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."
When you were 24 in the club getting wasted was your mom there with you? Or when you got a job were either of your parents living off of you? Dina Lohan should be hanging her head in shame.
Dina needs to get her head out of the sand. All she does is blame everybody but Lindsay. They need some serious family counselling or just give Dina the room in rehab with Lindsay.
DON'T THESE CHILDREN HAVE ANY GRANDPARENTS OR AUNTS OR UNCLES THAT CAN INTERVENE???? DINA & MICHAEL ARE BOTH UNFIT & HAVE BEEN FOR A LONG TIME. DOESN'T ANYONE CARE ABOUT THESE KIDS??? lINDSAY & HER BROTHER & SISTER REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE IN HELL.
I personally am very weiry of hearing about"Lindsay & Dina"! They both need to "get a grip"! Dina Lohan is in total denial as to the danger her daughter's life is in.....and Michael Lohan should absolutely stay out of Lindsay's life until he "grows UP"!
The victim game, how funny. Some one forced Lindsey to drink booze, she was forced to snort coke. Yea, YEA forced to do those things, that's the ticket....forced (apologies to Jon Lovitz). So when your kid dies from a drug or alcohol overdose is it going to be gods fault?
As a, "Tween", my grand-daughter was a Britney Spears fan. When Britney began acting like a spoiled moron, she asked me why this would happen. My response was, "In a family where the parents are average wage earners, and one of their children is making millions, who do you think makes the rules?" Same applies to the Lohans, although I think Lindsay's big pay days are over.
I see a bit of hypocrisy here. Everyone is saying "Dina is blaming everyone else, when it`s her fault". Umm, it`s not Dina`s fault. Ultimately, it`s no one`s fault but LL. Just as no one is to blame for giving her drugs, no one is to blame for not PREVENTING someone from giving her drugs. Self - accountability seems to be a dying concept. It`s so much easier to point fingers - Dina @ the judge, posters @ Dina, etc etc.
People can now see why Lindsay Lohan is the way she is. Her father is bad, but I think her mother is worse. Someone should tape Dina Lohans mouth shut. She cannot see that she is the one who drove her daughter to her behavioral problems, Dina used the girl and Lindsay is where she is because of Dina. Mommy dearest should have been put into rehab by the judge too. It is a shame the Dina Lohan is living in a fantasy world where she thinks she can do no wrong. Wake up lady.
Once again Dina Lohan proves to the world she's a f'ing idiot. She still doesn't realize that her daughter's "parenting" is the cause of her being in the situation she's in today. Dina, your daughter wasn't "in with murderers". Where in the world do you get such ridiculous ideas? She was in a county jail in Hollywood (read posh), not the big house. The judge did not play hardball, as you say. If by playing hardball you mean she wouldn't let your daughter get away with continual flaunting of the law then I guess you're right, but in the real world with two DUI's, coke possession, and several violations of probation, your daughter was let off easy with only 90 days, and what amounted to only 2 weeks. That isn't hardball. I bet out there in Hollywood they have parenting rehab and you really ought to chek yourself into it.
TO ALL WHO ARE TALKING BAD LISTEN UP,AS PARENTS YOU DO THE BEST YOU CAN.MAYBE DINA IS DOING THE ONLY THING HERE PARENTS SHOWED HER. AS PARENTS SURE WE ARE GOING TO TAKE UP FOR ARE KIDS THATS THE MOTHER WAY.EVEN THOUGH ITS NOT GOOD WHAT LL HAS DONE PUT YOUR SELF IN THERE SHOES IF THAT WAS YOUR KID YOUR DAM RIGHT YOU WOULD TAKE UP FOR THEM IF YOU SAY U WONT YOUR A DAM LIER!! LAY OFF THERE ONLY HUMAN TO.THEY ARE IN THE SPOT LIGHT FOR GOD SAKE.SHOW SOME KINDNESS THIS NATION HAS THE MOST JUDGEMENTAL PEOPLE I EVER SEEN.GROW UP AMERICA HAVE A HEART FOR ONCE.
Try learning to spell, type, and use proper sentence structure and then we might value what you have to say. But a shouting, babbling moron like you contributes nothing to the conversation when you make excuses for your kids. I'm guessing you've had kids in jail and then you go around saying it's not your fault that your little darling did something illegal. Sheesh - go away, Lita.
If your kids are breaking the law and ending up in jail well into their 20's then you are a rotten parent and you should take some responsibility for burdening society with your rotten offspring.
You're right - parents should not take the blame for what their children do as adults. BUT she is an enabler and she lets her younger daughter (16) go to clubs with Lindsay - what does that tell you???
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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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When you were 24 in the club getting wasted was your mom there with you? Or when you got a job were either of your parents living off of you? Dina Lohan should be hanging her head in shame.
Dina needs to get her head out of the sand. All she does is blame everybody but Lindsay. They need some serious family counselling or just give Dina the room in rehab with Lindsay.
Reply
This ditz is obviously in denial of alot of things, including her own bad parenting.
Reply
DON'T THESE CHILDREN HAVE ANY GRANDPARENTS OR AUNTS OR UNCLES THAT CAN INTERVENE???? DINA & MICHAEL ARE BOTH UNFIT & HAVE BEEN FOR A LONG TIME. DOESN'T ANYONE CARE ABOUT THESE KIDS??? lINDSAY & HER BROTHER & SISTER REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE IN HELL.
what a nut case....let's blame EVERYONE else...
Reply
I personally am very weiry of hearing about"Lindsay & Dina"! They both need to "get a grip"! Dina Lohan is in total denial as to the danger her daughter's life is in.....and Michael Lohan should absolutely stay out of Lindsay's life until he "grows UP"!
Reply
The victim game, how funny. Some one forced Lindsey to drink booze, she was forced to snort coke. Yea, YEA forced to do those things, that's the ticket....forced (apologies to Jon Lovitz).
So when your kid dies from a drug or alcohol overdose is it going to be gods fault?
Reply
Talk about being in denial...!!
Reply
As a, "Tween", my grand-daughter was a Britney Spears fan. When Britney began acting like a spoiled moron, she asked me why this would happen. My response was, "In a family where the parents are average wage earners, and one of their children is making millions, who do you think makes the rules?" Same applies to the Lohans, although I think Lindsay's big pay days are over.
Reply
I see a bit of hypocrisy here. Everyone is saying "Dina is blaming everyone else, when it`s her fault". Umm, it`s not Dina`s fault. Ultimately, it`s no one`s fault but LL. Just as no one is to blame for giving her drugs, no one is to blame for not PREVENTING someone from giving her drugs. Self - accountability seems to be a dying concept. It`s so much easier to point fingers - Dina @ the judge, posters @ Dina, etc etc.
Reply
People can now see why Lindsay Lohan is the way she is. Her father is bad, but I think her mother is worse. Someone should tape Dina Lohans mouth shut. She cannot see that she is the one who drove her daughter to her behavioral problems, Dina used the girl and Lindsay is where she is because of Dina. Mommy dearest should have been put into rehab by the judge too. It is a shame the Dina Lohan is living in a fantasy world where she thinks she can do no wrong. Wake up lady.
Reply
Once again Dina Lohan proves to the world she's a f'ing idiot. She still doesn't realize that her daughter's "parenting" is the cause of her being in the situation she's in today.
Dina, your daughter wasn't "in with murderers". Where in the world do you get such ridiculous ideas? She was in a county jail in Hollywood (read posh), not the big house. The judge did not play hardball, as you say. If by playing hardball you mean she wouldn't let your daughter get away with continual flaunting of the law then I guess you're right, but in the real world with two DUI's, coke possession, and several violations of probation, your daughter was let off easy with only 90 days, and what amounted to only 2 weeks. That isn't hardball. I bet out there in Hollywood they have parenting rehab and you really ought to chek yourself into it.
Reply
That judge MAY have saved Lindsay's life. She has interests at heart WAY move than the egg and sperm donors she has as "parents"
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I never had failure and Im a success,her mom is wrong on that one.
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I hope they let Lindsay out early. Then she can overdose sooner, die and finally go away once and for all.
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TO ALL WHO ARE TALKING BAD LISTEN UP,AS PARENTS YOU DO THE BEST YOU CAN.MAYBE DINA IS DOING THE ONLY THING HERE PARENTS SHOWED HER. AS PARENTS SURE WE ARE GOING TO TAKE UP FOR ARE KIDS THATS THE MOTHER WAY.EVEN THOUGH ITS NOT GOOD WHAT LL HAS DONE PUT YOUR SELF IN THERE SHOES IF THAT WAS YOUR KID YOUR DAM RIGHT YOU WOULD TAKE UP FOR THEM IF YOU SAY U WONT YOUR A DAM LIER!! LAY OFF THERE ONLY HUMAN TO.THEY ARE IN THE SPOT LIGHT FOR GOD SAKE.SHOW SOME KINDNESS THIS NATION HAS THE MOST JUDGEMENTAL PEOPLE I EVER SEEN.GROW UP AMERICA HAVE A HEART FOR ONCE.
Reply
ur caps r on u must be the second loser ur behind dina moron
Try learning to spell, type, and use proper sentence structure and then we might value what you have to say. But a shouting, babbling moron like you contributes nothing to the conversation when you make excuses for your kids. I'm guessing you've had kids in jail and then you go around saying it's not your fault that your little darling did something illegal. Sheesh - go away, Lita.
Stop yelling and learn how to spell.
If your kids are breaking the law and ending up in jail well into their 20's then you are a rotten parent and you should take some responsibility for burdening society with your rotten offspring.
You're right - parents should not take the blame for what their children do as adults. BUT she is an enabler and she lets her younger daughter (16) go to clubs with Lindsay - what does that tell you???