Patti’s fears over MATTHEW’S PUBLIC MELTDOWN
With her troubled son’s strange behaviour, the Newton matriarch can’t help but worry about his welfare
Patti Newton couldn’t have been more proud of her son when she told the world she’d “never known Matthew to be happier” last month. But as photos emerged of the troubled actor fleeing a New York medical facility last week, friends say his doting mum has been thrown into a world of turmoil amid fears he could be spiralling out of control again.
In a very erratic display, the 40-year-old son of Bert, 79, and Patti, 72 – who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder – seemed desperate to put some space between himself and the clinic as he dodged traffic and sprinted down the street.
Matthew’s troubling display comes as sources say he’s been riding high after the success of his new film Who We Are Now, starring Emma Roberts and Jason Biggs. Now, friends say Patti is wondering if the pressure to succeed and immersing himself in the cut-throat Hollywood film industry has become all too much for Matthew.
To make matters worse, it looks like there may be tensions in his marriage to Catherine Schneiderman. Just a day after Matthew was pictured behaving bizarrely, Catherine – whose father Eric is Attorney General of New York – was spotted looking troubled while out in New York.
Far from a newlywed in love, the 24-year-old socialite – who appeared to have a red mark on her face (pictured right) and is thought to be pregnant – looked worried as she took a phone call.
Patti has always stood by her son, even when two of his former partners, Brooke Satchwell and Rachael Taylor, accused him of assaulting them and he spent time in a rehab facility. He was later cleared of criminal charges.
Friends say Patti is determined to put on a brave face this time around, too. But behind closed doors, she’s hoping that this latest outburst is just a blip – and not a sign of anything more.