LeAnn Rimes’ Career ‘Tarnished’ By Affair?

While LeAnn Rimes celebrated her 27th birthday with actor/new beau Eddie Cibrian in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, recently, the singer's ex, Dean Sheremet, was opening up to US Weekly magazine about how he's been handling the couple's very public split.

Dean was said to be fighting back tears as he revealed to the publication, "I don't really know what to say. It's bizarre. It's surreal. But I'm doing OK."

Dean's support system of friends helping him through the break-up reportedly includes Eddie's ex, Brandi Glanville. "They have been supporting each other," claims an insider. "They've put the pieces together about the last few months, and they're developing a good friendship through this."

Dean and Brandi first met last fall in Calgary, Alberta, while visiting their spouses on the set of the Lifetime movie 'Northern Lights.'

With all of the public scrutiny surrounding her personal life, speculation is running high as to just how all of this will affect LeAnn's professional career. Even though she's been a star since she was just barely in her teens -- and has weathered other very public battles, including a feud with her own father -- the nature of this particular media frenzy could have some serious consequences when it comes to LeAnn's record sales, radio airplay and concert-ticket sales.

Jonathan L. Bernstein, president of Bernstein Crisis Management Inc., says fans can often be forgiving of celebrities, even when it comes to questionable behavior.

"The public is very tolerant of a wide range of behaviors from celebrities," Bernstein tells CNN.com in an editorial piece about the singer and her "tarnished" reputation. "To the extent the public truly expected her to be someone with a clean-cut image, she may lose some fans there. On the other hand, there are some people who like celebrities who lead racy, unpredictable lives, so she could gain fans at the same time."

Bernstein, who is the author of 'Keeping the Wolves at Bay; A Media Training Manual,' adds, "Everybody wants to read the juicy gossip ... people like watching real-life soap operas. Ultimately, if people love [LeAnn's] singing, they are going to come to her concerts."

Leslie Litzenberger of Santa Clara, California, who has run the fan site Leannfans.com since 1995, asserts that the media circus surrounding LeAnn hasn't diminished her appreciation of the star one bit.

"The recent stories don't at all change how I feel about LeAnn," Litzenberger said. "What has happened is between them. I love the person that she is and tabloid stories with quotes from supposed 'friends' are not going to change that."