While some are wondering about Sam Lufti's role in Britney Spear's dysfunctional entourage, talk-show queen bee Barbara Walters considers Lufti a benevolent force in the wayward singer's careening life. Speaking yesterday on The View, Walters told her minions that Sammy called her to talk about Britney and said the troubled pop singer is suffering from treatable mental issues, is seeing a psychiatrist, and is on speaking terms with her mother. "He seemed to be very knowledgeable, and he was certainly very nice," Walters said.

But the melee outside Brit's home last night suggests the singer and Sam aren't so peachy. Following an unseemly spat, Brit was left crying amid a pack of paparazzi as Lufti drove away. Boy-pal Adnan Ghalib, himself a pap, says Spears then beckoned for him, but he was unable to get past brutish security guards, who, it is said, were under strict orders by Lufti not to let him in.

A contradictory Us Weekly report claims the mess ensued after Lufti insisted Britney see a shrink and talk to her mother and (but didn't he tell Barbara that Brit was already doing that?). Us also reports that Brit's parents came over to get in on the action—the Huffington Post called it a "possible intervention."

But Lufti doesn't come off nearly as well inside next month's issue of Blender. Danny Haines, a 29-year-old who meet Lufti over the Internet (yes!) in 2005, tells the music rag that Sam had fits of violent jealousy throughout their friendship. Haines eventually had to take a restraining order out against him when they parted ways. Supposedly, Lufti harassed him, e-mailing naked pictures of him to his friends and family. (Question: What sort of pals have naked pics of each other?)

In other, better news, Brit's showing her boobs! Patience, pervs! The titty flash isn't until the very end.