Young & Reckless: AP Brit Obit Sparks Macabre Debate

Media swarm Britney, Amy, but leave Heath, Kiefer in peace

(NEWSER) - There's a clear gender disparity in the obsessive media coverage of celebrity meltdowns, writes the New York Times. Just compare the relative restraint Entertainment Tonight exercised in holding back a video of Heath Ledger doing drugs with the news outlet gusto that greets the latest Amy Winehouse or Lindsay Lohan misbehavior. Or compare Kiefer Sutherland's jail stint to Paris Hilton's. More»

Lohan's apparent breakdown is eerily similar to Spears'

(NEWSER) - Lindsay Lohan’s current troubles and Britney Spears’ infamous breakdown are so eerily similar, it’s a wonder Lilo hasn’t shaved her head. Fox News lists seven reasons La Lohan is the new Brit:

1. The ick factor: Britney started sporting ratty hair during her time of trouble; Lindsay's once-gorgeous locks are in similar need of shampoo.
2. Weird photo ops: Britney was often photographed crying or stripping…now Lindsay is snapped falling , or with white powder puffing from her feet.

Plus: news outlets already writing her obituary

(NEWSER) - You hear “white powder” and “Lindsay Lohan” in the same sentence, your mind inevitably goes to one place. But even on Lilo, feet would be an odd place to find cocaine—so what was the white powder puffing out of her shoes on Saturday? PopEater has a blown-up shot showing her shoes and ankles covered in the mystery substance, and posits the theory that it’s perhaps baby powder to keep her clumsy feet dry. More»

We're looking at you, Miley Cyrus

(NEWSER) - Now that Brooke Mueller and Charlie Sheen are hitting “ prehab ”—rehab for people (supposedly) without any actual addiction issues—it’s time for other celebrities to follow suit. Ami Angelowicz lists her top 10 candidates, on The Frisky :

• Britney Spears: Sure, she seems OK now. But you never know when she’ll “flip out on Jason Trawick, shave off her extensions again, and break out the pink wig.”
• Amy Winehouse: “Should be in prehab for the rest of her life. End of discussion.”
• Joaquin Phoenix: “Prehab or mental institution? You choose.”

What do Brooke Mueller and Amy Winehouse have in common?

(NEWSER) - Crack is not exactly the classiest of drugs, yet celebrities continue to get hooked on it. The Frisky rounds up 10 famous—alleged—celebrity crackheads:

• Brooke Mueller: Charlie Sheen’s wife entered rehab last week, reportedly for a crack habit.
• Whitney Houston: Admitted to Oprah she used crack while married to Bobby Brown.
• Amy Winehouse: Well, duh.