, she's just in a really bad situation. I hope all the people who have been reaching out to her really make her see things differently, but who knows…?
this is extremely sad.
I'd still fuck her.