Michaele Salahi dropped from ‘Celebrity Rehab’

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

People who have long known Michaele and Tareq Salahi — who forever will be labeled the “White House Crashers,” no matter how often they dispute it — are not surprised by the couple’s latest media splash.

“When I heard Michaele was going to be on ‘Celebrity Rehab,’ I just laughed out loud,” a Washington, D.C., insider smirked Wednesday.

“These people will stop at nothing to keep themselves in the spotlight — even going on a TV reality show about addictions!”

When the producers of the show announced Salahi was being dropped from the next season’s ensemble of folks fighting addiction, the source was not surprised.

“Michaele may be addicted to fame, but I’ve never heard she had any issues with drugs, alcohol or even an eating disorder,” added the source, who often has interacted with the Salahis on the D.C. and Northern Virginia social scenes.

A statement from “Celebrity Rehab” said, “Producers were advised that Michaele Salahi met the criteria to be treated in this setting. However, professional assessments found she did not meet such criteria” for the VH1 show run by Dr. Drew Pinsky.

† In the wake of her rejection, Michaele’s husband raised the threat of legal action — claiming his wife was dumped unfairly, since he said she needs treatment to deal with managing her multiple sclerosis. Tareq Salahi called that a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

A “Celebrity Rehab” insider said Wednesday, “We’re not worried. This is all a ridiculous interpretation of addiction and what our show is all about.”

† Replacing Salahi on the show will be actress Sean Young, who has a history of battling alcohol and drug use. She will join already announced participants Jeremy Jackson, Bai Ling, Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler and “Long Island Lolita” Amy Fisher.

PLEASE GET HELP: Charlie Sheen may be breaking Twitter records for snaring the most followers, but a number of his true Hollywood pals have come to realize this ongoing celebrity train wreck is getting to be too much.

I’ve heard that Sean Penn, Mel Gibson and others who long have been close to the axed “Two and a Half Men” star are telling Sheen he needs to scale back his “Sheen’s Korner” online rants and seek professional, psychological counseling.

† Here’s a reminder of just how long Sheen has lived on the edge. A very reliable BZ source shared this Chicago tale from the early 1990s:

It was at “a small private party Planet Hollywood was hosting for Charlie. Naturally, the guest of honor was late. At the time the reason given to us by the manager seemed bizarre, but now we know it was just a regular day for Charlie.”

The source reports Sheen was busy with hookers and doing drugs in a nearby private room — “too busy to come to his own party!”

When he did show, “he was dressed in silk pajamas and had a scantily attired young woman on each arm, and could barely carry on a conversation.”

DOWN THE AISLE? Word has it Madonna’s ex-hubby, director Guy Ritchie, plans to marry his pregnant girlfriend, model Jacqui Ainsley, before she gives birth to the couple’s first child in September.

IN THE FUTURE: While Gwyneth Paltrow has made it clear she’s eager to record an album in the wake of her musical success with “Country Strong,” the report she’s inked a deal already is premature.

The Oscar winner’s spokesman says there’s no deal done with any record company — yet. As gossip cop.com points out, “the operative word is ‘yet’”

SEX TAPE? While Bobby Brown is denying online reports his and Whitney Houston’s daughter Bobbi Kristina has used cocaine, there has been no response to the rumor of a sex tape involving the couple’s 18-year-old daughter — allegedly made when she was only 16, and still a minor.

SEEN ON THE SCENE: The owners of the Prasino La Grange restaurant, the Maglaris family, were delighted when Gov. Quinn popped in for dinner the other night, happily chatting about the eatery’s focus on local growers and organic farmers. … Chicago Bear Israel Idonije — just back from visiting his Canadian hometown — got his steak fix at Chicago Cut. … Speaking of beefing up, Reba McEntire, George Strait and Lee Ann Womack celebrated the end of their tour together at Morton’s in Rosemont — delighted when another guest gifted McEntire with a cake toasting her recent induction in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Bill Zwecker reports on “Good Day Chicago” and “Fox Chicago News at 9” on WFLD-Channel 32.