Matt Lauer put Dina Lohan in the hot seat on Friday, pressing the showbiz mom to defend daughter Lindsay Lohan and address long-hovering scrutiny for the way she raised the troubled starlet. It was a tense 11 minutes of television, with Lohan appearing uneasy and even combative at times.
"Dina felt ambushed by Matt," a family friend told PopEater after speaking with Lohan. "She was surprised how many tough questions he asked."
According to our source, Lohan wanted to focus the 'Today' chat on Judge Marsha Revel's alleged mishandling of her daughter's case, along with her take on the media's portrayal of Lindsay.
"She didn't understand why [Lauer] kept asking her those other questions -- she knows she's a great mother and Lindsay will get out of rehab soon," the friend insists. "Everyone makes mistakes, it's just that Lindsay makes it into the papers."
Lauer pressed Lohan on her parenting skills in the oft-terse interview, but she rebuffed, saying she had to let the troubled actress go through personal trials in order to emerge a better person.
"As a parent, you have to let them go a little bit," she said during the Friday morning chat. "When she went out to Los Angeles when she was 19, I had to let her live and fall and fail and survive. Without failure, there's no success."
Dina Lohan stressed that she does not condone Lindsay's behavior -- "You can't make your child not go out and go to a club and not get behind the wheel of a car" -- and confirmed reports that Lindsay will be released early from rehab, but declined to say exactly when. In her chat with Lauer, the celebrity mom said her daughter was doing "wonderfully" after 14 days in jail for a DUI probation violation.
Lauer also appeared to trip up Lohan in a discussion of how many times Lindsay has been to rehab. She insisted it had only been twice, but the actress has in fact gone four times. Our source tells us Dina was referring to court-ordered stints (2) and not the pair of times Lindsay sought help of her own volition.
Lohan also raised eyebrows when she told Lauer that she hasn't been with ex-husband Michael Lohan for 15 years, even though their divorce was only finalized in 2007. Again, our source: "Yes, she has spoken to and seen Michael, but he hasn't been a father or a husband for over 15 years."
Lohan canceled her other scheduled interview on Friday -- with PopEater's Naughty But Nice Rob -- citing exhaustion.
Dina Lohan leaves Lynwood Correctional Facility after visiting her daughter on July 29. Check out more pics of the Lohan Clan >>
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Chicago attorney Stuart Goldberg declines the 'Fragile Lost Child's case and calls Los Angeles a toxic environment. Lindsay Lohan at Culver Studios on Monday, July 12, 2010 X17online.com exclusive
Chicago attorney Stuart Goldberg declines the 'Fragile Lost Child's case and calls Los Angeles a toxic environment. Lindsay Lohan at Culver Studios on Monday, July 12, 2010 X17online.com exclusive
Chicago attorney Stuart Goldberg declines the 'Fragile Lost Child's case and calls Los Angeles a toxic environment. Lindsay Lohan at Culver Studios on Monday, July 12, 2010 X17online.com exclusive
Chicago attorney Stuart Goldberg declines the 'Fragile Lost Child's case and calls Los Angeles a toxic environment. Lindsay Lohan at Culver Studios on Monday, July 12, 2010 X17online.com exclusive
Chicago attorney Stuart Goldberg declines the 'Fragile Lost Child's case and calls Los Angeles a toxic environment. Lindsay Lohan at Culver Studios on Monday, July 12, 2010 X17online.com exclusive
Chicago attorney Stuart Goldberg declines the 'Fragile Lost Child's case and calls Los Angeles a toxic environment. Lindsay Lohan at Culver Studios on Monday, July 12, 2010 X17online.com exclusive
Chicago attorney Stuart Goldberg declines the 'Fragile Lost Child's case and calls Los Angeles a toxic environment. Lindsay Lohan at Culver Studios on Monday, July 12, 2010 X17online.com exclusive
Chicago attorney Stuart Goldberg declines the 'Fragile Lost Child's case and calls Los Angeles a toxic environment. Lindsay Lohan at Culver Studios on Monday, July 12, 2010 X17online.com exclusive
Chicago attorney Stuart Goldberg declines the 'Fragile Lost Child's case and calls Los Angeles a toxic environment. Lindsay Lohan at Culver Studios on Monday, July 12, 2010 X17online.com exclusive
Chicago attorney Stuart Goldberg declines the 'Fragile Lost Child's case and calls Los Angeles a toxic environment. Lindsay Lohan at Culver Studios on Monday, July 12, 2010 X17online.com exclusive
Throughout the interview, Dina tried to return the focus to Judge Revel, whom she blasted for going "overboard" with her sentence and rejoiced in her recent recusal of the case.
"The judge played hardball," she told Lauer. "Lindsay was in with alleged murderers and she's become friends with a lot of them. Lindsay rolled with the punches and she's doing wonderfully."
Lauer was pointed with his questions, and Lohan brushed off the notion that many believe Lindsay had her punishment coming to her because of bad behavior.
"I think that's all propaganda and what people are reading," she told him. "As you know, you're in the business of entertainment, so I think a lot of it is pre-orchestrated and you're reading things that are not based on fact."
Just after Dina's 'Today' show appearance, her ex-husband was interviewed on 'The Early Show,' and voiced his disapproval of Lindsay's early release from rehab. "She needs help. If she's not taken off all of the drugs, if she doesn't have therapy, family therapy as well as individual, I feel it's just a Band-Aid and it's not going to get any better," he said.
Michael also expressed his desire to reconnect with Lindsay as she continues along the road to recovery -- "We have to mend fences ... This is not something we can just overlook anymore" -- and lamented his poor relationship with Dina. "I don't understand how she comes out with some of these things she says," Michael said. "But that's on her. That's not on me. This is about our daughter. It's not about being part of her career. It's about being parents."
Lohan also said Lindsay will moving back to New York after finishing her commitments in Los Angeles. California is "a wonderful state," she said, but "it's a different game you play there, the court system is a little different."
Of course Dina blames the judge, she will blame anyoine but herself. She thinks the NY court system is leaner, she better guess again. I don't think she would have gotten off so easy in NY.
What a piece of work.No wonder LL takes no responsibility for her bad behavior. Good riddance to mom and her brat. I'm just sorry LL did not have to serve the full 90 days.
I think Matt let her off WAY to easily.... I have never heard someone be so evasive and she's still blaming everyone else. What a piece of work, almost makes me feel sorry for Lindsay; almost.
I think we should avoid referring to the mother as "Dina." Otherwise, the next time someone sings "Someone's in the Kitchen with Dina," this creep will be filing a lawsuit.
This woman is an enabler, and sees Lindsey as a meal ticket. She clearly takes no personal responsibility for what she's done to her children, and wait til the other kids follow in LiLo's footsteps.
I'm just amazed that this ignorant woman is even given a voice. For instance, she seems to feel the District Attorney is somehow 'over' a judge and can have a judge recused. She keeps saying the judge was recused because she went overboard. No. The judge had had private conversations with LiLo's people - that's why she was recused.
Dina continues to blame tabloids and she acts as if her little darling is like all kids. Hardly. Her little darling is like her Mommy. Dina's a party mom, she's a stage mom, listening to her raspy voice, it's clear she's done a lot of drugs and booze herself. Dina's got her own hair extensions, and has gone the plastic surgery route.
OH, and I just heard that she is producing a film for her son now. This woman is building some 'bank' 'cause it's clear that Lindsey isn't going to be around much longer. I bet she doesn't make it to age 30.
Especially with the Liandra's Law stuff starting on Aug. 15th. Hate to tell this chic but NY will now have the stiffest DWI laws in the country. Good try lady.
Dina give me a break! Your daughter drove drunk and should suffer the consequences just like any other "Joe" on the street. She's not special just because she was in a few movies. Plus, the reason she has 12 cars following her to Starbucks is because of the drama she creates in her life. Not to mention she should continue with Rehab for a very long time. Not this crap about her getting out early because if she does I guarantee you those "12 cars" will be following her for a very long, long time.I love this , So does My boyfriend .he is almost 11year older than me .i met him viaA ge G'a pSi ngl e s . C' 0- Ma nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends.. Just love it
I don't know why Dina is blaming the judge, all she has to do is look in the mirror. Instead of partying with her daughter she should have been parenting. Dina and hubby were too busy on the gravy train, so when the bridge starts to tumble, all of sudden they try to get their acts together as parents, which they should have been doing all along! Dina, she enables Lindsay, she's not the solution, she's the problem also!
dina needs to have all three of her other kids taken away from her. they are under age and she needs to be charged with child endangerment. what a piece of work this skank is. some how i almost feel sorry to a point for llo, not much but some.
Errr... the interview was about Lindsay not the Judge ya dumb B^%ch! Blame the Judge,then Matt,then whomever but do not blame yourself you middle-aged lush for raising another lush,she needs to keep her daughter drunk and disorderly otherwise Dina would be irrelevant in this world. Get a life and a better plastic surgeon your face is pulled tight but your neck goes gobble! gobble!
Dina always says Linzey is doing fine, and it's never true. She's a dimwit and probably one of the worst mothers I've ever seen. She needs to shut up, and go away and take her skanky ex con of a daughter with her. They both make me sick.
Are you kidding me Dina!!!Could this woman really have blamed anyone else but herself. And really how many times was she going to let everyone know that the jugde played hardball. FYI D.A.'s do not tell the judges how to rule. Please If she wasnt famous she would have been in jail a lot sooner and longer than that!!! Get a clue Dina and please do not put anymore children in show business!!! We've had enough!
LL's parents are bottom feeders. They will do or say anything as long as they can keep making money off their daughter. I actually feel sorry for her [LL]. They remind me of those other leech parents, Gary Coleman's parents, and also Michael Jackson's parents. How can these people continue to do this to their children?
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Matt Lauer put Dina Lohan in the hot seat on Friday, pressing the showbiz mom to defend daughter Lindsay Lohan and address long-hovering scrutiny for the way she raised the troubled starlet. It was a tense 11 minutes of television, with Lohan appearing uneasy and even combative at times.
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Of course Dina blames the judge, she will blame anyoine but herself. She thinks the NY court system is leaner, she better guess again. I don't think she would have gotten off so easy in NY.
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What a piece of work.No wonder LL takes no responsibility for her bad behavior. Good riddance to mom and her brat. I'm just sorry LL did not have to serve the full 90 days.
I think Matt let her off WAY to easily.... I have never heard someone be so evasive and she's still blaming everyone else. What a piece of work, almost makes me feel sorry for Lindsay; almost.
I think we should avoid referring to the mother as "Dina." Otherwise, the next time someone sings "Someone's in the Kitchen with Dina," this creep will be filing a lawsuit.
This woman is an enabler, and sees Lindsey as a meal ticket. She clearly takes no personal responsibility for what she's done to her children, and wait til the other kids follow in LiLo's footsteps.
I'm just amazed that this ignorant woman is even given a voice. For instance, she seems to feel the District Attorney is somehow 'over' a judge and can have a judge recused. She keeps saying the judge was recused because she went overboard. No. The judge had had private conversations with LiLo's people - that's why she was recused.
Dina continues to blame tabloids and she acts as if her little darling is like all kids. Hardly. Her little darling is like her Mommy. Dina's a party mom, she's a stage mom, listening to her raspy voice, it's clear she's done a lot of drugs and booze herself. Dina's got her own hair extensions, and has gone the plastic surgery route.
OH, and I just heard that she is producing a film for her son now. This woman is building some 'bank' 'cause it's clear that Lindsey isn't going to be around much longer. I bet she doesn't make it to age 30.
Amen.
Especially with the Liandra's Law stuff starting on Aug. 15th. Hate to tell this chic but NY will now have the stiffest DWI laws in the country. Good try lady.
Dina give me a break! Your daughter drove drunk and should suffer the consequences just like any other "Joe" on the street. She's not special just because she was in a few movies. Plus, the reason she has 12 cars following her to Starbucks is because of the drama she creates in her life. Not to mention she should continue with Rehab for a very long time. Not this crap about her getting out early because if she does I guarantee you those "12 cars" will be following her for a very long, long time.I love this , So does My boyfriend .he is almost 11year older than me .i met him viaA ge G'a pSi ngl e s . C' 0- Ma nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends.. Just love it
I don't know why Dina is blaming the judge, all she has to do is look in the mirror. Instead of partying with her daughter she should have been parenting. Dina and hubby were too busy on the gravy train, so when the bridge starts to tumble, all of sudden they try to get their acts together as parents, which they should have been doing all along! Dina, she enables Lindsay, she's not the solution, she's the problem also!
dina needs to have all three of her other kids taken away from her. they are under age and she needs to be charged with child endangerment. what a piece of work this skank is. some how i almost feel sorry to a point for llo, not much but some.
Errr... the interview was about Lindsay not the Judge ya dumb B^%ch! Blame the Judge,then Matt,then whomever but do not blame yourself you middle-aged lush for raising another lush,she needs to keep her daughter drunk and disorderly otherwise Dina would be irrelevant in this world. Get a life and a better plastic surgeon your face is pulled tight but your neck goes gobble! gobble!
Dina always says Linzey is doing fine, and it's never true. She's a dimwit and probably one of the worst mothers I've ever seen. She needs to shut up, and go away and take her skanky ex con of a daughter with her. They both make me sick.
I think Dina Lohan suffers from some form of addiction herself-she shows all the signs; whether it's drugs/alcohol, or both-she's on something.
I think Dina Lohan suffers from some form of addiction herself-she shows all the signs of an addict just like her daughter.
Wow....Dina you are a real work of art! Its your fault that Lindsey is so messed up....
Your daughter got off lite, She needs to face the consequences for her actions.
Are you kidding me Dina!!!Could this woman really have blamed anyone else but herself. And really how many times was she going to let everyone know that the jugde played hardball. FYI D.A.'s do not tell the judges how to rule. Please If she wasnt famous she would have been in jail a lot sooner and longer than that!!! Get a clue Dina and please do not put anymore children in show business!!! We've had enough!
LL's parents are bottom feeders. They will do or say anything as long as they can keep making money off their daughter. I actually feel sorry for her [LL]. They remind me of those other leech parents, Gary Coleman's parents, and also Michael Jackson's parents. How can these people continue to do this to their children?
Keep telling that to yourself Dina, if thats what gets you through your days,, great..
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Dina Lohan is either in major denial or just one crazy woman. I'm going with crazy. Poor Lindsey didn't stand a chance of growing mentally healthy.