Jeremy Piven: Brandi Harper, Ashley Chontos Exhaustion or Mercury Poisoning?

It is being reported that Jeremy Piven can't get enough of the Mansion NYC personnel. Shortly after Piven was diagnosed with mercury poisoning, it was disclosed that waitress Ashley Chontos was nursing him back to health. Now, according to the New York Post, it seems that Piven was also seeing Brandi Harper, a hostess at Mansion NYC. Could it be that Jeremy Piven has been stricken by exhaustion and might simply be using "mercury poisoning" as an excuse to get out of his theatrical obligations?

Three-time Emmy Award-winning actor Jeremy Piven pulled out of David Mamet's play, "Speed-The-Plow," after just a few weeks on Wednesday, December 17. A representative stated that Piven left the Broadway play after falling ill with threateningly elevated mercury levels. His doctors advised him to leave the show. He was expected to stay with "Speed-The-Plow" at least until February.

So how did Jeremy Piven's mercury count get so high? Dr. Carlon Colker, Piven's physician and the executive officer and medical director of Peak Wellness told E! News: "He was eating sushi twice a day and taking some Chinese herbs. I tested his heavy metals and his mercury was amazingly, shockingly high."

Sushi?

Apparently, Jeremy Piven is an avid sushi eater, so with the added consumption of fish came the added consumption of mercury. Symptoms of mercury poisoning, depending upon the level of exposure, include kidney and neurological damage, tremors, affected speech and hearing, a feeling of tiredness, and, according to Gawker.com, "the total and complete inability to act."

Mamet jokingly told the Daily Variety, "So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer."

To recuperate, the "Entourage" star apparently had to go to Thailand. Also apparent, seeing Ashley Chontos and Brandi Harper were part of his therapy.

Which may lend a little credence to the "mercury poisoning" melodrama.

A source close to Brandi Harper told the New York Post: "They went out several times, and she saw him the day before he became sick and had to leave the play. He was fine with her, though."

But was it "fine" that he had been nursed back to health by fellow Mansion NYC employee Ashley Chontos? "She was surprised when she found out he'd been seeing Ashley - but she didn't really care."

Brandi Harper told the Post, "I know Jeremy, and he is a gentleman."

Mercury poisoning is reversible. Exhaustion is reversible as well. Both involve a certain amount of abstinence from that which placed one in such a dire health situation to begin with.

Since leaving the play, Piven has been calling and texting Brandi Haper several times a day.

What about Ashley Chontos? Gentleman or no, part of Piven's therapy may have also included a one woman regimen.

Jeremy Piven has won three Emmys and a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Ari Gold, a Hollywood agent on HBO's "Entourage."

William H. Macy ("Wild Hogs" with John Travolta, "Empire Falls" with Ed Harris) has stepped in to take Piven's place in "Speed-The-Plow."

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Sources:

Gawker.com

NYPost.com

Momlogic.com

Daily Variety

E! News