About three weeks ago, my Beehive colleague Felicia Matlosz announced that we should all stop making fun of Britney Spears because it was no longer funny. I disagreed at the time, and kept thinking it was, if not funny, then still mildly amusing, to see what Britney would do next.

I thought that until last week, when Britney was committed to UCLA Medical Center by her parents and her psychiatrist. Britney was diagnosed as "gravely disabled" and her 72-hour hospital stay was reportedly extended to 14 days.

Since then, Britney's story has nosedived into tragedy as reports about the way she's been treated by the people around her have been made public. Britney's mother, Lynne Spears, in an effort to secure a restraining order against Britney's constant companion, Sam Lufti, made a statement that detailed his abuse of Britney. Lynne alleges that Sam would verbally abuse her, that he cut off her phones, and that he gave her pills to keep her quiet.

Pink is the New Blog has printed the entire statement here, and it's pretty gruesome stuff. Allegedly, Sam Lufti would hide Britney's dog from her until she was running around the house desperate and crying, then he'd produce the dog to make Britney think he was her savior. Then there's this little gem from Lynne's statement:

Britney then said again at some point during the night, "When do I get to see my babies?" Sam answered,"Wednesday." Britney then said, "What do I have to do to see them?" Sam responded, "Take the pills I tell you to take." Britney said, "I don't like the pills and I don't like the psychiatrist. Can't I see another psychiatrist so I can see my babies?" Sam responded, "If I told you to take 10 pills a day, you should do what I tell you to see your babies." Jackie then said, "Britney, your parents can help you find a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist needs to get to know you to give you the right medicine." Sam then raised his voice and said, "Why don't you get back with Kevin."

Britney then said, "I'll do anything to get them back."

On top of all this, Rolling Stone has printed an article detailing Britney's screwed up life pre-meltdown. It alleges that Lynne allowed Britney to get breast implants as a teenager, that she never got along with her dad because of his alcoholism, and that she was forced by her record label to work 20 hours straight for days at a time.

Today comes word that Britney did not spend the 14 days in the hospital as planned, and that she has been released from the hospital. Immediately, she took off for the Beverly Hills Hotel, where she met up with her paparazzo boyfriend, Adnan Ghalib. She then went to an attorney's office - the same attorney who has been trying to get Britney's dad, Jamie Spears, removed as co-conservator of Britney and her estate. And - in a sign that indicates Britney's health is just as bad as before her hospital stay - she's still speaking in her fake British accent.

As soon as Britney left the hospital, a horde of paparazzi were of course on her tail, and one could imagine that the price for her head is at peak levels. This story is not going to have a happy ending, folks. She officially has no one to trust, and no one who can help her out.

Felicia, it's officially not funny anymore.

[photo: Wenn]