August 11, 2010 – Fantasia Barrino’s life is anything but a fairytale right now.
The former American Idol champ was hospitalized Monday night after suffering an overdose, E! News has confirmed.
“She took an overdose of aspirin and a sleep aid. Her injuries are not life threatening,” said manager Brian Dickens. “She was dehydrated and exhausted at the time. Fantasia is stable now. She will be released from the hospital soon.”
Local sources specify the 26-year-old R&B singer was rushed by ambulance to Carolinas Medical Center-Pineville in her hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina at approximately 8:55 p.m. Monday evening.
It’s not known whether the overdose was accidental or intentional. But the hospitalization comes after Barrino was accused of being the “other woman” in a cheating scandal.
A North Carolina woman, Paula Cook, named the songstress in a divorce petition filed last Wednesday, stating in the documents that Barrino was the mistress of her husband Antwaun Cook and that the two had videotaped their sexual liasons.
Barrino’s reps issued an earlier statement asserting that Fantasia “is not responsible for the deterioration of the Cooks’ marriage,” but didn’t expressly deny the relationship.
In today’s release updating her condition, Dickens divulged further information about the nature of their coupling, noting that the crooner “believed [Cook] when he told her he and Mrs. Cook separated in the late summer of 2009.” He noted that she was in love with him and the two dated “on and off for about eleven months.”
The stress of his divorce, he suggests, may have left her in a fragile emotional state.
“Fantasia read Mrs. Cook’s complaint against Mr. Cook for the first time yesterday. She knows some of the allegations in Mrs. Cook’s complaint are totally false. There are others she strongly doubts. There is plenty she does not know,” the manager said.
He added: “Fantasia is heartbroken and is sorry for any pain she may have caused. Yesterday, she was totally overwhelmed by the lawsuit and the media attention.”
Dickens then thanked fans on Barrino’s behalf.
“Fantasia is a fighter and a survivor. This is not the hardest thing Fantasia has endured,” he said. “Fantasia will be stronger, smarter and better for it.”
UPDATE: VH1, on which the second season of Fantasia for Real is scheduled to premiere Sept. 19, issued the following statement: “We support Fantasia 100% and look forward to working with her again soon. Our thoughts and prayers are with her at this difficult time.”
Dickens is optimistic that Fantasia may be released as soon as Wednesday.
“After that we are looking at a two-week recovery process, then leading into an aggressive promotional tour for the second season of Fantasia For Real and for her new album Back to Me,” he said.