Star: Katy Perry and Russell Brand beg Rihanna to get therapy and stop boozing

Before we get to the main part of this story, I wanted to quickly cover Russell Brand’s appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” His spot hasn’t been televised yet (and should air at some point today, depending on your time zone), but we got a heads up on his interview. Again, the timing here is suspect because Russell doesn’t have any films coming out until next June (Rock of Ages), nor is he promoting another Booky Wook or whatever he calls his tomes. The only thing that he could possibly be pushing on “Ellen” would be his marriage, and from the excerpts that we’ve been given, that’s exactly what’s happening:

Ellen: There is a rumor that you and Katy split up.

Russell: What? She should’ve told me. Yeah, there are always rumors aren’t there. In the end you have to just not engage with Internet technology, which is difficult because a lot of the nude women websites I quite enjoy (laughing.) But they’ve had to go. I’ve treated the whole Internet now like it’s a wicked little liar. Yeah. I am really happily married.

Ellen: Did you hear that rumor?

Russell: Yeah, I heard that rumor because you know if your job is to be on Telly and show off somebody will go there’s a rumor. Like someone that works with you. It’s called publicity or PR.There is a rumor. What is it? You’ve split up. Oh, no. Am I enjoying? Yes. Where am I now? You’re here. Good, good. Well, just keep me informed. Being famous is like a little bit of you is taken away and goes off and lives on it’s own and does what it wants. I wish it would do more interesting things….

Ellen: So, it’s not true?

Russell: Well, I don’t know what he’s doing. The other me but I’m married to Katy. Perpetually, until death do us part was the pledge. I’m still alive.

[From The Ellen DeGeneres Show]

Honestly, is this talk show appearance necessary? Russell seems to think himself clever by remarking on PR when he himself (in his terms, both Russells) are a very willing part of the recent publicity blitz aimed at convincing everyone that he and Katy are so happy. Do they really need tattoos, tweets, and a People article to convince themselves that they are in love? That’s what it feels like.

Now onto a story in this week’s issue of Star, which professes that Katy Perry is very worried about her BFF, Rihanna, who has reportedly been drowning her Chris Brown-related sorrows in 100 bottles of beer. Naturally, Star uses a few photos from Rihanna’s liquor-soaked vacation to Barbados in August, during which time she starred as the drunken stripper queen for Kadooment Day:

I agree with Kaiser’s previous assessment that RiRi was probably just kicking back and enjoying herself like a typical single twentysomething on vacation, who just happened to be letting loose before an international tour. Then in October, Rihanna was hospitalized with the flu in October and forced to cancel a show, and Star makes it sound like the illness was entirely alcohol-related:

Following Rihanna’s recent hospital visit, “Katy told her she has to slow down,” a source says, adding that Katy even suggested her BFF come stay at her home.

Katy Perry’s desperate to get gal pal Rihanna into treatment following the “We Found Love” singer’s dramatic hospitalization in Malmo, Sweden on Oct. 31. “Katy begged Rihanna to take some time off and get therapy,” a source says. “Rihanna’s been running on empty. And rather than resting, she’s drinking and clubbing until the early hours of the morning.”

While the Bajan-born pop star may seem like she’s flying high, Katy knows all too well how down her BFF really is — and worries that Rihanna’s still struggling with her failed raltionship with Chris Brown.

“Rihanna’s been self-medicating with booze ever since their split, and it’s not getting better,” the source says. “She calls Katy in tears, saying how down she is and that her life’s controlled by her label. She just wants a loving boyfriend. ”

Katy, 27, can certainly understand the pressure RiRi is under — constant jet-lag, strenuous shows and nonstop photo ops. But Rihanna seems to be sinking under the stress, and even Katy’s husband Russell Brand, a recovering addict himself, has expressed concern. “He told Katy that she had to step in because Rihanna is on a very slippery slope,” continues the source. So far, Rihann, 23, seems receptive to her friends’ intervention. “She’s touched that they want to help, and she agrees that she must stop,” says the source. “She doesn’t want to be the next Amy Winehouse.”

[From Star, print edition, December 12, 2011]

This story seems like a real stretch based upon the cancellation of one concert. I am inclined to believe that, at times, Rihanna might feel too controlled by her label and feel the pressures therein, but the Esquire journalist who attended backstage at several of RiRi’s shows stated that Rihanna was very well adjusted and entirely gung-ho about her tour. And by her own admission, Rihanna gets off on playing her role as a sexed-up tart who angers Northern Irish farmers while stripping in their fields. However, the part about Katy (who loves her own liquor) fretting over Rihanna’s boozing sounds ridiculous, and I certainly don’t understand why Russell (who reportedly doesn’t like RiRi hanging with his wife) has suddenly become involved as a concerned party too. Unless this is just more PR (a.k.a., “a united front”) for the happy marriage blitz.

As for Rihanna, she’s still on tour as scheduled and showed off a new hairdo/wig in London last night. I’m calling this photo “RiRi does Anna Wintour with a robot gimp”:

Photos courtesy of Fame and Ellen

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61 Responses to “Star: Katy Perry and Russell Brand beg Rihanna to get therapy and stop boozing”

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  1. ShanKat says:

    Hey there, Rihanna’s guitarist.

    • MJ says:

      I think that’s the dude from Extreme (you know, “More Than Words”?)! Weird, because I was just remarking yesterday to my hubby that the guitar in “California King Bed” (that generic country-pop crossover attempt) sounds like the Extreme song.

      Edit: sorry, should scroll down before replying!

  2. Monie says:

    LMFAO @ robot gimp. Good one!

  3. brin says:

    Deflection? Look over there at RiRi, not the happy married couple over here.

    • The Original Mia says:

      I totally agree. Don’t pay attention to us, even though, most people know we’re having problems. Instead, let’s look at the single gal who’s drinking and partying too much.

  4. whome says:

    i dont think this story is true, however riri did look like she was suffering from alcohol bloat when she performed on X Factor a couple of weeks ago.

    • Wildone says:

      On the urban blogs there have been lots of stories about RiRi having drug and alcohol problem and how it’s getting really bad lately.

  5. freya says:

    Actually, there were 2 cancelled concerts. First the one in Malmö, then she did perform the first night in Stockholm (where she seemed fine and very energetic according to the reviews), but she cancelled the second concert in Stockholm (due to exhaustion…)

  6. Roma says:

    I thought Rihanna’s problem was she was getting a little too involved with night skiing? Although that can go hand in hand with drinking, if people are afraid to gain too much weight.

    I miss “Pon de Replay” Rihanna.

    • Julie says:

      read the same thing somewhere

    • renee says:

      I’m sorry, but what is night skiing, is that a euphemism for something or does it refer to late night skiing and snowboarding?

      • Roma says:

        I love you for that comment. Refers to cocaine use: at clubs people will often wander around asking for snow.

        Because that is way less obviously than yelling out “can I get a bump?”

      • boo says:

        I’m with you Renee I had no idea what night skiing was either, I thought it was snowboarding at night!

  7. scrappy says:

    The guitarist is from the 80s band Extreme. Remember More than words? I loved that song and he is very hot.

    • Happy21 says:

      Wow!! Its Nuno Bettencourt from Extreme. He was hot then and he hasn’t gotten any worse for the wear!

      I don’t care about Rhianna but would have to say, even though she likes to dress and act like trash these days and her music gets worse with every song, I think that she has a hectic schedule and is keeping up pretty good. I don’t think she could manage if she was hittin’ the booze too hard.

      As far as Russell Brand & Katy Perry go, I think its just the tabs picking on them. She’s been on tour for a year! I’m sure they probably need some time to themselves but let’s face it the tabs cannot have people be happily married, it wouldn’t sell magazines!

    • ShanKat says:

      Whoa, Scrappy! Great catch! I loves me some Nuno…I knew there was *something* about him that was familiar. Nom nom.

      • scrappy says:

        I am not ashamed to say to this day, i still have a teenager crush. 😉

      • scrappy says:

        I just happened to think of that song a couple of months ago, watched the video, and had to see if get was still as hot now as he was then. as you can see, he is.

  8. DarkEmpress says:

    Wow, she has a great body. That kadooment costume leaves nothing to the imagination. I do believe that she tries to hard to be sexy and that she does have a drinking problem. There have been lots of reports about that, which were more convincing than this one. I can believe Russel wanting to help her even if he doesnt like her, because he was once in her position. As for Katy, I think she tries to project a naughty image, but she really is a good girl and I dont imagine she drinks nearly as much as she lets on.

    • Ja says:

      She doesn’t have a bad body but it is not GREAT! She is not fit and has no muscle definition. She clearly doesn’t work out, except of gyrating on stage. Great body is the one that’s looked after and toned. You can blast me if you want but that’s the truth.

  9. Julie says:

    Believe I read something somewhere that either insinuated or came right out and said she was using drugs. Could have no validity or it could. Don’t know too many folks going into hospital for alcohol related problems until they start dying from it.

  10. becky says:

    She seems to be in some kinda canaval festival (though it much too early for that). She has a really nice midsection. The Anna Wintour (which is nothing like Anna Wintour) looks GREAT.

  11. nina says:

    errr…Katy is among the hardest of partiers, she was partying with Lindsay Lohan up until last year. lol I do think Rihanna seems a bit out of control though, I don’t like her music but I saw an interview once with her about her life including what happened with Chris Brown, and it made me feel bad for her. She grew up too fast in the industry with no support from a family or real friends.

    • Detriotgirl says:

      When has Katy Perry ever been seen with a Lohan? I read the gossip blogs everyday, and this is the first I’ve heard of them having any kind of connection. A google search revealed nothing as well. There’s a big difference between having some celebratory drinks on a very successful world tour like Katy and begging for smack on the unemployment line like Lindsay.

      • Leanne says:

        The Lohan connection is true, but it’s deeply buried. Even if you’ve been looking at all the gossip sites and blinds you wouldn’t find it and that’s how Katy wants it. Lindsay used to tweet her all the time. Times Katy tweeted back = 0. Do you remember the 2010 MTV Movie Awards when Katy and Lindsay both wore crystal dresses? Lindsay was loaned that pant outfit from Katy. That was when Lindsay’s ankle bracelet went off at an after party and landed her back in court. Who do you think was hosting that party? That’s right. Or put more simply: Katy Perry = BFFs with Markus Molinari –> Lindsay Lohan thinks she is BFFs with Markus Molinari. Remember when she was in Paris on a yacht and missed her court date because she lost her passport? Who was with her in Paris? That’s right, Markus. Not even six degrees of separation. I don’t blame Katy. She’s like the 1# pop star in the world right now. Lohan? Nightmare. As for this story. Sorry, Rihanna avoids Katy all the time. She did not go to her wedding. What’s the connection exactly between these two other than a collaboration and helping eachother stay in the news? Nothing. As for their marriage? She is done her tour. He has like one movie lined up for 2012, that’s like 3 months of work right? They’re pathetic if they can’t get along. What’s there to fight about? Fake drama to stay relevant again. That’s all these two ever do.

  12. anonymoose says:

    Rihanna should just work on getting some talent. If she can’t do that, she should leave us alone.

  13. Nanea says:

    I like this wig on RiRi a lot more than all those red things she used to wear, either long or short.

    This look works somehow.

    As to the story of KP and RB intervening? I don’t believe it, and I’m really hoping RB’s words about being still alive won’t come to haunt him anytime soon.

  14. MJ says:

    If I were Rihanna, I would be doing exactly the same thing. Girl always looks like she’s having a blast.

    • Tanjee says:

      cosign

    • Kelly says:

      She’s young – there’s nothing wrong with getting her drank on. She’s certainly not a Tara Reid-level drunk, she’s just having fun.

      There IS something wrong with that red-and-gold bikini thing, though – I can’t tell if that dude is giving her the side-eye or the rape-eye.

  15. Denise says:

    Wait until her (Rihanna) metabolism slows down, she is going to be a bloated, fat mess.

  16. carrie says:

    last week, Russell disliked Rihanna (on a gossip mag’s opinion) now he wants to save her of her “party ways”!!!??
    i guess Rihanna enjoys her single and rich life (i have the feeling that she works all time:she does a tour since a long time and a new album will be out soon)

  17. Alejandro says:

    She’s always late to her shows and rumors are because she’s boozing and of course the regular rumors for every pop star that she likes blow.

  18. Mimi says:

    IMO something does seem a little off w/riri. I’m not saying it’s some huge, serious issue. But I def think she needs some time off. She could be just seriously overworked. It’s hard to tell, though…

  19. Kimberly says:

    no i saw her years ago when she opened for usher and she was fucked up on stage

    she’s a total drunk

    #17 yeah she was over an hour late to open for someone else

    like it’s been reported she’s a total boozer, you can tell when you see her w/o photoshop.

    who else thinks that her drinking and clubbing involves white powder? She must be a record whore.

    • StopKiddingYourself says:

      “who else thinks that her drinking and clubbing involves white powder? She must be a record whore.” So, let me get this right. Drinking+clubbing+cocaine definitively= record whore? That represents a huge population of young 23 year olds in any city. What are you talking about?

      • Miladie29 says:

        No, what are you talking about? What statistics did you look into that state a huge population of 23-year olds “in every city” use cocaine?

        I don’t put much stock on this “Rihanna is a huge coke whore” that some people are claiming, but to say that most people her age are using drugs is ridiculous. At least, in my view it is. Most 23 year olds I know have never touched cocaine, not even pot. And no, they’re not the ‘uncool’ types or the uptight ones, either.

  20. Vesper says:

    Does anyone know someone personally who has been admitted into the hospital for the flu or “exhaustion”.

    • Shannon says:

      Only elderly people.

    • NM9005 says:

      Mmmm, good question. Didn’t thought about that.
      And that’s true actually. Usually for non-celebs, the doctor comes over or you visit the doctor, he diagnoses you with the flu or exhaustion, get meds or prescribes bed rest and that’s it. I would laugh my ass if somebody would be in the hospital for something simple like that. My grandma once cut her thumb off and even she had to wait.
      Maybe they’re extra careful with celebs and get special treatment to fix them up quicker?

      That said, I do think she drinks too much. There are rumours about that for a long time but I wonder how bad it really is.

    • werty says:

      I know an athlete that got admitted for exhaustion (working out 6-7 hours daily until he collapsed.)

      Also know a girl who collapsed cause she´d been working to much=stress, no sleep (sh***y job with bad boss who never thought sales were good enough)

    • Detriotgirl says:

      I have! I’m prone to anxiety problems and sometimes, when I’m really overextended or under a lot of pressure, I have panic attacks that feel like heart attacks. I’ve been hospitalized for this twice, actually.

      The first time I went because I seriously felt like I was about to collapse and didn’t know why. Everything was relatively fine and I was sent home with orders to take a few days off and to quit smoking (I’m six years smoke free, btw!). But, the second time I went I had actually managed to raise my blood pressure to the point where I had to be under observation on an EKG machine for a few hours.

      This was all caused by stress and exhaustion, so I can understand how some of these celebs might break down once in awhile. I imagine they’re under a lot of pressure, as well as dealing with a time consuming and physically demanding job.

      That said though, Rihanna still might be having substance problems. I’ve been thinking that something has seemed off about her for awhile. Of course, when you tour constantly and put out a new album every five minutes that has to take some toll on your sanity too though. So, I could see this story going either way.

      • Lairen says:

        Congrats on quitting! And it’s nice to hear from a ‘normal’ person (you know, non-celebrity) that’s been hospitalized for exhaustion. I’d often wondered myself if this was a real thing.

      • Kelly says:

        I had wondered about “exhaustion” too, since celebrities seem to be prone to it… I guess I can see it; if one is pushed to the limit, there comes a point where a few nights’ sleep, a hot bath, and a glass of wine just won’t cut it anymore.

      • javagirl1 says:

        Wow I’m glad I’m not the only one whose had nasty anxiety problems. People don’t realize how debilitating they can be.

      • NM9005 says:

        Read all the comments… I take my words back! I didn’t know that actually happens so often. Glad I learnt something from my ignorance.

  21. Lairen says:

    Yeah, totally off-topic but can we just talk for a moment about how totally awesome Ellen’s coffee table is in that first picture? I want it so bad.

  22. javagirl1 says:

    My roommate and I were just watching a Russel Brand movie, and we both agreed we wouldn’t touch him with a ten foot pole…

  23. emma1978 says:

    Russell was on Ellen promoting a gig he’s doing next weekend with Sarah Silverman. It’s a unique gig because instead of buying a ticket, you volunteer for a charity for 2 hours. He’s also going on Jimmy Kimmel next week to promote the same thing. I wouldn’t rule out there being other PR reasons for his appearance too, but that’s officially what he’s promoting.

    Also, you should watch the actual interview. The quotes come off kind of bad in print, but when you watch it, he’s just being funny and hyper and goofy like always. I don’t really care about whether he & KP are in trouble or not — that’s their business. I just like him.

  24. m says:

    Oh dear Lord. Them again. How many times do we have to hear about the same problem? And yes, Brand is the new Mother Theresa. But have we ever seem him volunteer his time to a charity? He just wants the homeless shelters in good working order for when his career tanks and Katy kicks his ass to the curb and he has to move in there.

    • emma1978 says:

      Are you serious?? Russell does loads of charity work. He was just named Man of the Year by the Friendly House charity in LA who helps women in crisis. Last year he was given an award by the Noreen Fraser foundation for breast cancer research. The standup gig he’s promoting in the Ellen appearance is based around charity. He’s a longtime donor and patron to the Focus 12 rehab in UK who helped him get clean. And that’s just for starters. Say what you want about his career, but don’t say he’s never done anything for charity.

  25. Cerulean says:

    The exhaustion thing is a go to rep response for hospitalizations that they don’t want to explain for a variety of reasons. People do over work themselves but usually the doctor just says Have a rest and slow down.
    Who knows the truth.
    If she’s just being young and flying free that’s one thing. If it’s infringing on her work, relationships and responsibilities then baby girl has a problem.

  26. marie says:

    The grl has a lot of problems. Anyone who has to prostitute themselves instead of just playing their music has issues. She has turned into a skank. She’ll be the next Amy Winehoue if she doesn’t clean up her act.

    • JaneWonderfalls says:

      I don’t see her being the next Amy Winehouse…but she has been through a great deal in the past few years…

  27. JaneWonderfalls says:

    That is kind of the pot calling the kettle black….

  28. Pam says:

    Star magazine has a real nerve. How many times have we seen Katy at award shows drunk and boasting about being drunk? Did you see her at the Grammy noms concert? Girl was drunk or illiterate or both. If Katy circulated this to get the press off her and Russell’s back she is a vicious witch.

  29. Coucou says:

    I call BS on this story. What about Perry’s song “Last Friday Night,” all about glorifying gettin’ wasted.

    I actually dug what Russel said about the tabloids and that it’s like a part of him goes off and “lives” another life through these stories…it’s the first time i’ve heard it articulated this way, and not only do i think he’s right, i think it’s a damn clever analogy as well.

    In the end, we care about them loads more than they care about us. That’s what keeps the tabs and blogs alive, not their f’d up lives and antics.

  30. Emily says:

    “She just wants a loving boyfriend”.

    Even if I didn’t already think she sounds like most 23yos I know (including me), I’d call bullshit just on that sentence alone. Rihanna does not strike me as the type to sit at home pining about being single.

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