Protected...
[Fox
411 Report]
Whitney Houston: Friends Protecting
Her
Friday, September 15, 2006
By Roger Friedman
The news that Whitney Houston has filed
for divorce from Bobby Brown isn’t so simple, of course. Her friends and
family are in battle mode now, prepared to protect her, they tell me, during
this fragile time.
Houston has filed for a separation using a Southern California address — and
that’s key to what’s going on here. She really lives in both Georgia and New
Jersey, where she owns expensive homes.
But her divorce filing indicates that she’s lived in California since April.
The state requires six-month residency for a divorce, so Whitney will file
for the permanent parting next month.
Sources tell me that she has indeed been in California since April,
undergoing a total rehab for all her vices and illnesses.
“It’s not a regular treatment facility,” says a source who cautions that
everyone is concerned about Whitney suddenly being overwhelmed by media.
Still, eagle-eyed readers who’ve examined the divorce filing can see that
Houston lists Laguna Hills, Calif., as her address. There are only a couple
of facilities that could handle her situation.
But in that spirit, all that this column can do is beg paparazzi and tabloid
snoops to stay away. It’s in their best interests anyway: a healthy,
long-living Whitney will only provide much future fodder for you. It will be
much more exciting to tell the tale of Whitney Houston’s comeback than her
demise.
Houston’s insiders are mostly worried that Brown will interfere with her
plans or her progress. It’s a reasonable fear.
And then there’s Houston’s choice of divorce venue. Georgia might actually
be a better state for her, since there are 13 different ways to claim a
divorce.
California, on the other hand, is simply a no-fault state, so Houston won’t
be able to accuse Brown of any number of infelicities.
The good news: sources tell me that the couple signed a pre-nup years ago,
so the state of filing may not matter at all.
NEWSFILE: 15 SEPTEMBER 2006
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