The Situation and rehab: 'Do not believe'? He meant believe

"Do NOT Believe," Mike Sorrentino — "Jersey Shore's" the Situation — said Wednesday of "embellished" reports that he was in rehab for substance abuse.

On Thursday, his Official Situation website doggedly repeated that "many sources have been falsely reporting stories about The Situation being in rehab" — yet the same article quoted him: "I have voluntarily taken steps to get control of a prescription medication problem."

Now that the Situation appears to be backpedaling with his "setting the record straight" effort, there's likely some back slapping going on over at TMZ, which broke the rehab story.

But how big of a problem is this problem for the "Jersey Shore" star? And are prescription meds his only problem?

TMZ and the Chicago Sun Times are alleging alcohol abuse. The Sun Times on Thursday cited an unnamed "associated" with some less than complimentary remarks on Sorrentino's "really nutso" behavior.

TMZ says Sorrentino was checked into Cirque Lodge in Utah. The lodge is a celeb-favored spot for rehab and, as CNN reported in 2009, guests have included Melanie Griffith, Lindsay Lohan, Mary-Kate Olsen and Kirsten Dunst.

As for the Situation, he's not fessing up to anything but the prescription drugs: "I have spent the past several weeks getting treatment for this problem and recuperating from my work and appearance schedule."

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Photo: Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino in 2010. Credit: Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times.

Demi Moore pops back onto the radar in Los Angeles

Demi Moore has been spotted on the tarmac in L.A. after being whisked away to points unknown -- officially, that is -- after her January hospitalization.

A series of long-lens photos obtained by TMZ shows the actress, clad in a white sweater and jeans shorts, disembarking from a private jet on Sunday night and being welcomed with a big hug from an unidentified woman.

Moore was spotted last week on the beach outside a private villa near Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos islands, the same destination where she was reportedly partying like mad over the Christmas holidays.

Moore was hospitalized Jan. 23 after smoking something that was "not marijuana, but ... similar to incense" and suffering "convulsions," according to a 911 call made that night. Rumors also circulated that the "Margin Call" actress, who wound up withdrawing recently from the film "Lovelace," may have been doing "whip-its," or nitrous oxide inhalants.

Once released from the hospital, she was reportedly undergoing rehab at the Cirque Lodge in Sundance, Utah, though official word from her rep said only, "Because of the stresses in her life right now, Demi has chosen to seek professional assistance to treat her exhaustion and improve her overall health."

Moore announced in November that she'd be filing for divorce from husband Ashton Kutcher, following alleged infidelity.

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— Christie D'Zurilla
Twitter.com/dzurillaville
Christie D'Zurilla on Google+

Photo: Demi Moore in November 2010. Credit: Valerie Macon / AFP / Getty Images

Brooke Mueller: Fresh out of rehab, she faces felony charges

This post has been corrected. Please see the note below for details.

Brooke Mueller and Aspen are continuing their rocky relationship: Charlie Sheen's ex and the mother of his twins has been charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor in connection with a December arrest in the Colorado ski town.

This as the 34-year-old earlier this week emerged, her rep said, from "an intensive three-month drug and alcohol treatment program."

Felony charges of cocaine possession and possession with intent to distribute — that's more than 4 grams — were filed the afternoon of Feb. 17, along with a misdemeanor charge of third-degree assault, according to the Aspen Times. The charging documents reference 11 witnesses to the night's events, the Times said.

Mueller, 34, was arrested in the wee hours Dec. 3 at the downtown Aspen nightclub Escobar on suspicion of assaulting another woman hours earlier at the nearby Belly Up Aspen bar. At least 4 grams of cocaine was found in her possession, police said at the time.

The last time Mueller was involved in a high-profile Aspen arrest, she was the victim, not the alleged perp. It was Christmas morning 2009, when she called 911 to report she was being attacked by her then-husband, Charlie Sheen.

[For the record, 8:05 p.m. Feb. 24: An earlier version of this post referred to Mueller as the father of Charlie Sheen's twins, rather than as their mother.]

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Photos: Brooke Mueller at Charlie Sheen's Comedy Central roast in September, left, and in her Aspen mug shot, right. Credits: Getty Images, left; Aspen Police Department, right.

Demi Moore reportedly in rehab at luxe Cirque Lodge in Sundance

This post has been updated, as indicated below.

Demi Moore reportedly has been getting help for addiction and an eating disorder at a luxe Utah rehab since shortly after her hospitalization last month.

After being hospitalized Jan. 23, she grabbed some things and headed to get help at the Cirque Lodge in Sundance, Utah, a rehab source told E! Online.

"She's on total lockdown and only talking to a small group of people," the source said. Other celebs treated at Cirque include Lindsay Lohan, Kirsten Dunst and, possibly concurrent with Demi, Brooke Mueller. [Updated, 6:45 p.m. Jan. 6: Or not.]

The timing of her check-in is in conflict with earlier reports that she'd been visited at home last week by ex-husband Bruce Willis and estranged husband Ashton Kutcher, the latter of whom had been in Brazil when the 49-year-old actress "smoked something" and went into "convulsions," as described on a 911 call made on her behalf.

Those reports, however, said only that separate cars carrying the men had gone to Moore's home last Wednesday. Perhaps they visited the house, and not Demi?

Rumer Willis reportedly witnessed Demi Moore's seizure

Rumer Willis' nickname, "Rue," can be heard on the 911 call that was made when mom Demi Moore was suffering a seizure after "smoking something" -- and on Tuesday a source was confirming that Rumer was indeed present during the emergency.

With "a few people" still around from a birthday party Demi had been hosting, Rumer and a couple of friends were in another part of the house when the seizure occurred, a source told E! News.

According to the 911 call, which had specifics about substances edited out, Moore had "smoked something" that was "not marijuana, it's like incense." (Hear the full 911 call, placed on Jan. 23, below.)

Speculation about what she might have smoked has included mention of "spice" or "K2" and other herbal incense products, which are often laced with designer drugs and can "quite often" result in seizure activity, according to a doctor who spoke with ABC News. Salvia, which has hallucinogenic effects, is also sometimes marketed as herbal incense.

While Moore's whereabouts remain uncertain, Willis on Sunday night hit the official gala after the Screen Actors Guild Awards with Annie Starke, Glenn Close's daughter.

Keeping it low-key, Rumer greeted same-aged thesps, including cast members from "Glee," staying tight with her friend and stargazing.

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— Christie D'Zurilla
twitter.com/dzurillaville

Photo: Rumer Willis on "90210" in 2010. Credit: Patrick Wymore / The CW

Demi Moore: 911 call may come out missing the 'good parts'

Demi Moore's medical secrets are unlikely to be revealed if and when a tape of 911 call related to her recent hospitalization is released: The Los Angeles Fire Department has been advised to bleep out certain portions of the call to comply with federal medical privacy laws.

Alas, those portions would be what we at the Ministry might refer to as "the good parts," or the ones containing personal information about her medical condition -- including what, if any, substances the 49-year-old Moore might have been partaking of before the need to dial 911 arose.

"We've reviewed the 911 tape and we have made recommendations," Frank Mateljan, spokesman for the city attorney, told L.A. Now. It's not special treatment either, he said. "Generally speaking, it's our recommendation to withhold release of any medical condition or ingested substance related to an incident."

That whole scenario may qualify as an actual, by-definition buzz kill.

And because of Moore's decision this week to seek "professional assistance" for her "general health," and the rumors surrounding that decision, the buzz that's being buzzed about is nitrous oxide. The inhalant, known by the street names "whip-its" (think of the propellant used in canned whipped cream), poppers or snappers, is one that can really mess with your head.

"Sniffing high concentrations of inhalants may result in death from heart failure or suffocation" as the inhalants displace oxygen in the lungs, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. And that's only one of the scary side effects of the substance, which is known more as a cheap and easily accessible high for the younger crowd, rather than a high of choice for the trying-to-stay-eternally-young set.

Moore, of course, was out on the town Monday night with Rumer Willis, her 23-year-old daughter.

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— Christie D'Zurilla
twitter.com/dzurillaville

Photo: Demi Moore at a benefit Jan. 14 in Beverly Hills. Credit: Angela Weiss / Getty Images

Demi Moore seeks treatment for 'exhaustion,' 'overall health'

Demi Moore is seeking professional help — the actress, whose split from husband Ashton Kutcher has fueled more than a few headlines in recent months, is getting treatment after reportedly visiting a local hospital Monday night.

"Because of the stresses in her life right now, Demi has chosen to seek professional assistance to treat her exhaustion and improve her overall health," her rep confirmed Tuesday. "She looks forward to getting well and is grateful for the support of her family and friends."

A 911 call reportedly made late Monday night resulted in Moore being taken by paramedics to a local hospital, according to TMZ, which cited law-enforcement sources who alleged the treatment was for substance abuse. Substance abuse was not confirmed Tuesday.

PHOTO GALLERY: Celebrity breakups of 2011

Despite the recent drama in Moore's personal life, appearance and attitude at CAA's pre-Golden Globes bash Jan. 13 gave little or no clue that something might be awry. Moore and Madonna sat out on the rear patio with some agent types, staying cool even when a newly beard-free Ashton Kutcher breezed in.

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Photo: Demi Moore in Kathmandu in April 2011. Credit: Prakash Mathema / AFP / Getty Images.

Steven Tyler was beaten up by food poisoning, not drugs, he says

Steven Tyler, why you lookin' so busted? The Aerosmith singer, who appeared on stage Wednesday night with a black eye and bruises, said it was Montezuma's revenge.

A show planned for Tuesday in Paraguay had to be postponed a night after Tyler collapsed in his hotel-room shower, knocking out two front teeth and cutting his eye, among other things.

"Quite frankly, I passed out," the singer told Matt Lauer by phone Thursday on the "Today" show. "I was in the shower and I got nauseous and I started to get sick and I just, I fell on my face and I just passed out." He said he came to with the water running, wondering where he was. He tour manager called the American consulate for a hospital referral, he said, and after four stitches and some dental repair, he was back in business.

However, pictures of him looking battered onstage Wednesday sparked talk that the "American Idol" judge, who got out of rehab early last year, might be back on drugs.

Tyler told Lauer that he understands why people might think that. "It still bothers me a little bit, but that's something I have to deal with the rest of my life," but said no drugs were involved, just food poisoning. 

One thing, though: Did Steven realize he was doing a "Good Morning America" shout-out with the wrong guy? Watch the interview, below.

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Photo: Steven Tyler without bruises, in May on "American Idol." Credit: Frank Micelotta / Fox

Jeff Conaway's death ruled accidental with multiple causes

Jeff Conaway’s autopsy results are back and the Los Angeles County coroner is ruling his death accidental. The findings also reveal that multiple causes, including internal infection, are to blame for his tragic end.

The “Grease” star, 60, was found unconscious at his L.A. home back on May 10 and rushed to an Encino hospital, where he remained in a coma until he passed away May 27.

Coroner Craig Harvey says that opiates and other drugs were found in Conaway’s system when he entered the hospital, but his office did not perform a toxicology test as part of their four-month investigation. With the actor’s extended hospital stay prior to his death, tests would have come back clean anyway.

Now, TMZ reports that septic emboli, aortic valve endocarditis, coronary artery disease, pneumonia and encephalopathy were among the key factors contributing to his death.

Dr. Drew Pinksy, who worked with Conaway on “Celerity Rehab,” told the public early on that despite Conaway's trouble with prescription drugs, he believed “aspiration with overwhelming pneumonia and sepsis,” caused his friend's deteriorating health, not an overdose.

Conaway is best known for playing John Travolta’s best friend Kenicke in “Grease” as well as the struggling actor Bobby Wheeler on "Taxi."

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Photo: Jeff Conaway in 1985. Credit: Associated Press.

 

Sly Stone homeless? Or choosing a camper-van over a house?

This post has been corrected, as detailed below.

If Sly Stone is homeless, it's by choice and not necessity, according to sources close to the funk legend.

Stone's attorney Robert Alan has supposedly rented a four-bedroom home in Woodland Hills for his client, one unnamed source told Showbiz411 exclusively. "He's too paranoid to come inside," another source told writer Roger Friedman. That person was described as a friend of the singer.

Alan wouldn't comment on the rental house, Friedman said. Documentary director Willem Alkema co-wrote Sunday's "Sly Stone Is Homeless and Living in a Van" article for the New York Post.

That's not to say Stone hadn't admitted struggling with drugs, nor that he isn't in financial trouble of the maybe-a-$50-million-lawsuit-will-fix-it variety -- he sued former manager Jerry Goldstein in early 2010, alleging fraud and the diversion of $20 million to $30 million in royalties. Goldstein, who took the name War from that band in a legal battle in 1997, countersued Stone a few months later, alleging the singer had slandered him onstage at the Coachella festival.

Four of the original War members, who regrouped as the Lowrider Band, are pursuing a $10-million lawsuit against Goldstein over allegedly unpaid royalties.

[For the Record, 9:10 a.m. Sept. 29: This post originally said attorney Alan had confirmed to Friedman that Stone had been paid by Alkema for the interview. No such payment occurred, Alkema told the Ministry on Thursday. The Showbiz411 article has since been revised, with references to payments deleted. A reference to Friedman saying in the original Showbiz411 article that the filmmaker was seeking a re-release of the documentary and would benefit from publicity has been removed from this post as well. Alkema said via email that he is not seeking a re-release of his film in the U.S., where it has not been screened beyond film festivals. "If there is a re-release it needs a happy ending," Alkema wrote. "Sly will make it if he tries."]

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-- Christie D'Zurilla
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Photo: Sly Stone at the Temple Bar in Santa Monica in April 2008. Credit: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times