Globe 1982, by Malcolm Boyles, Joanna Patyn and Richard Mortlock
Lovesick And Suicide ScareFriends tell of heartache over losing Victoria.
Pop singer Andy Gibb is so shattered over his break-up with Dallas star Victoria Principal that friends fear for his safety.
When the 24-year-old heart-throb didn't show up for a recent taping of his Solid Gold TV series, rumors began flying that he had tried to kill himself with a drug overdose. Victoria was shocked when she heard the stories, and anxiously telephoned her jilted lover to see if he was all right, says one insider.
Dick Ashby, who manages Andy's brothers, Bee Gees Barry, Maurice and Robin---told GLOBE: "We heard rumors about Andy's suicide attempt, and the family called to make sure he was okay. Barry Gibb's wife spoke to him last night, and he sounded very calm."
The rumors turned out to be false, but many of Andy's friends are terrified that they may soon come true.
"Andy is suffering great grief over the end of his romance with Victoria," reveals one friend.
"He can't believe she dumped him, and he's taking it very hard. Some of us are worried that if he keeps punishing himself, there could be tragic consequences."
"You can't solve this kind of hurt with booze and pills."
GLOBE has learned that Andy has booked a private room at a hospital in Santa Barbara, California, "to rest in complete privacy."
Victoria, 32, broke off the year long romance in February --- on the eve of Andy's birthday. The split followed weeks of bitter quarreling sparked by Andy's pubic announcement that the couple planned to marry.
The last straw occurred during the taping of the Night Of 100 Stars television special in New York City. Andy insisted that Victoria sit on the stage at his feet while he sang love songs to her. She didn't want to, because she felt it was immature, but finally relented at the urging of the audience.
One of Victoria's friends on the Dallas set says, "that did it for her, she kept telling Andy not to be so infatuated with her."
His constant phone calls and surprise visits had started to annoy her badly. She felt smothered and trapped by his affection---and decided she had to end the romance before things got even worse.
Another friend says Victoria accepted a dinner invitation from Andy a few days after they split.
"They went to dinner, but Victoria says it wound up in a fight---with a punch thrown---because she refused to resume the romance," the friend told GLOBE.
Victoria announced the next day that she was flying to Hawaii to film a commercial. But insiders believe she secretly checked into a private hospital to undergo minor plastic surgery.
"The minute she returned, Andy phoned to plead for a reconciliation," says the friend. "But she ended it for good then."
Victoria has confided to friends that she and Andy fought nonstop for several weeks leading up to the split. Their fights often exploding into physical violence.
"There's no way they will ever get back together," says one close friend. "It's over forever."
"Now we're all just hoping that Andy's hospitalization will help him get back to normal."
NOTE: THIS IS A TABLOID MAGAZINE ARTICLE, THEREFORE ONE MUST TAKE THIS ARTICLE WITH A "GRAIN OF SALT" SO TO SPEAK.
