EXCLUSIVE: Kari Ann's Mom Describes Her Downward Spiral
Aug. 19 2009, Published 4:48 a.m. ET
Hobnobbing with celebrities on the red carpet of the Oscars is one thing, but frolicking naked with them in a hotel room is another. The mother of Kari Ann Peniche, a former Miss Teen USA and the third person in the recent Eric Dane/Rebecca Gayheart naked threesome tape, spoke to RadarOnline.com exclusively about how her daughter went from an innocent Oregon girl-next-door to a fast-living Hollywood hopeful.
Click here for more details about the steamy video
"There's no part of the video that I like, let's put it that way. I don't approve of any of it, but then again when she did Playboy I didn't approve of that," Lee Ann told RadarOnline.com. "I support my daughter; I don't always support her decisions."
Click here for Lee Ann's take on Mindy McCready, the person who allegedly leaked the tape
"She moved to LA five years ago for eight weeks and she never came back," she said. "Doors were opened because of the title. But it's a little bit more of a fast lane in Los Angeles and she's responsible for her own choices but she was far too trusting of a person. She's a good person but she's made some poor choices and has obviously been around the wrong people."
Lee Ann pinpointed a specific time which seemed to forever alter the course of her daughter's life. Shortly after moving to Los Angeles, Kari Ann became involved with a man who physically abused her. After a year, the case was settled with a plea bargain.
"It was very sad. That was the turning point for my daughter. She had everything going for her, whether or not I approved of it, meaning the Playboy. Everything got derailed for her, and you know how it goes, you only have so many opportunities in life."
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While she says Kari Ann is "devastated" by the recent turn of events, the former beauty queen is "keeping her chin up and trying to keep a smile on her face."
Click here for Kari Ann's recent bikini photo shoot
For now, the family is remaining hopeful Kari Ann is still on the path of recovery and health despite the current downturn. While Lee Ann admits she's not sure how effective the show Celebrity Rehab was in purging her daughter of addictions, it brought helpful resources in dealing with her problems.
"In talking to Dr. Drew, who consults on the show it was very enlightening. He's been very supportive of us. I've spoken with him a couple of times since the show and obviously my daughter needed help and his philosophy was it doesn't matter why somebody does that but he can help them. I think he did. Do I think she's cured? I don't know, this is all new to me and we're trying to listen to the experts and do everything we can to support her."