LOS ANGELES - A Los Angeles judge today suspended former Baywatch star David Hasselhoff's visitation rights with his two teenage daughters pending further review of a videotape believed made by one of the girls showing the actor drunk.
The order by Superior Court Judge Mark Juhas willbe in effect until at least May 21 when another hearing on the matter is scheduled.
Hasselhoff, who was not in court for the hearing, admitted last week that he had struggled to overcome alcoholism after the videotape emerged showing him drunk.
The videotape, believed to have been taken by his 16-year-old daughter Taylor Ann three months ago, was aired online and on several TV channels. It showed Hasselhoff dressed in blue jeans and no shirt lying on the floor struggling to eat a hamburger.
A young female voice on the video is urging him not to drink, warning him that he could lose his role in a stage show of The Producers in Las Vegas if he did not sober up.
In a statement, Hasselhoff acknowledged he was a recovering alcoholic and had a relapse.
"Despite that I have been going through a painful divorce and I have recently been separated from my children due to my work, I have been successfully dealing with my issue," he said.
"Unfortunately, one evening I did have a brief relapse, but part of recovery is relapse."
Hasselhoff, 54, said his two daughters from his 16-year marriage to actress Pamela Bach were concerned for him and a tape was made one night to show what he was like drunk.
"I have seen the tape. I have learned from it and I am back on my game," he said.
"The tape was never meant to become public but got into the hands of individuals who are not worthy of mentioning, who maliciously released the tape for their own self purpose. I hope that someone else will learn from the tape, as I have."
Hasselhoff filed for divorce from Bach in January last year, citing irreconcilable differences.
