Have you seen the latest in the Anna Nicole debacle? I've tried not to pay too much attention to the whole sordid mess, but when I saw a picture of the woman in clown makeup on the home page of AOL yesterday, I just had to click on it.

I wish I hadn’t. It’s probably one of the saddest things I’ve seen in my life. There, on film, being taped by her BOYFRIEND — the man who claims to love her and now has possession of her infant child (who he claims is his child) — is Anna Nicole, 8 months pregnant, with a clown-makeup face talking to a baby doll. She is clearly stoned out of her mind and he taunts and teases her asking “Is this a mushroom trip?” She seems unable to even comprehend the question as she responds "What? What?" in a soft, Minnie-mouse-like voice. At the end he says "I'm just kidding."

Oh, dear God. This poor woman.

I couldn’t help but wonder — and surely she struggled with this same thought every day of her life — if there was anyone on Earth who had ever loved that woman for who she really was. Surely her now-deceased son did. But, I imagine everyone else just treated her like a meal ticket (or a trash can).

People who love you do not film you while you make a fool of yourself. People who love you do not laugh about your being stoned when you are 8 months pregnant with their child. People who love you intervene and drag your sorry, stoned ass to rehab.

And, then there’s Brittany. Same situation, I fear.

This is what happens when women lose their self-esteem, confidence and belief that they are worth something. They let other people tell them who and what they are. They let other people control their lives and money. They are manipulated, used, abused and exploited. They were objectified, and made larger than life by their publicists, the media and the public who have all taken pleasure (and made even more money) in the "stars" inevitable fall.

Say what you want about the morality, character or talents (or lack there of ) of these women — but they were just women. Women who were hurt and taken advantage of by the people who are supposed to be looking out for them.

People who love you intervene when you are spinning out of control.