Celebrity Rehab

Ben Affleck left rehab Wednesday morning ... but we've learned not for long.

Ben showed up at his Pacific Palisades home after driving from his live-in rehab facility in Malibu. Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ, Ben has permission to leave to work out at his home. One of the conditions ... he travels with his sober coach.

We're told Ben has been allowed to leave before for the same purpose and it's now part of his rehab regime.

TMZ broke the story ... Jennifer Garner staged an intervention last month and drove Ben to rehab. We're told Ben actually wanted the help because he was in a deep tailspin after falling off the wagon.

The tipping point came 2 days before the intervention, when Jen saw a pic of Ben accepting delivery of beer and hard liquor at his home.

As we reported, Ben had been on and off the bottle for 18 month and that's one of the reasons his divorce case had stalled. We're told Jennifer did not want to cement joint custody into their deal until she knew he was stable. We know Ben and Jen have settled their divorce, and the plan is to finalize with the judge when Ben leaves rehab.

Demi Lovato has had enough with the home where she almost died from a drug overdose ... because we've learned she's selling it.

Demi just put her Hollywood Hills home up for sale for $9.495 million. She bought the house in September 2016 for $8.3 million.

This is the same home where Demi OD'd on Oxycodone that was apparently laced with fentanyl. She was revived with Narcan and spent 10 days in the hospital.

Demi has not returned to the house since her OD. She went right from the hospital into rehab.

The house has been problematic for the singer, almost from the time she bought it. In January 2017, the house was in danger of sliding down the side of a mountain after the ground was compromised by storms. A mudslide cascaded into her driveway, severely compromising the hillside.

TMZ obtained documents from the L.A. Dept. of Building and Safety, and the Dept. determined in July the problem with the hillside had been corrected.

The house is 5,546 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms.

As we reported, Demi texted her drug dealer at 4 AM the day she OD'd. He came to the house and they crushed the Oxy pills and smoked them. He left after she fell into a deep sleep.

The guy who supplied Demi Lovato with drugs, got high with her, and openly talked about the hours leading up to her OD ... will not be arrested or even investigated by the LAPD.

Brandon Johnson spoke with our camera last week -- detailing the 4 AM text message he says he got from Demi asking him to come to her Hollywood Hills home -- and telling us she was well aware the pills she was taking were the risky "aftermarket" variety.

His brazen admission might, understandably, make you think Brandon's next interview would be with police detectives -- but our law enforcement sources say he's off the hook.

We're told he won't be investigated for the incident because an overdose is categorized as a medical emergency, and a self-induced one at that. Bottom line is ... Johnson walks free.

TMZ broke the story, paramedics raced to Lovato's home July 24 for an unconscious female and she spent 2 weeks in the hospital after the OD. Sources connected to the incident told us Demi and Johnson had freebased oxycodone pills that were likely laced with fentanyl.

Demi has since checked herself into a rehab center on the East Coast and made a brief trip to a facility in Chicago as well.

Our Demi sources say there's no set time frame for her treatment, but it will be substantial.

Mel B is getting ready to enter a therapy program to deal with PTSD from her long and bitter divorce battle ... and admits she's also had issues with alcohol and sex.

The 'AGT' judge said she discovered her PTSD issues earlier this month, and has decided to seek treatment in the next few weeks ... once 'AGT' is over.

Mel seemed carefree, at least outwardly, while she was out Sunday in Beverly Hills with Gary Madatyan ... who's rumored to be a new bf.

She told The Sun ... Stephen Belafonte stripped her of her "self-respect and self-worth" during more than a year of court battles.

During the divorce, she had been accused of abusing alcohol and dragging Belafonte into threesomes while they were married.

Rehab was clearly the right place for Demi Lovato, but it also meant her empty house could be a jackpot for criminals ... which we've learned was exactly the plan for some would-be burglars.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... a group of thieves were arrested shortly after we broke the news Demi was out of the hospital and in an out-of-state rehab facility.

We're told the arrests were not related to Lovato, but upon investigation ... cops found electronic communications among the crew about hitting up her house while she was away.

Our sources say the LAPD was notified right away of the perps' plan and added extra patrols around Demi's house ... to keep an eye on any suspicious activity. So far, it's worked ... no break-ins or burglaries at Demi's place since she's been gone.

Our sources say the burglars were not targeting celebrities per se ... the victims included normies, but Demi was clearly on their radar.

We broke the story ... Demi suffered a near-death drug overdose last month and had to be revived with Narcan. Sources tell us her OD was likely triggered by Oxycodone laced with Fentanyl.

The singer went to rehab after being hospitalized for more than a week. She left rehab for a few days to see a mental health and addiction specialist in Chicago, but she's now back in the facility.

Hopefully her home will be untouched when she returns.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have settled their divorce case and the final settlement will be filed with the court after Ben gets out of rehab ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected with the couple tell TMZ, Ben and Jen have reached a property settlement, which was complicated and time-consuming because of the fortune that needed to be divided. We've learned the couple did NOT have a prenup, so all of their earnings during their 12-year marriage went into one pot.

As for custody ... we've learned they agreed to joint custody of their 3 children. What's a little unusual ... the settlement does not say how much custodial time Ben and Jen each get. We're told they have gotten along great co-parenting the kids, and feel it's better to shift custody back and forth depending on work schedules rather than abide by a rigid formula.

The wild card in all of this ... Ben's drinking. Our sources say Ben has fallen off the wagon for the last 18 months ... sometimes regaining sobriety only to slip again. It's obviously an issue because when Ben isn't sober it could put the children at risk when he's with them. It's something Ben and Jen have been dealing with for months.

The settlement is complete, but it hasn't been signed because of sobriety issues. However, we're told when Ben is out of rehab and back on his feet it will be signed, sealed and delivered to the judge, and then the divorce will become final.

As for reconciliation ... we're told absolutely not, and it's been that way for a long, long time.

Steve-O is an expert on rehab and substance abuse ... and he's torn up over the recent troubles of his old friend and "Jackass" co-star Bam Margera.

We got Steve-O out in L.A.'s Franklin Village ... and he told us how he's broken up by news of Bam's relapse.

As we reported ... Bam was robbed at gunpoint during a super sketchy cab ride in Cartagena, Colombia ... and handled it by downing his first drink in more than 7 months.

Steve-O drops some insight into the struggles Bam and other alcoholics face on a daily basis -- with a spot-on metaphor for the whole situation. He also has an opinion on Bam's claim he had been sober since he went to rehab back in January following his DUI arrest.

If there's one person who can get through to Bam ... it's got to be Steve-O.

Ben Affleck has had a rough time, and not just for a few weeks or months ... and the only thing that has spared him from a complete crash and burn is his children.

Sources directly connected to Ben tell us he has been fighting a losing battle with booze for 18 months. He's had periods of sobriety and then lapsed back deep into the bottle. TMZ broke the story ... it came to a head Wednesday when Jennifer Garner staged an intervention and drove him to a rehab facility.

We're told when Ben has been at his lowest over the last 18 months -- and there have been multiple times during that period when he hit bottom -- it seemed hopeless, and the only way he was able to pull himself out of the spiral was the love for his children and the realization of the consequences if something truly tragic happened to him.

Ben has had sporadic contact with the kids. Jen has been careful to protect the 3 children when Ben was in free fall, so there were periods when he regularly saw children and periods when he didn't.

The sad story ... his alcohol issues have consumed his life for the last year and a half, but hopefully this stint in rehab will get him back on track.

Ben Affleck wanted to get back on the sober train -- badly -- days before his estranged wife staged an intervention and drove him to a rehab facility ... TMZ has learned.

Turns out, Ben had been attending wellness classes at a Los Angeles wellness center as recently as a week before checking into a live-in facility.

The center specializes in "Buddhist ethics" ... meaning meditation with a focus on a healthy body, mind and spirit. Our sources say Ben went on his own accord several times last week ... well aware he had fallen off the wagon and into a downward spiral.

We broke the story ... Ben's estranged wife, Jennifer Garner, staged an intervention Wednesday at his Pacific Palisades home and drove him to an L.A. County rehab facility where he will live for at least 30 days. We're told Ben didn't need much convincing because he knew he was in desperate straits.

We're told the trigger for Jen was on Monday, when she saw this pic (below) of Ben accepting delivery of a box full of beer and hard liquor.

The actor has been open about his struggles with sobriety over the years. After Ben completed his second stint at a rehab facility last year, he said, "I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be. I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step."

He continued, "I'm lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I've done the work I set out to do."

Here's the reality ... most addicts relapse. It doesn't mean they can't eventually stay sober, but it's a long, difficult road and falling off the wagon is not necessarily game over. The most important thing ... it's clear Ben realized he had a problem and sought help, even before Jen staged the intervention.

8/23 -- The photo above is Affleck at Jack in the Box, where he stopped before arriving at the rehab center.

8/22 7:20 PM PT -- We've learned Ben has arrived at a live-in rehab facility and will check in for an extended period of time.

Jennifer Garner has staged an intervention to help Ben Affleck, and TMZ has learned Ben wanted the help and agreed to go to rehab.

Jennifer went to Ben's Pacific Palisades home Wednesday afternoon to sit down with her estranged husband, begging him to get help. We've learned Ben didn't need begging ... he knows he needs help and was receptive.

Jen and Ben drove off at around 6 PM PT from the house ... and sources say the destination is a rehab facility. Our sources say Ben will enter a facility in L.A. County. We just found out they stopped at a Jack in the Box en route to the rehab place.

We're told Ben fell off the wagon a while ago, and has gotten progressively worse.

Our sources say the tipping point came 2 days ago when Jen saw a pic of Ben grabbing a box from a delivery man ... a box filled with beer and liquor.

Ben has been to rehab before ... back in 2001 for alcohol abuse. He also went back to rehab last December.

Jen filed for divorce in April, 2017 ... 2 years after they announced their split. The former couple remained close -- partly for their 3 kids -- and they are still not officially divorced.

Ben showed signs of excessive drinking when he took his date Playboy Playmate Shauna Sexton to Nobu in Malibu last week. His face was blotchy and he looked disheveled.

Give Shaun Weiss this -- he's got a helluva sense of humor. Check out how the guy who played Goldberg in "The Mighty Ducks" announced checking into rehab.

Shaun posted an emotional but also hilarious message Tuesday on Facebook announcing he's checked into a long-term rehab center. TMZ broke the story ... Shaun was busted earlier this month for public intoxication. Shaun spent a few hours in the drunk tank and, though he wasn't cited, his arrest did produce this incredibly sad mug shot that had his fans feeling bummed for him.

Shaun wrote, "At this time, in an effort to break free from the self destructive patterns of behavior and drug abuse that have landed me at rock bottom, (to be real... BELOW rock bottom. Even rock bottom is like 'holy sh!t, how'd you get all the way down there?') I have checked in to a well reguarded, long term rehabilitation center. I have surrendered to the reality that without immediate treatment my life is in eminant danger. My spirit was until recently depleted, weak and shrouded by darkness has been renewedby the overwhelming out-pouring of love and support from fans of my early work as an actor."

The man who showed up at Demi Lovato's home and allegedly smoked drugs with her hours before her OD is no stranger to the law -- cops nabbed him in a huge bust one month before he connected with the singer.

Brandon Johnson was arrested back in March with a stash of guns, drugs and cash ... according to law enforcement. When cops picked him up in North Hollywood he allegedly had narcotics, a fully loaded semi-automatic handgun and $10k in his pocket.

Officers then searched Johnson's home and say they discovered more guns, drugs and ammo. He was also arrested in June and charged with DUI and possession of cocaine.

TMZ broke the story ... Demi had been in contact with Johnson since April, and sources say he had supplied her with drugs.

We're also told Johnson is the man Demi texted to come over at 4 AM the morning she overdosed after freebasing Oxycodone potentially laced with fentanyl.

A source connected to Brandon tells us he's been telling friends he and Demi have had a "romantic relationship" but other sources say there was no romantic relationship. We're also told he denies "dealing" her drugs.

Demi Lovato's near-death OD began at 4 AM July 24, when she texted a drug dealer to come to her house ... sources tell TMZ.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us, Demi had been at a party in WeHo following a birthday celebration at Saddle Ranch on the Sunset Strip. After the drug dealer got the text, he came to her house and we're told the 2 of them freebased Oxycodone on tin foil.

Our sources say unbeknownst to Demi, the drug dealer had a bad habit of buying dirty drugs from Mexico ... and the batch in question appeared to be laced with fentanyl -- that's the same drug that killed Prince and Lil Peep.

We're told the dealer fled her home when he noticed she was in bed, breathing very heavily.

Our sources say Demi had been using the dealer since April.

TMZ broke the story ... someone on Demi's staff found her around 11:30 AM on the 24th. She had to be revived with Narcan.

Demi was hospitalized for 2 weeks and then went to an out-of-state rehab facility. Last Friday, she and her mom flew to Chicago for a few days where she received treatment from a renowned addiction specialist.

Demi Lovato left her rehab facility Thursday and flew to Chicago, but we've learned the trip was organized by doctors and designed to make her sober and healthy.

Sources with firsthand knowledge tell us, Demi and her mom landed in Chicago on a private jet at 2 AM Friday. We're told she's there to see a psychiatrist who specializes in mental health, sobriety and overall wellness.

Our sources say Demi will be in Chicago for several days for treatment, and then she'll fly back to reenter the rehab facility where she's been since last Saturday.

Our sources say the rehab facility recommended that Demi see the specialist in Chicago, and she jumped at it.

TMZ broke the story ... Demi almost died after OD'ing last month.

We're told she's fully committed to getting better.

It's becoming more clear now that Demi Lovato will be in treatment for a lengthy period of time ... canceling the remaining shows on her tour.

Demi's Tell Me You Love Me tour dates in Mexico and South America have been scrapped. The news comes on the heels of Demi leaving Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A. just days ago and jetting outside of California to a rehab facility.

The singer was scheduled to perform September 20 and 22 in Mexico but those dates have been canceled. Also canceled is her 6-city tour in Chile, Argentina and Brazil slated for November.

Live Nation and Lotus Productions "wish Demi Lovato the best now and in the future and we hope to see her soon in South America." Refunds will be made available beginning Friday.

TMZ broke the story ... Demi's entered rehab at one of the nation's leading facilities for addiction.

Shaun Weiss -- who played Goldberg in "The Mighty Ducks" -- has been in a downward spiral for years, according to a longtime friend who is worried about the former child star's fate.

The friend, Marni Gairhan, has known Shaun for more than 13 years, and she tells us Weiss has battled substance abuse issues and picked the wrong crowd to hang with for way too long.

Following Shaun's public intoxication bust over the weekend, friends of the actor feel it's time to push him towards rehab. They fear for Shaun's life and believe he's hit rock bottom -- as his mug shot clearly shows.

Shaun's downward spiral dates back to the death of his father 3 years ago, Marni says. Since then, Weiss has been arrested for possession of meth and sentenced to 150 days in jail for stealing -- on top of last weekend's trip to the drunk tank.

Shaun found steady work after the 3 'Ducks' movies, but it's been a couple of years since his last acting gig. He would tell friends he was working on different projects, but no one ever saw the finished products.

After finding Shaun sleeping on her porch one night last year, Marni decided it was time to contact his niece. Weiss didn't like that, Marni says, and he began to distance himself from his friends.

Still, Marni wants Shaun to get help and she's started a GoFundMe to pay for his rehab.