TMZ Has Standards, Practices 34406

On Wednesday, we posted a throwaway punchline that involves three of our favorite topics: Britney Spears, the paparazzi, and TMZ. (We wouldn’t be the first to point out that, like most of our subject matter, the term “crack team” could be used to describe each of them in one context or another.)

It turns out, our throwaway punchline may have been a tad misleading.

TMZ reported a “gaggle of paparazzi” hired a helicopter to track Britney to the Promises rehab clinic in Malibu, to which we gaffawed, “And those shots will, of course, be purchased by TMZ.”

Not so, we’re told.

Immediately following our report, TMZ sent us a note stating, “TMZ did NOT purchase these pictures??? and doesn???t intend to purchase pics of Britney (or anyone for that matter) on the grounds at a rehab facility.” We asked for a follow up to confirm we read their email correctly, and sure enough, it’s the case.

TMZ chief Harvey Levin may not have a firm policy on much (like making Paris Hilton cry, or turning “Firecrotch” into a household name), but trafficking in photos of celebs in rehab is strictly off limits. Covering the coverage of Britney Spears, however, remains entirely fair game. (Hell, that’s been our M.O. from Day One.)