Sam Lutfi Swears He's Only Trying to Help Amanda Bynes
Sam Lutfi penned an open letter swearing to the world he’s only trying to help Amanda Bynes and not, say, take advantage of her situation to gain exposure for himself.
In an article for XO Jane’s “It Happened to Me” series, Lutfi plays the World’s Smallest Violin trying to get people to understand how he’s been mislabeled as a sleazy creep who weasels his way into the lives of troubled young starlets like Britney Spears so he can take advantage of them at their weakest moments. But he only does that because he wants to help them, you see:
I’ve worked in Hollywood for a long time, and over the years these experiences have led me to see what happens when too much fame and too much money can sometimes get the best of celebrities. I am a problem solver, and I care about helping people get out of what may seem like some of their more difficult places in life. Which is why you have seen me associated with some of the more famous celebrities when they are in their most trying hours:Britney Spears, Courtney Love and now Amanda Bynes.
Spears’ parents have quite a different take on that situation than Lutfi, in case you are wondering. Lutfi claims his name has been “dragged through the mud” because “people in Hollywood fight dirty.” As for Bynes, it was Lutfi who reportedly tricked her into coming to Los Angeles, so she could be placed on psychiatric hold.
All I can tell you is that Amanda is getting the help that she needs and that I am working closely with her and her family in order to ensure that we can move on from the tabloid sensationalism of her “breakdown” and instead concentrate on what a rare, talented young woman she has always been and continues to be.
By the way, the article is subtitled “Don’t believe everything you read.” I’ll leave it at that.
[XO Jane]