|
Los Angeles: Troubled pop star Britney Spears has lost her long running custody dispute with her ex-husband Kevin Federline.
A judge has ordered Britney to temporarily surrender custody of the couple's sons - Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1 - to Federline.
The 25-year-old pop star's very public drink and drug problems probably contributed to the decision.
Her lawyer Sorrell Trope said Britney had failed to produce a California driver's license and allegedly missed a drug and alcohol test as ordered by the court.
Dorian Traube, a professor of social work at the University of Southern California, said that despite his party image, Federline has been doing his best to be a father.
''Lately, he's really kind of stepped up as a father. We don't hear much about how he parents his other kids. But with his children with Britney, he's gone to great lengths to keep them out of the public eye and he's gone to great lengths to keep the grandparents involved.''
While Spears made her now infamous appearance on the MTV Video Music Awards, Federline hosted a birthday party for the couple's two boys.
Spears bounces between houses and high-priced hotels, while Federline keeps a home in the family-oriented suburban community of Tarzana, Calif.
''He recently put a safety fence around his pool,'' said Traube,
''He is genuinely worried about the welfare of his children and what they might be experiencing when they're with their mother.''
Now that Federline is a full-time father, partying must come second to parenting, said USC sociologist Julie Albright, a marriage and family therapist.
''It all depends on how he carries himself now,'' she said. ''Is he going to step up to the plate as a mature father or is he still going to be a party boy? That's a big part of his image.''
Spears has been spiraling downward since she and Federline split.
She was photographed without underwear and appeared to be drunk and out-of-control.
Then she shaved her head, beat a car with an umbrella and ended up spending a month in rehab.
Monday night, after learning she would lose custody of her kids indefinitely, Spears showed up for a stay at a posh Beverly Hills hotel.
''Hopefully this will be the impetus for some positive change for Britney, and then for the kids as a result,'' Albright said. ''It's really unfortunate because the kids are the ultimate victims.''
Send us your comments
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Gulf News may edit comments for length and clarity but will not change the tone of the message. Comments will only be accepted all if fields (including name) are filled correctly and the message isn't abusive, defamatory or offensive. The Gulf News website will only print your first name along with your comment. Please state in the message if you wish to remain anonymous. All comments sent may be forwarded for use in the Gulf News newspaper.
|
