Mel Gibson‘s unlikely ally and confidante in his bitter legal battle with former girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva is none other than pop star Britney Spears.
The “Toxic” singer, 28, has been telling pals that Gibson, 54, has been pouring his heart out to her — confiding that he fears for his sanity and is convinced he’s destroyed his once-hot career.
“Mel has been talking to her a lot,” a friend of the singer’s told In Touch Weekly. “They speak on the phone all the time, usually late at night.”
Spears may seem like an unlikely shoulder for the “Braveheart” star to cry on, but the pop star’s pal says she is simply returning the favor to the actor, who went out of his way to help her when she went through her own breakdown.
“Mel was one of the only people who reached out to help Britney when she was at her lowest point, and she believes that demonstrates what a loving and wonderful man he is,” says the friend. “She wants people to give him a second chance — just like he gave her one when everyone else turned away.”
Gibson even invited Spears to his vacation getaway during that time. Spears and an unidentified guest were spotted walking along the Barrigona beach, in Esterones of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, in May of 2008, while she was staying at Gibson’s home there during her much-publicized meltdown.
Michael Lohan has been charged with second-degree harassment for allegedly attacking his fiancee Kate Major earlier this week, TMZ reports.
Major, the former tabloid reporter who’s engaged to Lohan and who also dated Jon Gosselin for a stretch, has filed a police report accusing her fiance of shoving her over a chair and injuring her shoulder, then kicking her in the face while she was on the floor, TMZ reports.
She said they had a fight Monday afternoon, right before he left New York for L.A. ahead of daughter Lindsay Lohan‘s Tuesday trip to jail.
Michael Lohan confirmed to TMZ that there had been an argument but said he didn’t touch Major.
Michael Lohan says he “never physically abused” his fiancee Kate Major, adding that Kate was “heavily intoxicated” at the time.
Having recently served a jail sentence stemming from weapons charges, T.I. is proof positive that jail can be a detour on a rocky road to redemption, In Touch Weekly reports.
Asked if he has any advice for Lindsay Lohan, the “Live Your Life” rapper was forthcoming. “The first thing would be to recognize and identify the problem,” T.I. told In Touch.
“Accept the fact that there needs to be adjustments made — and then it’s all in execution and solving the problem.”
T.I. has been reveling in his freedom, working on his upcoming album King Uncaged, watching movies with his kids (“I liked ‘Iron Man 2’ and ‘The Karate Kid’ definitely came across well.”) and giving back to the community.
“In association with the city of Atlanta, we’re doing a summer camp for boys, 10-13,” he says. “It’s got everything from health and fitness to academics. And we’re teaching them entrepreneurial skills and about things like how to open up bank accounts. The intention is to teach them good habits.”
She’s already beaten breast cancer, so motherhood should be a snap for Christina Applegate.
The 38-year-old actress is expecting her first child with her fiance, Dutch musician Martyn Lenoble.
Applegate’s publicist, Ame Van Iden, confirmed a report that first appeared Wednesday on People. The baby’s due date hasn’t been announced.
The former star of TV’s “Samantha Who?” and “Married … With Children” had a double mastectomy in July 2008 and reconstructive surgery months later. She is now cancer-free.
— lsmith@
