Personal life

Personal life
Winehouse married on-off boyfriend Blake Fielder-Civil, a former video production assistant,[84] on 18 May 2007, in Miami, Florida.[85] Fielder-Civil was a "grammar school dropout" who moved to London at aged 16 from his native Lincolnshire.[12] In a June 2007 interview, Winehouse admitted she could be violent towards Fielder-Civil when she had been drinking.[86] In a July 2008 interview Winehouse said her marriage is not an open one and she would like to have at least five children.[87] Fielder-Civil was quoted in a British tabloid on 28 November 2008 that he wants to end his marriage to the singer, saying, "I have to let her go to save her life".[84] Winehouse's spokesperson said he was unaware of any formal efforts currently underway to end the couple's marriage.[84]


Substance abuse and mental health issues
Winehouse's battles with substance abuse have been the subject of much media attention. In various interviews, she has admitted to having problems with self-harm, depression and eating disorders.[10][28] During a visit with Mitch Winehouse at the prison in July 2008, Fielder-Civil reportedly said that he and Winehouse would cut themselves to ease the pain of withdrawal.[12] In 2005, she went through a period of drinking, heavy drug use, violent mood swings and weight loss.[12] People who saw her during that fall and early 2006 reported a rebound that coincided with the writing of Back to Black.[12] Her family believes that the summer 2006 death of her grandmother, who was a stabilizing influence, set off a free fall into addiction.[12]

Blake Fielder-Civil was quoted in a British tabloid as saying he introduced crack cocaine and heroin to Winehouse.[84] Her husband's attorney testified in court that for over half his life Blake Fielder-Civil has had a "intimate relationship with drug addiction" including heroin and cocaine as well as a history of self-harm and suicide attempts.[88] In August 2007, Winehouse cancelled a number of shows in the UK and Europe, citing exhaustion and ill health. She was hospitalized during this period for what was reported as an overdose of heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and alcohol.[89] Winehouse told a magazine that the drugs were to blame for her hospitalization and that "I really thought that it was over for me then."[90] Soon after, Winehouse and her husband were photographed, bloodied and bruised, in the streets of London after an alleged fight, although she contended her injuries were self-inflicted.[91] Winehouse's parents and in-laws publicly reported their numerous concerns, citing fears that the two might commit suicide, with Fielder-Civil's father encouraging fans to boycott her music.[92] Winehouse's father commented that when he had made public statements regarding her problems, he was using the media because it seemed the only way to get through to her.[93]

On 2 December 2007, images of the singer outside her home in the early morning hours, barefoot and wearing only a bra and jeans, appeared on the internet and in tabloid newspapers. In a statement, her spokesperson blamed paparazzi harassment for the incident.[94] The spokesperson reported that the singer was in a physician-supervised program and was channeling her difficulties by writing a lot of music.[95]

The British tabloid The Sun posted a video of a woman, alleged to be Winehouse, apparently smoking crack cocaine and speaking of having taken ecstasy and valium. Winehouse's father moved in with her,[96] and Island Records, her record label, announced the abandonment of plans for an American promotion campaign on her behalf.[97] In late January 2008, Winehouse reportedly entered a rehabilitation facility for a two week treatment program.[98]

On 23 January 2008, the video was passed on to Scotland Yard, Metropolitan Police,[97] who questioned her on 5 February.[99] To date no charges have been brought.

On 26 March 2008, Winehouse's spokesperson said she was "doing well" and denied a published report in a British tabloid that consideration was being given to having her return to rehab.[100] Her record company reportedly believed that her recovery remained fragile.[101]

By late April 2008, her erratic behaviour, including an allegation of assault, caused fear that her drug rehabilitation efforts have been unsuccessful,[102] leading to efforts by Winehouse's father and manager to seek assistance in having her sectioned.[103]

Her disheveled appearance during and after a scheduled club night in September sparked new fears. Photographers were quoted as saying she appeared to have cuts on her legs and arms.[83]


Health issues
On 23 June 2008, Winehouse's publicist corrected earlier misstatements by Mitch Winehouse that his daughter has a small amount of emphysema, instead claiming she has signs of what could lead to early-stage emphysema.[104] Mitch Winehouse had also stated that his daughter's lungs are operating at 70 percent capacity and that she had an irregular heartbeat. Mr. Winehouse said these problems were caused by her chain cigarette smoking and crack cocaine use. The singer’s father also reported that doctors have warned Winehouse that continued smoking of crack cocaine will result in her having to wear an oxygen mask and will be fatal.[105] In a radio interview, Mitch Winehouse said the singer is responding "fabulously" to treatment which includes being covered with nicotine patches.[106] British Lung Foundation spokesperson Dr. Keith Prowse noted this type of condition can be managed with treatment. Prowse also said the condition is not normal for a person her age but "heavy smoking and inhaling other substances like drugs can age the lungs prematurely".[107] Dr. Norman H. Edelman, Chief Medical Officer for the American Lung Association explained that if she stopped smoking her lung functions would decline at the rate of a normal person but continued smoking would lead to a more rapid decline in lung function.[108] Photographs of the singer with a cigarette in her mouth, taken 23 June 2008, were widely published.[109] Winehouse was released from The London Clinic 24 hours after returning from a temporary leave in order to perform at the Mandela 90th birthday and Glastonbury concerts, and is now being treated as an outpatient.[110] On 23 July Winehouse stated that she "some areas of emphysema" and said she is getting herself together by "eating loads of healthy food, sleeping loads, playing my guitar, making music and writing letters to my husband every day".[87]

Winehouse began precautionary testing on her lungs and chest on 25 October 2008,[111] at The London Clinic for what has been reported as a chest infection. Winehouse who has been in and out of the facility has been granted permission to set her own schedule regarding home leave.[68] She returned to the hospital on 23 November 2008 for a reported reaction to her medication.[112] According to Winehouse's spokesperson on 1 December the singer remains hospitalized as part of her treatment. [84]


Legal problems
On 8 September 2007, Winehouse settled a claim for copyright infringement over the song "He Can Only Hold Her", brought against her by songwriter and producer P-Nut. His lawyer stated that the songwriter would receive a share of the royalties from the song and payment of costs. Previously he had received a "thank you" for his contribution but no songwriter credit on the album.[113]

In October 2007, Winehouse and her husband were arrested in Norway for possession of cannabis. The couple were later released and fined 3850 kroner (around £350).[114] Winehouse claimed she was "duped" into confessing, but police denied the allegation, noting that fluent English speakers handled Winehouse when she signed the confession.[115] A 27 February 2008 court appearance was postponed because of a legal conflict concerning an appearance Fielder-Civil was required to attend.[116]

On 9 November 2007, Winehouse's husband and four other men were arrested on a charge of trying to pervert the course of justice in relation to an assault on a pub landlord in June 2007;[117] On 6 June 2008, Fielder-Civil and his 3 co-defendants pled guilty to both the pervert the course of justice charge, as well as a charge of grievous bodily harm with intent.[118] Winehouse was rebuked for her behaviour several times by court officials during the legal proceedings in the matter.[118] In testimony before the court the prosecution revealed that the landlord, who suffered a broken cheek in the attack, accepted £200,000 as part of a deal to "effectively throw the [court] case and not turn up”.[119] The prosecution testified that the money used to pay off the landlord belonged to Winehouse and that the plot began to unravel when a middleman involved in the plot recognising Fielder-Civil's notoriety tried to sell security camera footage of the attack to The Daily Mirror.[119] The court was told that Winehouse pulled out of a October 2007 meeting with the men involved in the plot. The meeting never occurred because Winehouse had to attend an awards ceremony.[120] The pub landlord in an interview said he has metal plates and bolts in his head as a result of the attack and that Fielder-Civil since pleading guilty has written him a letter of apology from prison.[121] On 21 July 2008, Fielder-Civil was sentenced to twenty seven months in prison. The singer did not attend the sentencing.[88] On 5 November Winehouse was not present when Blake-Civil was moved from prison to a rehabilitation facility to fulfil the terms of release.[122] On 24 November Fielder-Civil's appeal against his sentence was rejected by two judges who wanted to encourage him to continue rehabilitation.[123] On 3 December his lawyer confirmed he has been recalled back to jail for what has been reported as a failure of a drug test. According to the lawyer the conditions of recall means he must remain in prison for the remainder of his sentence which ends in 2010.[124]

Winehouse was initially denied a U.S. visa because of "use and abuse of narcotics", but was later issued one. The decision came too late for her to appear live at the 2008 Grammy Awards show, and she performed via satellite.[125] Meanwhile, on 17 February 2008, Fielder-Civil reportedly was hospitalised after collapsing in prison from what was reported to be contaminated heroin.[126]

On 26 April 2008, Winehouse was cautioned after she admitted to police she slapped the face of a man with her hand, a "common assault" offense. The incident, for which she has apologised, will stay on her record and could be used against her if she is charged with a similar offence at a future time. She voluntarily turned herself in and was held overnight. Police said, at her arrival she was "in no fit state" to be interviewed.[127]

Winehouse was arrested on 7 May 2008 on suspicion of possessing drugs after a video of her apparently smoking crack cocaine was passed to Scotland Yard in January,[128] but was released on bail a few hours later because they could not confirm, from the video, what she was smoking.[89][129] The Crown Prosecution Service considered charging her with possessing a controlled drug and allowing her premises to be used for the supply by others of a controlled drug, but she was cleared when the service could not establish that the substance in the video was a controlled drug.[130] In reaction to the decision, former Scotland Yard commander John O’Connor said it is an "absolute scandal that nothing could be done" about Winehouse "cooking a snook at the law".[131] Some Members of Parliament also reacted negatively.[131][132] Two London residents were subsequently charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and ecstasy to Winehouse.[133] One of the pair was sentenced to two years in prison on 13 December 2008, while the other received a two year community order.[134]

Organizers of the Rock En Seine festival in Paris threatened Winehouse with legal action after the singer cancelled a scheduled appearance there. The organizers claimed they were given two hours notice and no exact reason for the cancellation. Winehouse’s spokesperson explained that the reason that she failed to appear at the festival was because she was taken ill at her home.[135]

According to Winehouse's spokeperson Winehouse will answer questions from police investigating an allegation of assault.[111]


Other pursuits
Winehouse joined a campaign to stop a block of flats being built beside the George Tavern, a famous London East End music venue. Campaign supporters feared the residential development would end the spot's lucrative sideline as a film and photo location, on which it relies to survive.[136]

As part of a breast cancer awareness campaign Winehouse appeared in a revealing photograph for the April 2008 issue of Easy Living magazine.[137]

Winehouse has an estimated £10m fortune, tying her for tenth place in the Sunday Times listing of the wealth of musicians under age thirty.[138] It was reported she earned about £1m singing at two private parties during Paris Fashion Week.[139] as well as another £1m to perform at a Moscow Art Gallery for Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.[140]

Winehouse has loaned a vintage dress used in her video for Tears Dry on My Own as well as a DVD to the British Music Experience a new museum dedicated to the history of British Pop.[141]