Billy Joel: Alexa Ray is 'going to be fine' after suicide attempt
BY George Rush, Rocco Parascandola and Rich Schapiro
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Sunday, December 6th 2009, 10:32 AM

Mazur/WireImageAlexa Ray Joel, 23, was taken to St. Vincent's Medical Center after her frantic roommate called 911 from their West Village pad about 12:20 p.m. Related NewsArticlesAlexa Ray Joel out of hospital after suicide attemptRush & Molloy: Christie Brinkley called an unmodel mom, wifeHarvard soph suicide's dad suing schoolMichael Lohan denies writing suicidal Twitter messagesThe "despondent" daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley downed eight sleeping pills in an apparent suicide bid yesterday and was rushed to a Manhattan hospital, police sources said.

Alexa Ray Joel, 23, was taken to St. Vincent's Medical Center after her frantic roommate called 911 from their West Village pad about 12:20 p.m.

"She said [Alexa] had taken pills and was feeling despondent," a police source said. "She said she wasn't feeling good about herself."

Fire Department officials said Alexa Ray told medics she was having trouble breathing after ingesting the unidentified pills.

Two law enforcement sources said the overdose was classified as a suicide attempt, though a person close to Alexa Ray said she only consumed a homeopathic antihistamine called Traumeel.

Brinkley, in a blue raincoat, swept into the hospital about 4:20 p.m. Alexa Ray was released a few hours later, a source said. It was not clear where she was taken.
Billy Joel - who told Newsday "she is going to be fine"- never left his Sag Harbor home.

"Billy didn't go so it didn't become a circus atmosphere," a friend said. "He was in constant phone contact," Joel's pal added.

Alexa Ray is the only child of Joel and Brinkley, whose nine-year marriage ended in divorce in 1994.

A source said their daughter has been an emotional wreck since breaking up with ex-bandmate Jimmy Riot a few years ago.

"She has battled depression," the source said. "She had a rough breakup with a boyfriend. . . . It was her first love."

A family friend said Brinkley's ugly split with former husband Peter Cook and Joel's marriage with a woman "almost her own age" also took heavy tolls on Alexa Ray.

Her own breakup added another layer of stress to the aspiring singer, who has struggled living "in the shadow of two famous parents," the friend said.

"Alexa has some emotional issues. This may be a cry for help," the friend said. "Christie loves Alexa, but she can be tough on her."

Added the family friend: "Her mother was a supermodel. Her father is one of the biggest pop stars in America. She's trying to find her place in the world."

After dropping out of NYU, Alexa Ray launched a singing career and was scheduled to perform twice in Manhattan on Thursday - at J&R Music World and the New York Stock Exchange tree lighting.

Her latest single is called "Invisible," which her Web site says "tells the story of disappointment over losing love and self-esteem and finding female empowerment."

In an August posting on her MySpace page, she listed her mood as "forgotten" and complained about her love life.

"I HATE going out!!" she wrote. "I'm a homebody and a workaholic. I don't like going out and drinking to meet men!!! I always have to drag myself out the door to get up the motivation to go out, and when I do go out, I don't meet anybody!!!"

She continued, "I live in the greatest city in the world and I can't seem to meet an interesting guy who also happens to be NICE."

Despite her troubling public admissions, Alexa Ray's apparent suicide try left her pals stunned.

"She seems to have her head screwed on straight so I just don't get it," said Gail Worley, a Manhattan writer. "She's not someone that you would think was suicidal."

But it wasn't the first time a Joel turned to suicide. Before he became a famous musician, a 21-year-old Billy Joel swallowed furniture polish in a bid to off himself.

"I was suicidal," Joel told Details magazine last year. "I was 21. It's a tough age. Things hit you really hard. A relationship with a girl had ended and I was devastated, and then it didn't work out with the recording we did, and I just figured the world didn't need another failed musician.

"You take yourself so seriously - you've got your head so far up your a-- you can't see straight."



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She looked good a few months ago when she performed that song on Wendy. But she did mention the ex-boyfriend.

hope she is able to get her life together!

Wow! I hope Alexa gets the help she needs, poor girl.

I'm interested in her and her music - this is sad to hear.

I know how devastating a breakup can be...it feels like you're in hell. Wish I could tell the poor kid it's gonna be okay

awwww poor baby!

I hope she gets her issues sorted out.

Sorry to hear about this, such a sad world no matter who you are.

I hope she can be okay.

Perfect example of how money can't solve all of your problem$.