Whenever Britney Spears was photographed, Sam Lutfi was within range.

He sat next to Spears on her 26th birthday on Dec. 2. He went shopping with her at Target on Nov. 28 and was with her on the two days before that.

Spears and Lutfi seemed inseparable — until last week, when Us Weekly exclusively exposed details of his past.

Lutfi, 33, hasn't been seen with Spears since this photo was taken on Dec. 3.

The man who orchestrated Spears' birthday party, denied recent pregnancy rumors, and spoke on her behalf after she lost custody of her children is off the map — perhaps a result of Us detailing his mysterious past: he's had two restraining orders against him for violent verbal and physical attacks and has used multiple aliases.