Murphy's Law at FLHH

Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills is now offering parting gifts when they target you as a celebrity grave hunter and give you the heave-ho. Classy privacy policy cards, suitable for framing. Like this one that my friend Shelly and I got yesterday when we visited, and were asked to leave, the grave site area of Brittany Murphy.

Apparently we got further than Brittany's father, Angelo Bertolotti, 84, though. He's in town and was reportedly given the bum's rush at the front gate when he, too, visited Forest Lawn yesterday at approximately 3pm.

"He phoned home in tears," a close Bertolotti family friend told me.

They explained that Mr. B. arrived to the cemetery office and identified himself, then asked for her location.

Denied.

Why?

Not only is he not on the Simon Monjack-Sharon Murphy approved guest list, he heads their list of people permanently banned, I'm told.

This aspect of the story is developing. Let's just say that he has since been given directions.

Further update 2/16/2010: Mr. B.'s son Anthony made a follow up call to Forest Lawn today and related that he was told "only immediate family members" were allowed to visit Brittany's grave. When informed that a father and brother constitute 'immediate family' he was still denied permission to visit and a location, the family friend explained.

This is just another slap in the face to Mr. B., who has "remained stoic" to this point, I'm told. RadarOnline reported how he was not invited to the funeral, and his name under "Father" was left off Brittany's death certificate, replaced with "Unknown." See document here, courtesy of E! Online.

Thank you RadarOnline, RumorRat, TMZ and Access Hollywood for covering this story.

Update 2/17/2010: Mr. B. got to visit his daughter's grave today. Watch Inside Edition 2/18. YAY! :))

In the meantime, it was great to see that Brittany's unmarked grave was adorned with Valentine's Day love, including flowers, butterflies, glitter and outlined in heart-shaped confetti. (Note: FL sources tell me it takes 6-8 weeks for a marker to be installed once it is ordered, and they could not confirm for me whether anything had been ordered for Brittany to-date.)

Interesting to note that the majority of these offerings were left by two caring ladies who tell me that they did this out of love and respect, despite not being on the approved visitor list. Because that's what you do in a cemetery, how you grieve, how you remember the dead -- normally.

"If it's only left up to the approved people to leave flowers and decorate, her grave would be pretty desolate," one of the ladies told me.

Not sure which, if any, were left by Approved People. Maybe they were busy cleaning up this mess, as reported by storybreaker TMZ. See more info at People.com.  Not judging, just sayin. Thank you fans for being there to mark the day.

Shelly and I had been at the site for about ten minutes before a security guard (a Lyle Lovett lookalike-but-younger-and-cuter if I ever saw one) pulled up in his Forest Lawn issued truck and blue blazer, parked and approached us. 

We told him up front that we knew about, but were not on the guest list, but that I had worked with Brittany (true, remember The Torkelsons?) and were paying respects. "You're not taking pictures are you," he asked in an I-know-you-were-but-I'm-giving-you-the-benefit tone, then asked us to move along.

Which we did. Over to nearby Lil Chris Baker.  I wanted to show Shelly an example of the latest memorial marker craze: large, laser etched bronze tablets, his was closest.

That didn't sit well with Officer Lovett who then hiked up the hill after us, labeled us "obvious celebrity grave hunters," handed Shelly the card and asked us to leave the property -- which we did without further incident.

In all fairness, the man was just doing his job and was courteous albeit no-nonsense when giving us the boot.

Sad though. In the end, isn't it all about the love?

Comments

[cade]

As someone who only gets to FL properties about once every 6-8 years...these new security developments sadden me.

[Steve G]

Great job, Lisa, as always!!

[Scott Michaels]

Murphy's Law. You are an incredible writer, Lisa.

[Kathy Charles]

Fantastic post Lisa. I still don't understand why fans are treated so disrespectfully by certain cemeteries. It makes no sense to me. I would think Brittany would be touched that her fans were thinking of her on Valentine's Day.

I do want one of those cards though. I would frame it with pride!

[Lisa Burks]

Thanks, all. Fans are one thing, but someone needs to clear the way to let this man visit his daughter for goodness sakes. Really.

[Lana]

The security at Forest Lawn is becoming more and more unfriendly. Seriously, most of these gravesites would be barren and unvisited if it weren't for fans.

[shocked]

yet somehow it's okay for Conrad Murray to bring a camera crew to Michael Jackson's tomb? well, as long as Forest Lawn is consistent!

[J Edward Stark]

I think everyone is missing the big story regarding the death certificate.

Informant's name - Tayebe Pajooh.

This could quite possibly be the greatest name ever.

[Lori McMahon]

How can a cemetary band anyone (especially a father who just wants to pay respects to his daughter)from visiting any family gravesite. I find that to be flat out rude and morally wrong. FHL is making it difficult and its sad. Its as if you have to carry a golden key around your neck to enter onto the property. Thank you Lisa, keep up the good work.

[Craig]

Lil Chris Baker's memorial location is listed in the official Forest Lawn Burial Location link on their website and also can be obtained directly from the records dept. @ FL, and therefore his grave can be visited by the general public. This is according to FL policy. Inform security of this if they attempt to oust you from the premises.