Britney Spears News

Less than 24 hours after checking into the Promises treatment center in Malibu, California, on Monday. Britney Spears has abruptly exited the facility, a source confirms to E! Online.

It was Spears' second short-lived rehab attempt in just days. Last week, the troubled pop star briefly entered Eric Clapton's Crossroads Center in Antigua, but checked out a day later.

Shortly thereafter, she returned to Los Angeles and gave herself the buzz cut heard round the world.

The drastic new 'do didn't keep Spears from hitting the clubs over the weekend, though she covered her shorn scalp with a wig. But on Monday, at the urging of her family, Spears decided to give treatment another shot and checked herself into Promises, where the average stay is 45 days.

Her manager, Larry Rudolph, confirmed Tuesday that the 25-year-old singer had voluntarily entered rehab, telling E! News' Ryan Seacrest that Spears was determined to focus on her recovery.

"We ask that the media respect her privacy as well as those of her family and friends at this time," Rudolph said in a statement.

Rudolph's privacy plea apparently fell on deaf ears, as paparazzi photos of a bald-headed Spears taking a smoking break within the confines of the treatment center surfaced on the Internet Tuesday afternoon.

A source tells E! Online that Spears was furious about the photographs, which directly contributed to her decision to leave Promises.

Unsurprisingly, Spears' friends and family aren't happy that she has given up on rehab once again.

"Everyone in the family is crying and beside themselves," a close family friend tells E! Online's Marc Malkin. "To say that the family is devastated is beyond an understatement. Nobody knows what to do."

Getting through to Spears is increasingly difficult, as the troubled star has been avoiding contact with those close to her by changing her cell phone numbers on a weekly basis, the friend said.

Meanwhile, as their mother continues to battle her demons, 17-month-old Sean Preston and five-month-old Jayden James are reportedly in good hands.

"The kids are being well taken care of," Rudolph told People magazine.

Under the temporary custody agreement reached by Spears and her estranged husband, Kevin Federline, last month, she has primary custody of the children, while he has visitation rights.

Federline and his lawyer have asked for an emergency hearing Thursday in family court. There is no word on what he will request, but the implication is that he will seek full custody in the wake of Spears' recent antics.

However, a Federline "friend" told People that the would-be rapper has no plans to use Spears' issues against her in an attempt to gain custody of their children.

"It's not about getting the kids away from Britney. He's just worried about making sure he can see them," the anonymous pal said.

The same source claimed Federline recently urged his ex to seek treatment.

"Kevin wanted her to get help so she could be a good mother for their kids and not end up dead," the friend told the magazine. "He just couldn't take it anymore. He was desperate for her to get help."