Britney's Pap Pal Out of the Picture During Meltdown Drama

FRIDAY JANUARY 04, 2008 03:15 PM EST

As Britney Spears suffered a terrifying meltdown on Thursday, one of her recent close companions was missing from the drama: Paparazzi photographer Adnan Ghalib.

The spiraling pop star, 26, has lately been keeping company with Ghalib, 35, who works for an agency called FinalPixx and who checked into two hotels with Spears over the last couple of weeks.

But sources say that as Spears was holed up in her Studio City home, Ghalib was not with her – nor has he visited her at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where she was hospitalized early Friday morning. When asked about Spears Friday, Ghalib would not comment.

However, Spears's family has been showing their support. Her father, Jamie, has been at the hospital with his daughter. Brother, Bryan was expected to show up Friday. Spears's mother, Lynne, who's been in constant contact with Britney, is in the family's hometown of Kentwood, La., with Spears's sister, Jamie Lynn.

Also at the hospital early Friday morning was Spears's ex-husband, Kevin Federline.