Return to Transcripts main page

Jane Velez-Mitchell

Royal Prank Blamed for Nurse`s Death; George Zimmerman Sues NBC Over Editing of 911 Tapes

Aired December 07, 2012 - 19:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST: It was shocking news that caused all of us to say, "Oh, no." Reaction pouring in from around the globe tonight to the apparent suicide of the nurse who was helping to take care of Duchess Kate. Why did this happen? What should happen to the DJs who made the prank call? Next.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VELEZ-MITCHELL (voice-over): Tonight, shock across the globe over the suicide of a nurse at the hospital for Prince William`s pregnant wife, Kate. The very nurse duped by DJs pretending to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles. What should happen to those DJs? And will this finally change how the paparazzi press deals with royalty?

And new accusations in the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin shooting as lawsuits fly. Why Zimmerman is taking aim at a media powerhouse and claims prosecutors withheld a crucial photo from the public that would have shown his side, but is this just spin from a man who admits he gunned down an unarmed teen?

Then, country superstar LeAnn Rimes is rocked and rolled by new charges and controversy in a Twitter war with her husband`s ex-wife. "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Brandi Glanville is trading accusations over everything, from laxatives to parenting.

Tonight "Fashion Police" star Giuliana Rancic joins me with the 411 on her emotional "E! News" sit-down with LeAnn about how America`s sweetheart became known as a home wrecker.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Earlier this week Jacintha Saldanha fell victim to the prank and put this hoax call through to Kate`s nurse.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very tragic, very ugly turn in what was otherwise a relatively light-hearted story. A couple of days ago, remember an Australian radio station made a prank call to this hospital.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The prank that took place was -- clearly so affected this woman that she committed suicide.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the entire world is really reeling at this incident.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If they thought it was hilarious, it really wasn`t, because the most tragic outcome of that stupid prank has happened. The nurse who took that call and transferred that call to the ward where the duchess was staying, that nurse has now committed suicide.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we`re seeing you mentioned the Australian DJs` reaction, I know, on Twitter. People basically saying are you proud now? You know? Are you proud of this prank now?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: A royal radio prank turns tragic. A collective gasp around the world tonight as we all were stunned and horrified by the news that a nurse duped by a prank phone call from some DJs on the other side of the world. That nurse has committed suicide.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jacintha was a first-class nurse who cared diligently for hundreds of patients during her time with us. Everyone is shocked by the loss of a much-loved and valued colleague.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Two Australian DJs prank-called the hospital where Duchess Catherine Middleton was being cared for, and they pretended to be the Queen of England and the Prince of Wales with very, very unbelievable accents, but poor taste has now taken a dreadful, heartbreaking turn, gut- wrenching.

The nurse receptionist who was fooled by that call and put them through to the nurse caring for the duchess. Well, that nurse gave out some information on her condition. The whole thing was broadcast on the radio, making everybody involved the butt of many jokes. People around the world listened to that prank call. Of course, many were horrified, but some laughed along with the DJs, all as the nurse receptionist`s expense.

The hospital stood by that nurse, and the royal family never complained, instead complimenting the staff for their care. Prince Charles even managed to make a light-hearted comment about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your royal highness, what`s your reaction to the news about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge?

PRINCE CHARLES, UNITED KINGDOM: How do you know I`m not a radio station?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: The international scrutiny and mockery may simply have been too much for this woman, Jacintha Saldanha, the poor nurse who answered that call.

Straight out to CNN royal correspondent Max Foster in London. Max, we`re learning new information about this beloved nurse, her children, the circumstances of her answering the phone, which I understand was very early in the morning. What do you know?

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it`s all speculation at the moment. I mean, we do know that she had two young children and a husband, and she was staying in hospital accommodations just around the corner from here. She wasn`t living with her family at that time. They were living elsewhere. So they`d meet up on weekends. So she wasn`t with them, at least, at the time.

And she was a nurse. I mean, why was a nurse answering calls at reception? Maybe she wasn`t qualified to do that. Maybe she was filling in. These are the questions people are asking.

But certainly, a call coming through shouldn`t be put straight through to the royal ward. And then the nurse that eventually gave the information out, perhaps she assumed it was, you know, a decent call. The call came through.

There was a problem with the call going through. Many people were blaming the hospital and the receptionist, and it turns out that receptionist was Jacintha, and she`s taken her own life, apparently. They`re certainly not looking for anyone else in connection with this. They`re not saying it was suicide, but that`s what people are assuming is the case.

It`s just a terrible, terrible tragedy for her and I suspect, I mean, listening to Prince Charles there, speaking yesterday. I suspect he`ll be having second thoughts about joking about the fact that these prank calls went through.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, this is a story, I think, that hit us in the gut. When I heard it this morning, I just went -- no! No! Because it`s just so heartbreaking that something so stupid and inane ends up -- a woman ends up taking her own life.

The Australian radio station that these DJs worked for has released a statement. IN part, it says the DJs are, quote, "both deeply shocked and at this time we`ve agreed they have not -- no comment. The hosts have decided that they will not return to their radio show until further notice out of respect for what can only be described as a tragedy."

But Michael Billy, you are a TV and radio host. You know what it`s like to churn out hours and hours of radio. Here`s what gets me. OK. This call happened Tuesday morning. Then the whole world kind of reacted to it, and a lot of people said it was in very poor taste.

Well, guess what? These DJs, even after the show apologized on Wednesday, these two DJs continued to tweet about it and joke about it, promising, quote, "more on the #RoyalPrank." It wasn`t until word of this woman`s life ending that the Twitter page was taken down. Your reaction, Michael?

MICHAEL BILLY, TV/RADIO HOST: It`s disgusting and amateurish. Look, I was a comedian. I started out in radio. I used to work in a morning show, OK? This is lazy, stupid comedy. That`s the only way I can describe it.

There are innocent victims when you write a joke or you do a bit on the radio or television. These are -- it seems like these stupid jocks who just don`t think through their programming. Give it a little bit more thought. There`s ways to be entertaining without hurting other people, especially innocent bystanders like this poor woman.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. That`s the thing. It takes a little more cleverness, a little more cleverness to be entertaining without being vile, OK? It takes more intelligence.

Put-down humor, I`ve never liked it. I can`t tell you how many comedy shows I`ve walked out of. Insulting people based on their race, ethnicity or their gender isn`t funny to me. It`s vulgar, and it`s disgusting.

And this is another kind of prank that takes what`s supposed to be joyous and turns it into something now that has this pall of sadness over it. And I feel very bad for Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge. This has got to affect what`s supposed to be a completely joyous process.

We are now learning that this isn`t the very first time that these two DJs have been in trouble. Listen to this from Melanie Bromley, senior editor for "E! News."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MELANIE BROMLEY, SENIOR EDITOR, "E! NEWS": Well this radio station actually has a history of being in trouble and doing, like, prank calls as one incident that`s being reported in "The Guardian" newspaper where they had a 14-year-old girl, had her hooked up to a lie detector test in which she admitted that she had been raped. So they`ve been...

VELEZ-MITCHELL: What?

BROMLEY: ... in trouble before. They`ve had their knuckles rapped before.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Vera Davis, Atlanta radio personality, joining us by phone. They have done other very tasteless, at the very least tasteless, pranks before. Your reaction to this royal prank that turned tragic?

VERA DAVIS, ATLANTA RADIO PERSONALITY: I actually think -- I actually feel bad for them, if you can believe that. I think they`re getting a bad rap. I think this kind of thing goes on from everybody from Ellen DeGeneres to Howard Stern. They did a bit. They got through. It got them national attention, and why would aren`t they be publicizing this?

Of course, this is an extreme tragedy that nobody expected to happen. You said it yourself. Prince Charles was joking about this. This was everything from "Punk`d" to "Candid Camera." They did a prank, they got through.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Michael -- OK. Michael Billy, you want to respond, double box it?

BILLY: Absolutely being too easy on these two. This is a good example to bring forth the conversation on respectable and responsible entertainment.

Look, I know firsthand that these kind of gags go on all the time and that`s why it`s important to have this conversation about these types of gags.

This is a -- they`re causing a woman to go against the policy that she`s sworn into on medical confidentiality, asking somebody to go completely against that, and that`s a prank? A woman may lose her job because of this prank, and that`s where you draw the line and I don`t believe everyone is doing that type of prank.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now, to me, I say how does this affect the royals? The woman who is carrying a child, her husband, Prince William, he grew up in front of the cameras. Always an enormous media presence following him. As soon as he was engaged, he was asked about kids of his own. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People are bound to ask, you know, it`s a bit of an obvious question but children, do you want lots of children? Is you know -- see what comes? What`s your...

PRINCE WILLIAM, UNITED KINGDOM: I think we`ll take it one step at a time. We`ll get over the marriage thing first and then maybe look at the kids. But obviously, we want a family, so you know, we`ll have to start thinking about that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: We remember him as a boy walking in his mother`s funeral. I was there in London, standing right in that crowd, watching him walk by. He`s had his whole life facing scrutiny.

Simone Dien (ph), you`re a relationship therapist. How is this tragedy going to possibly affect these two royals and the child they`re carrying?

SIMONE DIEN (PH), RELATIONSHIP THERAPIST: Well, of course, it`s going to put a blight on the early stages of pregnancy. And as you said so well, Jane, you know, this is supposed to be such a joyous occasion.

But if we single William out, Prince William, we know that from his early age he has suffered a huge loss with a woman that is important to him, a woman that was caring for him, Princess Diana. Here yet again, you have a woman who is part of caring for his wife at a really delicate, important time when she was obviously going through a difficult stage in her pregnancy. And yet again there is another death, another huge loss he has to deal with.

So we can only imagine how traumatic it is. And I know people who know Prince William who worked with him in the British army and who have just said, actually, you know, he is such a nice, kind guy. Of course, they are going to feel responsible for this. It`s tragic.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, Mara Davis, I know you don`t think it`s such a big deal what they did, even though you obviously share the fact that it`s a tragedy that this woman took her life.

But I think that this is going to impact how the paparazzi press treat the royals, finally. There was a huge uproar after Princess Diana died. There were many factors. But one of them certainly was that she was being chased in her vehicle by the paparazzi through Paris. And now we have this.

I think that there has to be a sea change in how the royals are treated when you have a woman who is pregnant. That`s where you draw the line, Mara.

DAVIS: Here`s what with I`m going to say. A couple of months ago we saw Prince Harry shooting pool in the nude. Now, was that compromising his security there? There were people in the room taking pictures.

This kind of thing is going to happen with the royals forever. This is a tragedy, no one is debating that, but this is something that is going to continue to happen. Is it more extraordinary than every other circumstance? Yes. Would this have blown over in a couple of days? Yes. This woman clearly had some issues before this happened. She felt terrible. It`s a tragedy.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: No, no, you know, Mara, I have to say you`re underestimating, I think, the level of humiliation and guilt that`s involved in some anonymous person who feels so overjoyed to be near the royals doing something like this and the shame that they feel.

On the other side of the break we`re talking George Zimmerman. .

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Someone here opened the door. And I said help me, help me and someone had a flashlight. and I thought it was a police officers. As the police officer came around and I saw the police officer and I stood up and I holstered my weapon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Tonight, new secrets, new images of a bloody George Zimmerman emerge in the shooting case of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Suspected shooter George Zimmerman and his attorney making new demands.

Zimmerman, A volunteer night watchman accused of shooting Trayvon while the teen was holding just Skittles and a can of iced tea. Listen to the 911 call that he made to the cops that night, just before the shooting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, ACCUSED SHOOTER: Something`s wrong with him. Yes, he`s coming to check me out. He`s got something in his hands, and I don`t know what his deal is.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you following him?

ZIMMERMAN: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. We don`t need you to do that.

ZIMMERMAN: OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now portions of that 911 call are the reasons Zimmerman and his attorney are suing NBC Universal alleging NBC edited together parts of the 911 to create a false impression that Zimmerman had a racist motive to kill Trayvon. Those are Zimmerman`s attorney`s words, not mine.

Straight out to "In Session" correspondent Jean Casarez in Orlando. Let`s talk about this NBC lawsuit. What is at the heart of it?

JEAN CASAREZ, CORRESPONDENT TRUTV`S "IN SESSION": You know, the heart, it`s a defamation case with intentional infliction of emotional distress, they say.

But the heart of it is not only the editing of the 911 call, they claim, but continual editing, re-editing, March 19, 20, 22 and 27, a rebroadcast. They say that the 911 tape was edited and re-edited during those broadcasts. They also say that the reporters did the lead-ins, what they said as they went to that 911 call, reporting to say that George Zimmerman was a racist.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. The bottom line is that they allege that NBC intentionally edited out the portion where the 911 operator says, "Is he black, white or Hispanic?" And then George Zimmerman responds, "He looks black," and simply used "he looks black" and butted it to some other unflattering comment. Is that correct, Jean?

CASAREZ: Yes, yes. They took out -- the second time the complaint alleges, they took out 46 seconds, so that what you`re left with is "There`s somebody really suspicious here at my complex. He`s black."

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now, what is NBC saying? What`s NBC saying?

CASAREZ: NBC has not responded to the suit. At the time, they apologized so they, in fact, seemed to admit what they had done. They fired a number of employees. They said it was a mistake.

And Mark O`Mara told me it`s no mistake when you edit and re-edit and continue to do it and continue to broadcast it, especially when you have a network that has so many levels of checks, including a legal department.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: On the other side, your interview with Mark O`Mara, the attorney for George Zimmerman.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK O`MARA, ATTORNEY FOR GEORGE ZIMMERMAN: They cut a lot of corners to try and beat the rest of the media to it. And maybe, had they been right, they would have gotten away with it, but they were wrong. And what their -- they turned out to do was to, I think, turn the public against George Zimmerman in a way that was completely outlandishly inappropriate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: That was George Zimmerman`s attorney, and they filed a lawsuit against NBC Universal, claiming the network helped make George Zimmerman one of the most hated man in all of America by portraying him as a racist.

Listen to what the dispatcher asked George Zimmerman when he called 911 shortly before he shot Trayvon Martin dead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZIMMERMAN: This guy looks like he`s up to no good or he`s on drugs or something. It`s raining and he`s just walking around, looking about.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Is this guy white, black or Hispanic.

ZIMMERMAN: He looks black.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you see what he was wearing?

ZIMMERMAN: Yes. A dark hoodie, like a gray hoodie and either jeans or sweatpants and white tennis shoes. He`s -- he`s just staring.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Again, at least two NBC employees were fired as a result of re-editing that 911 call.

NBC`s response to Zimmerman`s lawsuit is there was no intent to portray Mr. Zimmerman unfairly and that NBC plans to vigorously defend their position in court.

Stacey Honowitz, Florida prosecutor, do you think George Zimmerman has a case here?

STACEY HONOWITZ, FLORIDA PROSECUTOR: Well, I think it`s very interesting the fact that they knowingly put out a false, edited tape. That`s the sum and substance of defamation.

I think the area might be -- the issues might lie in did the tape itself cause everyone to turn against him or would they have hated him anyway, even hearing that he shot an unarmed man? So they`re going to have to prove that it was the tape in and of itself and the editing of the tape that caused the damages. That might be the hard part.

But you know what? On its space right now, if you have a false statement and the editing took place and it goes on and on and on, they might have a leg to stand on.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Meanwhile, Mark O`Mara, George Zimmerman`s attorney, was asked whether he would accept a plea deal on behalf of his infamous client, and here`s what he said about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

O`MARA: No. I wouldn`t plea somebody who is innocent to anything. So, I think he is innocent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: No plea deal for the defense here, Stacey Honowitz. In fact, they want to get George Zimmerman`s ankle bracelet removed. This is a very aggressive tactic they`re taking.

HONOWITZ: Yes, I mean, listen. Mark is a very good lawyer. He`s been around for a very long time, and I think he says what he means.

They are saying that he shot in self-defense, that they are going to win that "stand your ground" motion, and that right now he should be entitled to have some type of freedom. So you can make that motion. You can make all the arguments you want, but it`s up to the court to make that decision as to whether or not they`re going to loosen the restrictions that have originally been placed on you.

Remember, there was an incident when he lied under oath, and so we have to go back and look at things that happened up until this point.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Exactly. He`s facing a very serious charge. And he is able to live not behind bars, and so critics would say the least he should do is wear an ankle bracelet.

More on the other side.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

A.J. HAMMER, HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": And the brand-new war of words between LeAnn Rimes and her husband`s ex-wife, Brandi Glanville.

Her affair with her now husband Eddie Cibrian, an affair that took place when they were married to other people. She made the decision to cheat. Now she`s saying she really suffered for it.

LEANN RIMES, SINGER: It was very, very difficult. I wouldn`t wish it on anyone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Tonight the escalating war between country superstar LeAnn Rimes and "Real Housewife of Beverly Hills" star Brandi Glanville takes an ugly turn. New claims tonight by Brandi that her 9-year-old son got sick after eating stepmom LeAnn Rimes` laxatives, saying he thought they were candy.

LeAnn fiercely denying the whole thing, accusing Brandi of spewing inaccuracies to stay relevant and in the news. Meow! Isn`t that species- ist?

Let`s back up for a second here. These two stars have bad blood between them -- that`s an understatement -- stemming from a few years back.

We all know LeAnn from her hit songs like this one from Curb Records.

(MUSIC)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Brandi is not one to shy away from the camera, appearing on Bravo`s "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills with a splash.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRANDI GLANVILLE, "REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS": It`s hard for, I guess, women to be happy for other women. You have to meditate instead of just being happy for them.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I agree.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You`re, like, just say congratulations.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Brandi, you were the first one to attack everyone in the book.

GLANVILLE: It`s been like a hot minute.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Three women die every single day from domestic violence.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s not either, it`s about women that are dying --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is none of your business.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: The battle started when Leann cheated on her husband with Brandi`s then husband heartthrob Eddie Cibrian. Leann went immediately from "America`s sweetheart" to a so-called "home wrecker". Listen as Leann emotionally defends this love affair in an interview with E! News.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEANN RIMES, SINGER: You can`t break what`s broken already. No one (inaudible) personal conversations will ever understand.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: And we are so thrilled to have with us tonight E! News anchor and reality star Giuliana Rancic seen here in a clip from the Style Network.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GIULIANA RANCIC, E! NEWS ANCHOR: I am so excited for Baby Duke`s very first photo shoot. Oh, my God. He`s only two weeks old and he`s already got his own cover.

BILL RANCIC, HUSBAND OF GIULIANA RANCIC: Ai-ai-ai.

G. RANCIC: Watch out, Brad Pitt.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Giuliana, we are so delighted to have you on and we want to tell everybody to watch the special that you are running 8:00 p.m. Eastern this Sunday on E! It`s a must-watch. I`m going to be there with some popcorn to check it out.

G. RANCIC: Yes.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: I have to say, I wonder what Leann experienced being America`s sweetheart one minute and the next minute being known around the world as a home wrecker and what that did to her emotionally and when I watched her cry I thought, wow, this really got to her, didn`t it?

G. RANCIC: Oh, my gosh, absolutely. I think, you know, not many of us know what that feels like. I mean, this woman was in the spotlight since she was a child and was beloved by millions of people for her incredible voice and the music she made. And she went from being America`s sweetheart to a villain, you know?

And to being vilified; and the problem is that she doesn`t -- she`s not equipped to handle this. She`s not equipped to handle what`s happened to her. And I`m not saying that she made a good decision a few years ago when she and Eddie got together, but listen, we all make mistakes, some bigger than others. And I think that at some point when we ask for forgiveness we should be given forgiveness.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: And in her defense it wasn`t like she had a fling and then moved on. It would seem that these two fell in love under very inconvenient circumstances and they ended up moving forward to get married themselves so they did make a commitment. Yes, it`s never a good thing to break up a marriage. That`s a bad thing, but love is incredibly inconvenient and it never shows up in the package you expect. I`ve learned that myself the hard way.

G. RANCIC: Right.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: This latest feud began when Leann tweeted a message to her followers calling her two stepsons "my boys". That sparked immediate backlash and had Brandi tweeting fast and furious saying "Somebody`s trying to get under my skin by calling my children her children."

I`ve got to say, Giuliana, that is kind of pouring salt on the wounds. You take the husband and then, sure, have a great time with the stepkids, but don`t say "my boys". That`s -- you`ve got to know that`s going to have a reaction.

G. RANCIC: Of course. Of course, that`s going to have a reaction. But I will say, I mean those two, the two ladies have had quite a tumultuous relationship over the past few years as you can imagine. And I understand from both sides why one doesn`t like the other or dislikes the other strongly and intensely.

But I think that, listen, I don`t think they`re sadly, ever going to see eye to eye and they both made mistakes through Twitter and through the media in saying things to each other and I don`t -- I don`t know if that`s ever going to change, you know. I don`t know if they`ll ever be able to be friends and I don`t think any of us expect them to have a loving relationship. So I just think between the two women, as long as they can try to be as civil as possible just for the sake of the kids.

But I will say, Jane, I will say in Leann`s defense that she`s very close with those two boys. She takes great care of them. She spends a lot of time with them. From what I hear they love being with Leann. So I think she does have a special connection to them and cares deeply for them.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Oh, I`m sure. It`s an awkward position for everyone. It really is. I can see that.

Leann and Eddie first met as co-stars on the set of the Lifetime movie "Northern Lights". Check this out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EDDIE CIBRIAN, ACTOR: It`s a pleasure to finally meet you.

RIMES: Finally?

CIBRIAN: Yes. I feel like I`ve seen you everywhere since I got here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Of course, as we were discussing, both were married to other people when their affair began.

In her E! News, Leann says she doesn`t regret the affair but she wishes it wouldn`t have hurt everyone so much. Listen to this.

RIMES: I wish I handled it differently because I wish it could have been better for me, for Brandi, for Dean, for Eddie and for everyone else. All I wish is that everyone that was hurt, that we hurt, that I hurt can be happy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: And again, this fascinating special airs on E! at 8:00 p.m. this Sunday. What can you tell us about Leann entering into this in-patient program for stress and anxiety and interest any of the other controversies their tweeting about -- I hate to bring it up -- you know, laxative and that sort of thing.

G. RANCIC: Well, Jane, I`ll tell you, you know what is so interesting about this special that airs this weekend is that it`s actually two interviews in one special. The first interview was conducted before she entered treatment and the second interview was conducted just the other day. And I have to tell you, it is like two completely different women.

You know, the first time I sat down with Leann Rimes several months ago, she was depressed. She had a lot of anxiety. She just seemed like a lost soul. And when I sat down with her the other day it was a completely different person and a total transformation. She seems at peace. She seems at ease. She seems happy and good for her for getting help.

So she says that -- you know, she encourages anyone who`s going through anything painful in their life and considering treatment to, you know, go ahead and pursue it or look into it because it`s certainly helped her.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, Giuliana I want to thank you very much for joining. It`s a delight to talk to you and I will be watching and I hope all our viewers watch your special Sunday on E! at 8:00 p.m. And I certainly hope all the adults involved manage to get along. And mostly I`m concerned about those two boys and I hope that everything is done the right way for those two boys.

More on the other side.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Your "Viral Vid of the Day", ultimate final proof that you should get a shelter dog because they`re so smart they can drive. Don`t doubt the intelligence of shelter dogs. Yes, they drive and stick shifts, too.

My dogs are so smart, but thank God I have not allowed them behind the wheel.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: That`s superstar Leann Rimes from Curb Records and of all of the back and forth the most vile, I think is the controversy about laxatives. I`m kind of embarrassed to bring it up, but it`s part of the story. Leann denies Brandi`s claims about her son allegedly eating laxatives that she claims Leann left around calling Brandi`s public gripes threatening and mean-spirited and an obvious attempt to get attention.

In response, Brandi says she posts things publicly on Twitter because it`s the only way she knows she can get the couple to respond.

I want to go to Alexis Tereszcuk, entertainment editor, RadarOnline, what do you make -- I mean how low can you go? I have no idea if that laxative thing is true. Leann says it`s not. It`s mean spirited. It`s completely inaccurate but even if hypothetically something like that -- to say that publicly, I don`t know. I think that`s not good.

ALEXIS TERESZCUK, RADARONLLINE: You know what; a lot of people are saying is that this is just attention that Brandi`s trying to get for the book that she`s releasing which is as you showed in the clip is about her divorce from Eddie and they`re saying it`s really suspicious that this timing is happening.

Brandi and Leann have actually gotten along. They`ve been photographed in the last I think six months or so at kids` soccer games. They actually seemed to have a good relationship for a little while and now it couldn`t be worse.

Brandi says that Leann is drinking. Leann says -- Eddie comes back and says you know what, Brandi, you`re drinking, too. It`s just -- it`s a horrible, horrible feud right now which is really sad because it had gotten better for a little while.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. But as Giuliana said, now that Leann`s gone through this treatment she`s come out swimmingly and seems to be another person. Billy, at a certain point this has to stop for the sake of these two boys -- this war.

MICHAEL BILLY, TV AND RADIO HOST: Absolutely. I`ve admitted myself to a hospital for treatment as well. And look, to even say the tweet is so irresponsible to think that somebody admitting themselves for treatment to get help is an irresponsible thing. It`s a very responsible thing to do as a parent.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes.

BILLY: So of course, I`m glad to see that she`s doing well and that she`s a good parent. But to go to Twitter, that to me is the irresponsible desperate cry for attention that you`re putting your children -- children - - in the middle of a public feud. There`s no excuse for that.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: And I`ve got to say, if you`re worried about your kids having a whole bunch of fights on a reality show isn`t necessarily the greatest thing you can do for your kids either. They`re going to grow up and they`re going to see that and they`re going to say, you know, what was mommy doing having all these screaming matches on television.

So I`ve just got to say, look, you`re all gorgeous. You should feel very grateful. You have young children in your lives, just be all of you, all three of you be adults, be peaceful, pray for each other or write nice things for each other and try to encourage that peaceful sentiment and you know, stop all of this for the sake of these kids.

On the other side, a rescue like you won`t believe, of a little, tiny Chihuahua who was locked in a rusted cage.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Time for our "Pet of the Day". Very special on a rescue story that will melt your heart -- get ready for Billy the Chihuahua. You won`t believe the circumstances which he was found and what his life is like now. It`s a rags to riches story you`re going to love.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I went to try to open the cage and the latch was actually rusted shut. This was his whole life, really. I don`t think he had come out of that cage in years. What little food and water he had was probably just given through the bars.

His whole bottom jaw, I mean, at least half of it is missing. I mean he was just -- he was just a skeleton under his long fur.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would say severely underweight.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know that there`s a body condition score on there?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s a one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: It`s the story that`s going to break your heart but ultimately melt your heart because it`s a happy ending. An innocent little Chihuahua trapped in the filthy depths of an alleged puppy mill, Billy the Chihuahua. The vets said he was emaciated, depressed and allegedly neglected severely.

Like so many other puppy mill dogs he was living in a hell until a Humane Society worker rescued him in a dramatic raid. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So one of the buildings on the property was what looked to be a small shed. The smell was just horrendous in there. I immediately saw a cage with a small Chihuahua in it. When I got this little guy out, he laid his head on my shoulder, and at that moment I felt responsible for him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: That man Adam Parascandola, director of animal cruelty for the Humane Society of the United States. Adam joins me now with none other than -- let`s see him -- Billy the Chihuahua. Let`s lift him high and let`s see that little guy.

You went in on this raid, and I`d love for you to hold him up because we want to see him as you talk. There we go. There we go. Describe what went through your heart, and the conditions in which you found little Billy.

ADAM PARASCANDOLA, HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I think, I mean, overall the situation was terrible for all of the dogs there. But one of the things where Billy was, was a small shed that really, you would never guess anybody would keep animals in there. I mean it was just a dark, dingy little shed. And there were several dogs in there. And in there was Billy.

And as you saw in the video, his cage door had rusted shut. The lock wouldn`t open. It took me a long time to get it open. I had to bend the bars actually. And it`s really heartbreaking to think that he spent many years -- he`s not a young dog -- so he spent many years in those conditions.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: His little jaw apparently had a problem?

PARASCANDOLA: Yes. Well, when I got him out, he had a number of issues I could tell immediately. He was completely emaciated, as you mentioned. He was just skin and bones under his long fur. You can`t see it when you look at him, because his fur is long. He weighed 2.5 pounds, I think at the time. And his -- the whole part of his bottom jaw, you can see where it`s missing. And that just comes from, you know, having problems, dental problems that never get addressed over time. It just rots away and causes that.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: You say this was a puppy mill. You raided it, along with the sheriff`s department. Is this typical of alleged puppy mills in your opinion?

PARASCANDOLA: yes, I think it is. The conditions we saw were pretty typical. There are -- you know, we often see most commonly failure to provide veterinary care, this kind of mouth disease that gets really horrendously horrible and is never treated. And other kinds of skin conditions as we also saw in this puppy mill in particular.

These are common. Along with the sort of basic everyday lack of attention, and lack of, you know, basic needs, providing the basic needs for these guys, like, you know, what all dogs need, right -- love and attention, good food, a soft place to sleep. These things are often lacking in the puppy mills we go into.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: And the reports say that it was somebody who went to this property to buy a puppy that saw the conditions, and then complained to law enforcement. The message here, don`t buy dogs. There are millions in shelters that are going to be put down if you don`t adopt them, for free. More on the other side.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now, we talked to the owner of the property. He claimed it was an illegal raid. Quote, "We were accused of animal cruelty and went to court. Our lawyers proved the warrant was illegal. It was obtained from a magistrate. It should have come from a district court judge. Still the warrant was upheld over our lawyer`s objection.

So Adam Parascandola, director of animal cruelty for the Humane Society of the United States, I understand there were 80 dogs involved here. We`re talking Chihuahuas, bulldogs, dachshunds, Pomeranians. What happened to those animals?

PARASCANDOLA: Well, all of the -- there were 88 dogs total actually and one cat. All of the 88 dogs -- 87 of the dogs and the one cat were placed. There was unfortunately one dog who had suffered severe heart failure, was in severe heart failure due to untreated heart worm. He unfortunately didn`t make it. But the other 87 and the cat were all found new homes through our Playpen partners there in North Carolina.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Wonderful. Now, let me ask you this question. First of all, hats off to the sheriff`s department for taking this issue seriously, and for enforcing the laws. Couple of seconds -- what would you say to people about not buying dogs from puppy mills?

PARASCANDOLA: Well, I think it`s definitely important that people interested in animals adopt from their local shelters, or rescues. Because buying from pet stores or puppy mills, they -- it -- you`re buying from situations where dogs like Billy came from.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. People don`t know, they don`t know. But now they can see.

Nancy is next.

END