Latest Spears meltdown puts paparazzi in spotlight

LOS ANGELES – Britney Spears was hospitalized as a Los Angeles court commissioner Friday barred her from visiting her two young sons.

But it was the behavior of the paparazzi that was generating debate after a bizarre media standoff outside her hillside mansion.

Spears is perhaps the most pursued celebrity in Hollywood. So when she allegedly refused to hand over one of her children at the end of a custody visit Thursday night, dozens of photographers were outside her door. Many more converged on the Studio City house after police and paramedics arrived.

Then, after Spears was strapped to a gurney and wheeled into an ambulance, photographers chased the van to Cedars Sinai Medical Center even though it had a police escort.

The drama was blogged in real time and broadcast live on local TV. The tale was burning up Internet traffic Friday, but there was sentiment – even within the celebrity journalism world – that things might have gone too far.

While photographers have long followed Spears and other stars around when they shop, hit the clubs and hike, the 24/7 stakeout is something relatively new.

“There are about 50 to 60 guys who follow her wherever she goes. If it is the middle of the night, five or 10 of them will be on her,” said Frank Griffin, a veteran paparazzo and co-owner of the Bauer Griffin agency.

Griffin said Spears’ latest troubles underscore the growing aggressiveness of a small paparazzi group that follows the star. They endure hours of mundane tasks in hopes of getting “money shots,” such as the time the pop star shaved her hair at a San Fernando Valley salon. Mainstream photographers too have joined the chase.

The Thursday incident at Spears’ home began around 8 p.m. after bodyguards from her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, went to her house to pick up Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1. They were scheduled to return to their father’s custody, authorities said.

By the time officers arrived at the home, Spears had turned over her older son to the bodyguards but had locked herself in her bedroom-bathroom suite with Jayden James, according to officials.

Officers reported that Spears was incoherent and arguing with officers, sources said.

Police determined Federline had legal custody of the children at that time.

Officers waited approximately three hours before Spears agreed to leave the home; the youngest son was taken to the hospital for unspecified reasons.

Police said Spears was under the influence of an unknown substance. She was not arrested and was subsequently hospitalized “for her own welfare,” said April Harding, an LAPD spokeswoman

By the time Spears was taken to the ambulance, more than 50 people were outside – many snapping photos and shooting video.

In the wake of Thursday night’s incident, Court Commissioner Scott Gordon on Friday indefinitely suspended Spears’ visitation rights with her two toddlers.