By Jennifer Martinez
Special to the Mercury News
Article Launched: 09/24/2007 11:44:16 AM PDT




We knew it: Britney Spears' former bodyguard announced this morning what we've all been suspecting for months: he's seen her use drugs.

Tony Barretto told Matt Lauer on "The Today Show" that he witnessed Spears using drugs on two occasions, both times "in a nightclub in Los Angeles." Barretto, also known as "Fat Tony," was Spears' bodyguard for two months after she left rehab. He was later fired.

"The incident happened at her table. She had me hold up a curtain, to make her area private," Barretto said.

The second drug use incident he said he witnessed was in a private restroom secured for Spears at a club.

"She was in there for some time alone," Barretto recalled. "And I thought it'd be appropriate to check on her. And I knocked and peaked in, and I observed this behavior."

Barretto said he never witnessed Spears using drugs in front of her two boys, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1 (thank goodness!). He admitted to Lauer that he had seen Spears drink alcohol when her sons were around, however.

"That would be up to the courts to decide whether that was abuse or just a drink," Barretto said. Check out the full "Today Show" interview at TMZ (www.tmz.com), or a truncated version at People Magazine (www.people.com).

VH1's "Best Week Ever," deemed last week as Spears' worst week ever. Is it possible to sink any lower? It's only Monday, but it doesn't look like things are looking up for poor Brit this week