Blender Strikes First!

Filed under: Britney Spears

march-08-cover.jpg

No, she didn't pose for that.

That shiz is Photoshopped!

Both Blender magazine and Rolling Stone had Britney covers planned, but Blender was the first to hit newsstands.

We hear the Rolling Stone Brit issue won't hit newsstands for at least another week.

And, PerezHilton.com has an exclusive preview of the Blender cover story.

Pay special note to the passages about Osama Lutfi, Spears' new "manager."

Enjoy it below!

"Britney Spears has lost her kids, her fans, her underwear and her mind," reads the strikingly honest cover line on the March issue of Blender magazine, on sale nationwide February 12. The cover image is a composite photo (by Michael Elins), featuring doe-eyed, fresh-faced Spears, wrapped in white silk sheets, that reminds us of her potential. For the article, The Road to Ruin, writer Michael Joseph Gross spent a month interviewing dozens of sources and trailing Britney with the ever-present paparazzo to tell the inside story on all that went wrong-her missteps, her meltdowns, and what friends say may be her last hope for rescue. Those closest to her speak out:

On being a child star: "She was the bread winner in her family," says one former manager. "And when you know everyone's living off you, you learn not to trust." Moreover, again like most child stars, "she was never really taught how to live. Basic things: how to balance a checkbook, how things get done."

On her breakup with Justin: The breakup, according to those closest to Spears, began her personal collapse. "Ever since then," says one friend, "she's been mad at the world."

On Chaotic and her relationship with Kevin: "Chaotic destroyed the image that we had worked so carefully to create," says one of her advisers at the time, who opposed the project. "She thought that if she showed the world everything, everyone would love her for it. What it did, instead, was make her look like white trash - and that is not what she is. She's better than that. It created an appetite for this wild and crazy girl and created this spiral where nothing can satisfy that appetite."

On her brief time in rehab: She ended her rehabilitation early "because that would have required her to admit, in front of the world, that she had problems. That was the one thing she couldn't do," says one of Britney's closest companions at this time, sounding eaten by frustration. "Is there anyone on the planet, except Britney Spears, who cannot see that Britney has a problem? After that, she pushed her family, literally everyone, away."

What will it take to save her? Her former manager Johnny Wright says "I'm not pointing fingers, but I can't believe that she woke up one morning and said, 'I don't want my family, or anyone else I knew, to be in touch with me anymore.' "People say she needs to go to rehab. I think she just needs a friend - somebody not caught up in Hollywood, not looking for a paycheck. Somebody she trusts has to step up and break it down for her."

Among the most shocking revelations in Gross' s article comes from an exclusive interview with Danny Haines, an vulnerable 29-year-old man who met Britney Spear-de facto manager/publicist/confidante Sam Lutfi, over MySpace in the fall of 2005. Haines divulges shocking details about Lutfi's dark past (including at least three outstanding restraining orders and a violent temper) and how he may be a driving force behind Britney's actions.

On their relationship: To Haines's fractured ego, Lutfi's social skills and emotional intelligence were magnetic. He encouraged Haines to "stand up for himself" and at the same time worked to become indispensable to him. Lutfi ingratiated himself with Haines's family, acting as a go-between and informal counselor. Haines says that their relationship was not romantic or sexual but that Lufti was more jealous than a lover. He could be supportive one day and vicious the next, leaving voicemails tracing extremes from "You're a worthless motherfucker" to "I love you, man. I love you to death." He says that…Lutfi reserved most of his energy for emotional blackmail and extortion. "Everybody hates you," he wrote to Haines, suggesting that Haines should just kill himself: "Seriously, sleeping pills, LOTS of them…"

The threats: When Haines finally cut the cord, Lutfi humiliated him. He e-mailed naked photographs of Haines to his family, friends, colleagues and employer. He texted and called incessantly, telling Haines he hoped his sister would be "raped to death" according to the restraining order…such communications moved Haines to seek the restraining order, which also protects his mother from being contacted by Lutfi.

Haines, whose relationship with Lutfi was the subject of a few obscure blog comments after Lutfi's other restraining orders wre reported in December, says that he subsequently received an e-mail from Lutfi's sister's address, which he read as a warning: "One of your friends is writing to some magazines about your history with my brother…I don't think that's wise for him to do." The warning came with what sounded like a threat: "Those pictures and your history isn't so positive either and I'm sure you wouldn't want that to be public as well."

"If Sam's not doing anything wrong with Britney, if he's not worried about being exposed," Haines asks, "why would his sister be saying, Don't talk about my brother and his past?"

Britney's parents weigh in: Informed of the details of Haines' relationship with Lutfi, Jamie and Lynne Spears, who declined to discuss Lutfi on the record, both expressed grave concern to Blender about his ongoing involvement in their daughter's life and have encouraged Haines to go public with the story.

    Posted: Jan 28, 2008 at 11:57 am / Email this  »

    166 comments to “Blender Strikes First!”

    More comments: [1] 2 »

    1. Sarah says – reply to this


      1

      FIRST BITCHES!

    2. Sarah says – reply to this


      2

      What a lunatic

    3. JuAnMa says – reply to this


      3

      poor girl, she's going down….

    4. raquel says – reply to this


      4

      Should be on "Blunder" magazine…what a trainwreck.

    5. Simi says – reply to this


      5

      hahahahah oh the power of photoshop!

    6. second! says – reply to this


      6

      FIRST

    7. charleyb says – reply to this


      7

      lollll wish she did look like that

      adnans such a freak with that accent… I can't get over it, you sure he's english?

    8. Kara says – reply to this


      8

      nice touch with the cigs in the mickey mouse hat

    9. Yeison says – reply to this


      9

      wow, that's intense…

    10. Osama Lufti says – reply to this


      10

      2nd MF'ers

    11. C says – reply to this


      11

      That's a bad photoshop job… Really bad.

    12. C says – reply to this


      12

      That's a bad photoshop job… Really bad.

    13. marie says – reply to this


      13

      second?

    14. amber says – reply to this


      14

      what with all the first comments…post something productive…britney needs help!!

    15. Nicole says – reply to this


      15

      Poor little Brit is such a mess. I used to feel bad for her, but she's really bringing this on herself. She needs to go to the mountains or something and just hide for like 10 years.

    16. kate u.k says – reply to this


      16

      check out britney's chin, its a straight line!! she is such a dick!!

    17. Kate says – reply to this


      17

      I really feel sorry for her now. She is such a mess and so unaware that she is such a mess. I would have never thought in a million years that if you asked 100 young girls if they would like to switch places with Britney Spears that 99.9% of them would say NO WAY! I can't recall anyone falling so far, so fast and so hard.

    18. kkk says – reply to this


      18

      8th!

    19. CrazyLUis says – reply to this


      19

      u can tell it's photoshopped

    20. Yo says – reply to this


      20

      FIRST

    21. sam says – reply to this


      21

      she has not lost her fans! silly magazine

    22. Alex says – reply to this


      22

      JONAS BROTHERS ON THE FRONT! YEEAHH!

    23. christelle says – reply to this


      23

      britney looks so hot, i love britney

    24. Kris says – reply to this


      24

      What a creep!

    25. Princess Zera says – reply to this


      25

      second?

    26. helena says – reply to this


      26

      2nd

    27. BFD says – reply to this


      27

      Re: SarahBIG DEAL!!

    28. smiley says – reply to this


      28

      sad. I pray s brit-brit! SECOND

    29. Emilie says – reply to this


      29

      KLASSY as always…

    30. a.c. says – reply to this


      30

      poor britney

    31. chica says – reply to this


      31

      i knew he could be trusted…shady stuff

    32. christelle says – reply to this


      32

      britney is the best

    33. It's About Time... says – reply to this


      33

      It's about time the mainstream media started writing about this situation. Not to knock daily bloggers like Perez, but it's time some actual journalists started looking into what is going on. I think we all tend to forget that at one time, Britney was a beautiful, talented entertainer who actually came across as relatively intelligent and well-spoken in interviews. She has fallen far - to the point that she no longer even seems like the same person. Perhaps some good investigative journalism will reveal all the bottom-feeders for what they really are, and Britney, for once, will start reading the stories and will begin to see the situation with a clearer head.

    34. christy says – reply to this


      34

      WOW……….

    35. Princess Zera says – reply to this


      35

      Seriously though, Brit really is very pitiful.

    36. gooboo says – reply to this


      36

      SECOND FUCKERS!!!

    37. Scott says – reply to this


      37

      This whole Britney drama thing has gone way beyond entertaining! It's just sad now. I work in the music industry (thank god NOT in L.A. and not in the pop world) and these people have way too many "yes men" around them! I'm honestly shocked that any of them make it passed 25!

    38. mmhmm says – reply to this


      38

      WOW, crazinesssss. so lutfi and haines are gay obvi.

    39. nikolereesor says – reply to this


      39

      no first but close!! haha funny cover

    40. jo234 says – reply to this


      40

      people really need to leave her alone. she obviously has a drug problem and that crazy man isn't helping her any. she'll come around. she hasn't hit her rock bottom yet…she will soon and then she'll realize. i still love her!

    41. amber says – reply to this


      41

      whoa! get him out dude..i think britney secretly wants to be best friends with Perez and she should because i think that would do her a world of goood.

    42. Julia says – reply to this


      42

      Well I guess people need to do this as the only way to get to her. If she can't be in touch with people I mean she needs to hear these things that are going on around her and the type of people she is hanging out with. I am watching the view right now and they were just talking about her apparently she is getting the help she needs and she is not with the Adnan anymore although I don't know if we can believe that or not. I guess we will have to see .. But if Babwa says it it must be true.

    43. thy says – reply to this


      43

      ewwwww….that hat's full of BUTTS!!!!!!

    44. milly says – reply to this


      44

      as much as ya'll don't like her, she's still getting paid!
      120 MILLION TO BE EXACT a year. and plus her fan base is too big, for her to fail in her music career!
      hate her or love her, she still making money, just like Perez on how many hits he gets on this site…

    45. ''''''''krazihottkelli/bitchygrl''''''''''''' says – reply to this


      45

      ”””””””””””zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz”””””””””””””

      U know damn well that ain't her treetrunk boybody

      ”””””'zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz”””””””””””'

      hey….ted kennedy….luv the gangztaz, but U zuckazzholez…vote Hilary.

    46. faboulous says – reply to this


      46

      I love britney some1 please help her.

    47. DiDi says – reply to this


      47

      Look at the magazine bottom left hand corner… it says its not her that posed.. and that its not her body… hilarious!

    48. w says – reply to this


      48

      Ugh, so people still have nothing better to say than "First." Eh, I guess there's no helping that. I however, have something to say about the nature of the post…Lufti is trouble. We've already known this for a long time, I just wish Lynn and Jamie Lynn would stop relying on other people to help Britney/expose others as frauds.. It's obvious she needs a friend..it's really sad to watch her slip further into oblivion…SOMEONE BEFRIEND BRITNEY ASAP. and by "friend" I don't mean a pap or a crazed Britney fan. I don't know this is tough though, normal people don't want to hang out with Britney, jesus, this is a vicious cycle…

    49. kiss my a$$ brit says – reply to this


      49

      hollyscoop is reporting that Mama Lynne flew in to LA late last night. Could she be here because of the revelations about Sam? Or could her appearance just lead to bigger fireworks than we have already seen.

    50. EEEEEEEEEEEFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF......HER says – reply to this


      50

      she is no longer loved…she's UROTRASH LIKE MADONNA…

      LEAVE U FATTFUCKER LEAVE..LET ENGLAND HAVE YOUR

      AND I MEAN THIS ONE..”””””” BLOODY AZZHOLE ”””””””””””””'

    51. g says – reply to this


      51

      "Britney Spears has lost her kids, her fans, her underwear and her mind,"
      I love how that starts!!!! Hahahahaha!!!

    52. LeeLee says – reply to this


      52

      Unfitney is a sad sad person and she needs some serious help. she doesn't even care she doesn't have her children and this adnan character is so shady. i mean why does she think someone who photographs her for a living is about to be someone who really cares about her. she is in trouble and people need to help her! i feel sorry for her and her 5 personalities!

    53. mischa says – reply to this


      53

      she looks hot there

    54. thehealer says – reply to this


      54

      I'd help her… shes too sweet to be going through what she is going through

    55. SHITNEY IS NOW===UROTRAZH says – reply to this


      55

      You're ”””””””' bloodly right ”””””””””””' we hate U….

      go zuck englandz azzholez… did U know that enland

      iz full of Muzlimz unfitney? You'll fit right in over there…

    56. Michelle says – reply to this


      56

      I feel bad for Britney. I couldn't imagine a life in which I couldn't trust anyone. I had a bad childhood and it wasn't until I went forward without blaming my past for my problems that I finally became balanced and well. I see great things for her but she has to want it. I think even with everyone knocking her down and getting great joy out of her craziness, that everyone would love to see her well and get her shit together.
      I believe she can be the come back kid, get her kids back and have a wonderful life.
      If she has bipolar disease she still can have a wonderful life and be a great parent. I wish her well and for those who use her ……..well Karma is a reality and Karma is truly a bitch.
      Stop the madness Britney……get your shit together(I say that with love).

    57. what, not white trash????? says – reply to this


      57

      so who is the genius that said Britney is not "white trash"……cause I'm pretty sure she is the epitome of white trash

    58. Rammy says – reply to this


      58

      WOW!!!

    59. gemma says – reply to this


      59

      wait. if Danny and Sam relationship wasnt sexual or romantic how the hell did Osama have access to nude pictures of him?

    60. tina says – reply to this


      60

      atleast she looks fairly skinny..

    61. ooohh, thanks for the comment Clive Davis says – reply to this


      61

      Re: Scott – and by working in the music industry you mean you mop the floors at a Clear Channel radio station? RIGHT!!!

    62. Kev says – reply to this


      62

      Shame the article starts with an incorrect statement. She hasn't lost her fans. Well, not ALL of them.

    63. tree says – reply to this


      63

      'wrapped in white silk sheets reminding us of her lost potential'

      Sheets wrapped around a naked body generally indicate the possibility of sex. Is that the potential she's lost? The ability to turn the weak-minded into drooling idiots who want to have sex with her?

      Its this kind of thinking that pushed her to where she is. People constantly wanting, wanting, wanting something from her. Without selfless support from someone she loves, she's being weakened and emptied by the hoard of leeches around her. And we're supposed to think its a shame that to some she's not as desirable in bed?

      The CRAZY thing is that Blender thinks that's what sad about this whole heartbreaking situation.

    64. Whoreanus says – reply to this


      64

      So how did Sam and Britney meet? And if she can't admit that she has a drug problem, then why are her tests always clean?

    65. F U says – reply to this


      65

      SHE HAS LOTS OF FANS!

    66. blablabla says – reply to this


      66

      Sounds like Brit and Sam are the ultimate Hollywood power couple…
      …both emotiionally vicious and ruthless sociopaths

    67. YEP says – reply to this


      67

      TIME FOR THIS HOMEWRECKING SKANK TO GROW THE HELL UP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    68. milly is a dumb cunt says – reply to this


      68

      Re: milly – are you a moron??? 120 million a year???!!! dumbass!!! she is not getting paid that much you dumb shit. she might generate that much revenue for all the magazines and photographers that use her, but she does not make that much a year herself. she only (and i say only relative to your stupid comment) makes about $700,000 per month. that's not even 12 million a year, much less 120 million you dumb cunt!!!

    69. unfitney says – reply to this


      69

      why cant i dump britney off the site anymore :(

      dont feel sorry for her anymore. brings it on herself.

    70. N8dagr8 says – reply to this


      70

      Wait Hold up…Lufti became Brit Brits manager thru MYSPACE?????. we are talking about MYSPACE ?..MYSPACE??????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.OHHH GOT 2 BE KIDDING ME??? lmao am i the only good looking guy u cant meet or hasnt met anyone thru FUCKING MYSPACE???? LOL PLEASE TELL ME HOW ITS DONE?????

    71. Minnie says – reply to this


      71

      Cigarettes in the mouse ears! That's fucking GREAT!!!!

    72. shelter says – reply to this


      72

      I have no sympathy for Britney.
      Birds of a feather flock together.
      BS puts sleazeballs like Lufti and the paps before her children.
      Hell, she puts her trashyself before anyone.
      The most important sentence in this article is "Chaotic destroyed the image that we had worked so carefully to create". Obviously, her advisers created an image to sell that wasn't really Britney.
      Crossroads made Britney a joke, because she thought she could act.
      When she married the first guy in Vegas people became aware of her true self, but Chaotic was the window into her pathetic soul.

    73. Scott says – reply to this


      73

      Re: ooohh, thanks for the comment Clive Davis

      No douchebag, it means that I worked at a lot of studios in Chicago while getting my degree in Audio Engineering. And there were a fare share of the diva types that came through there. My whole point was that people like this Lufti jackass are a hell of a lot common than you would think. It's a damn shame too, they're nothing more than leeches.

      And as far as your comment goes….Get off the computer and go back to work! I do want fries with my #4 and you're taking too long.

    74. what about Madonna??? says – reply to this


      74

      why doesn't Madonna go and talk to her?? is she really gonna tell Madonna to fuck off and not talk to her?? i'm pretty sure she would sit her little white trash ass down and listen to everything Madonna would have to say. she needs to get out of that sleeper cell she's in with those Al Qaeda mutha fuckas and get some help.

      i've never really liked her or even thought she had any talent, but the bitch is sick and starved for attention and she's gonna end up turning into a suicide bomber if no one helps her

    75. Reality says – reply to this


      75

      Re: milly – And what does getting paid have to do with anything you stupid TWAT. SHE'S STILL TRASH. Money doesn't mean shit when you look and act like her. You must be a fan, A RARE BREED NOW BECAUSE HER FANBASE IS GONE. SHE MADE HER MONEY OFF OTHER PEOPLE'S TALENT YOU FUCKING DUMBASS.

    76. SOB says – reply to this


      76

      Love that they say it's not her body. Dude no way does she look that good anymore. HAHAHAHAHAHA

    77. be says – reply to this


      77

      She was never a child star she had her big success at 17.

    78. ml says – reply to this


      78

      hell mutha-fuckin no this aint Britney. the real one needs hella lard ass thonka thighs, stanky ass red puffy lookin finger tips and severly saggy eyes!! and those one of a kind expressions that she does best like the bitch is a down syndrome crack whore or something.

    79. Wolf says – reply to this


      79

      Re: tree
      I gotta agree with that.

    80. Mammasweet says – reply to this


      80

      Poor Kid does need some perspective. Regardless of what the media reports or how she earns her living she still needs to have someone to identify with. Or with her. She's so afraid of being forgotten and puts herself out there so much…I personally think I would prefer to go someplace a little further from that fishbowl she is in. Damn what an isolating existence that must be…..

    81. you dropped your mop says – reply to this


      81

      Re: Scott – sorry clive, my law degree and my cushy job here at my law firm allow me to be on the computer whenever i want, but don't require that i get fries for someone with an associates degree….how did you like your time at ITT? did they ask you to do one of their commercials telling losers how great your time was there and how they helped you find a job once you "graduated"

    82. RK says – reply to this


      82

      Re: charleyb – his name is Arabic and his accent is a mix of Arabic and some Indian or Bangladish. He probably studied in the UK for a while or something and got this weird accent mix of English English, Arabic English, and Indian English…. !!!! Also Sam Lutfi is an Arabic name which is Osama Lutfi..

    83. joel says – reply to this


      83

      HOMEWRECKING SKANK !!!!

    84. Cam says – reply to this


      84

      So first u say that Britney doesn't listen to anyone and doesn't take advice from anyone and does precisely and only what SHE wants to do, but then you try to say that all that has happened is because of Sam Lufti. Sounds like desperate attempt of damage control from her familys side to me; "oh no, all the shit that has gone down the past year, NONE of that is Britneys fault, none!" Yeah, right. The girl is completely nuts, don't try to blame it on other people.

    85. Where does the hate end? says – reply to this


      85

      For years people complained Britney was the very ruin of the music industry. Now, it seems she's illustrating a greater human truth.

      Yes, she's brought this upon herself.

      Still, with her destructive behavior being broadcast daily through a crooked lens showed that there are very few good people out there.

      Blender, Rolling Stone Magazine, and anyone else who continues to contribute commentary/dissertations on her life deserve whatever karma they have coming their way.

      This is just pathetic and sad.

      This NEEDS to STOP. NOW.

    86. Scott says – reply to this


      86

      Re: you dropped your mop

      Law degree huh? If you exect anyone to actually believe that, then I guess I might be Clive Davis, Bob Rock and…..oh hell….since you get to claim to be a lawyer, I'm Suge Night, Mutt Lange and Jesus Christ!

    87. britaculous says – reply to this


      87

      She hasn't lost her friends.
      And losing her mind is only evidence by Fedex and certain pap-footage-analysing freaks who like dragging her through the mud.

      I think Johnny Wright got it right:

      "People say she needs to go to rehab. I think she just needs a friend - somebody not caught up in Hollywood, not looking for a paycheck. Somebody she trusts has to step up and break it down for her."

      If everyone stopped taking advantage and giving her a hard time maybe then she could have a nit of sanity restored………

    88. i heart lutfi says – reply to this


      88

      so what….he's got PASSION people….he has a strong personality, and he uses it…he just SAID things ,
      he SAID he should take a lot of sleeping pills, he didnt force them down his fuckin throat…and he didnt THREATEN to rape anyone either! this is BS. I dont mind him…infact, I heart him! I think he's a good, strong type to make brit listen

    89. daniel says – reply to this


      89

      she hasn't lost her fans…her fans are still out there, deep down..waiting for her to get help.

    90. costamesaboy says – reply to this


      90

      brits head / Jessica simpsons body

    91. Selina says – reply to this


      91

      Poor Britney. TL;DR the whole thing.

    92. MonicaNichole03 says – reply to this


      92

      Re: costamesaboy

      Whatever Jessica wishes that was her body. Her nasty saggy boobies are gross.

    93. i'm out says – reply to this


      93

      how are they allowed to get away with photoshopping people on covers of magazines they don't even know they're in? this is ridiculous

    94. JR says – reply to this


      94

      Lets hope she gets the help she needs!!! I can tell you that my sister suffered from a bipolar disorder and did some craaaaazy shit during her time and once she was treated and "normal", she begin to realize and see the things she did and was ashamed and mortified. After about a 8 month period, she became very distraught from her actions when she wasnt well. I can say that I miss her dearly as she went to work one day, went home as usual but the only thing different, she decided she was humiliated and ended her life leaving behind her family and one daughter. She was deeply devastated and no one knew till we each recieved our "final letters" from her she mailed out the day she commited suicide. NEVER EVER JUDGE SOMEONE WHEN YOU DO NOT KNOW WHATS GOING ON IN THEIR LIFE. Now that my Oprah moment is over, have a great day.

      ps…. this is all factual and I wish I had one more day to spend with her.

    95. Scott says – reply to this


      95

      Hey!! Is "the lawyer" still here? I just stubbed my toe at 7-11 and I think I might want to sue them! When he/she is done chasing that ambulance, give me a call!!

    96. Teh Devil says – reply to this


      96

      Barack Obama is her manager? You know that if you don't vote for him that means you hate black people! Damn!! Even I'm bi-polar! I was happy a minute ago and now I'm sad! :( I'm gonna go smoke some crack!!!

    97. cj says – reply to this


      97

      It seems to me like he appeared in the picture when the craziness started…..he is Britney's Howerd Stern.

    98. f says – reply to this


      98

      She is so airbrushed. Blender magazine is pathetic if they expect people to believe she actually looks like this. We see her pics all over the internet everyday, we know what she really looks like.

    99. you got it jesus says – reply to this


      99

      Re: Scott – yeah you would need to sue for something stupid like that since that ITT earned income probably has you in some shitty studio apartment and driving around in a Ford Focus; why don't you post your email address and I can send you an eCard so you can see that I don't work on bullshit cases for money hungry radio station janitors

    100. clara says – reply to this


      100

      "that sadly is not her body" wtf kind of message is that? maybe if that was her body she wouldn't have any problems? i personally dont really care about the whole britney saga but that just really pissed me off. it doesnt matter what she looks like, the fact is shes clearly got some sort of mental illness that she needs help with and making fun of her body is not going to help.

    More comments: [1] 2 »