Today's Evil Beet Gossip

Did Justin Long Dump Drew Barrymore Because of Her Drinking?

This is an interesting story.

Just a couple of weeks ago, a girlfriend of mine was like, “You know what’s weird about Drew Barrymore? She went to rehab and everything for drugs and alcohol as a teenager, and now she drinks again. Isn’t that a big no-no?” And I was like, “Eh, give it time. These things always show up eventually.”

And now it appears that Drew’s drinking has once again landed her in some trouble — sources are reporting that Justin Long broke up with the starlet because he couldn’t handle her hard-partying ways.

From The National Enquirer:

Until recently, Barrymore and Long had planned to wed – that is until booze resumed its hold on the former child star.

“Justin got tired of having to help Drew to the car at the end of the night,” an insider told The ENQUIRER.

“He felt that Drew’s ‘work hard, play hard’ attitude was more than he could take.”

Drew – who began using drugs and alcohol as a child and did stints in rehab as a teen – now believes she has control over her drinking, the insider divulged.

“Justin gently suggested to Drew that they both slow down on the drinking, and she didn’t take it well,” said the insider.

“Her inability to accept Justin’s advice became the deal breaker.”

I suppose this is a good time to reprint an email I got from a tipster a couple weeks ago. I didn’t run it at the time because I didn’t have any confirmation, but I think it’s appropriate now.

Hey. I don’t really know if this even really has a point but last week my best friend texted me saying that drew barrymore was in michigan(where i live) filming a movie and her cousin saw her out at a bar and started drinking and what not with her and invited her back to his apt in ann arbor where she stayed there till like 5 a.m. i didn’t really think much of this until i read the story of their breakup. i beleive there’s pictures too. i guess she was COMPLETLY wasted

Get back to rehab, Drew!!!!

26 CommentsLeave a comment

  • drew’s been drinking for years now. she mentioned having control of the drinking ages ago, after she left rehab, and she’s been doing pretty OK for herself for some time now, too. i hope this story isn’t true, but just because someone gets a little too drunk when they go out every blue moon, doesn’t mean they need rehab. i would be annoyed if my boy friend got on my case and made something a bigger deal than it was too.

  • that’s too bad. i really like her. but when you’ve been addicted to drugs and alcohol like she has, even a small amount can lead to a full-blown relapse. it’s dangerous. i’m sure she knows better than all these stories say she does..

  • She’s an alcoholic; she shouldn’t drink. Period. There’s no such thing as “having control” over your drinking if you’re an alcoholic. You may do OK in the short run but sooner or later it will escalate. And non-alcoholics who just like to go out and party and get wasted once in awhile might just have a little problem with denial.

    It’s too bad–they made a cute couple.

  • I think he used that as an excuse to break up.

    Dating a bigger star in Hollywood is always a good PR move, and I guess he didn’t love her and wanted a way out.

    He got his PR moments.

  • Saw her at Chateau Marmont back in March, she and some girlfriends were at the table next to us. They were all pretty hammered, but Drew was *wasted*. To the point that it was kind of embarrassing for those around. It was really sad, I have always loved her in films and it seemed like she was pretty happy with this guy, but if she doesn’t have control of her drinking, and the way I saw her is not an exception but a rule, then he’s better off without her. Being in a relationship with an addict will suck the life right out of you.

  • I think that it is only a problem if you believe in the alcoholics anonymous program, which is quite unrealistic. There are many flaws in the program, and it does not work for everyone. Some of the newer therapies focus on taking control of your drinking behaviour and understanding why you are dependent on a substance. Instead of swearing off alcohol, it is better to teach these people how to have one drink without the need to have another, and to focus on the triggers which facilitate his or her drinking.
    I have no idea what the situation is for Drew Barrymore; however, I think it is inappropriate to make judgements about whether she is or is not in control based on random gossip.

    • It’s inappropriate for you to gossip about judge alcoholics anonymous too. Until you’re an alcoholic and experience what it’s like to crave alcohol after that first drink, or how frightening it is to black out and wake up in places you’ve never been (say, in front of a car about to run over you, or with some stranger who isn’t your fiance on top of you..) you really shouldn’t promote that alcoholics learn to “take one drink without the need to have another, and focus on triggers.” Look at the Native American culture and the Irish people. Some things are just genetics and physical. I had tried to stop drinking with every therapy imaginable except for AA because I didn’t want to deal with the meetings. It’s been 2 years and it works where nothing else does. I combine it with regular therapy, but really believe I have some kind of physical reaction to alcohol that ignites a craving. There’s a great deal of research on why some bodies crave and they’ve almost narrowed down a gene. Tons of research out there trying to cure it. Research that, get a therapist and do the AA steps. AA is Free, none of those other programs are.

  • @Bob —

    I couldn’t have said it better myself. AA is too black and white and does not get down to core issues like psychoanalysis can, IMO. I did my stint in the program and felt it was way too shame-based. It depressed me more to attend meetings with those who hit way lower than I ever did. It seemed to revolve around how you have this disease that will never let you go. I never even think about drinking today — it’s really a non-issue!

    That is just my personal experience, however. If AA works for other people and they need it, God bless them! Everyone’s situation is different.

  • In April she was on TMZ stumbling and mumbling while Jason held her up:
    http://www.tmz.com/2008/04/07/drew-barrymore-stumbles-mumbles/

    I thought something was wrong then but she is pretty well protected in Hollywood. A few years back Vanity Fair had an article on her where she explained she doesn’t do drugs since she went to rehab in her teens. Of course they mentioned that she had a glass of wine in her hand during the interview. One drink is too many and 100 not enough…

  • I usually have little sympathy for rich, privileged celebrities who find themselves brought down by problems of their own making. I view Drew, however, with a somewhat less cynical eye. I watched a lengthy interview of her once and she seemed to be a genuine sweety. She was totally humble ( almost like a child)and unpretentious and concerned for the happiness and well being of others. She seems to be someone worth standing by in her time of trouble, even though it can get quite ugly when dealing with someone with a drinking problem.

  • I hope she gets help. She has had a very visible life in hollywood, starting at a very young age. I hope she has a support system that will help her.

  • Saw her at Chateau Marmont back in March, she and some girlfriends were at the table next to us. They were all pretty hammered, but Drew was *wasted*. To the point that it was kind of embarrassing for those around. It was really sad, I have always loved her in films and it seemed like she was pretty happy with this guy, but if she doesn’t have control of her drinking, and the way I saw her is not an exception but a rule, then he’s better off without her.

  • @ Bob– Granted this is random gossip but if she’s getting drunk it doesn’t seem like she’s having one drink and staying in control. Once you’re past college (or high school) age and the novelty of drinking has worn off, you should stick to what you can handle. Getting wasted means you have a problem. I don’t know about the newer therapies, but although quitting completely isn’t easy, if you’re an alcoholic it’s the simplest, most straightforward way to go.

  • This is sad. Drew seems like such a cool girl, I love any movie she is in, shes great, I hope she gets help if she really needs it.

  • i seen them cumin out of a club twice.
    she such a mess.
    they make fun of her behind her bak:
    ur not pretty like dat drew baby.

  • This is sad. She is going to lose everything she worked so hard forbecause she won’t face the facts . I hope this doesn’t lead to more than just drinking. I assume everyone knows her history. Then her acting days are over for sure. There is one person that may be able to talk some sense into her. Her godfather Steven Spielberg. I just read she is closer to him than anyone else.

  • I take that back. None of it is true! She was on Jay Leno last night and said she has been working her head off. She has finished two movies and spent all summer working on a third. She is directing a movie called “Whip It” and has been very busy. She is eaither working on the movie, in meetings with her co-directers, or eating and sleeping. She had to squeeze the interview in with Jay. Jay had to change his show around just to have her on. She even had to leave early to go to another meeting. She has hardly had enough time to eat and sleep much less party.

  • If she was Tiger Woods she’d lose prestige, and she should because young girls look up to her and she’s showing them how to be a psycho skank whore. She’s going to lose her looks and maybe her life to her self indulgent lifestyle.