17-year-old Frances Bean Cobain will be living with her grandmother and aunt at least until February, according to a lawyer for Courtney Love. Attorney Keith A. Fink was quick to dismiss rumors that the change in guardianship was because of Love’s drug use, telling People magazine “Courtney’s been clean for years and is perfectly fine. This is simply about Frances preferring to live with her grandmother at this time.”
Wendy O’Connor, mother of the late Kurt Cobain, and her daughter Kimberly Cobain were both appointed as legal guardians over Frances last Friday. Another hearing on the case will be held Feb. 10. Described as “a strong-willed child” by Fink, nonetheless, Love is supportive of her daughter’s move.
In 2003, O’Connor was named a guardian of Frances after Love was arrested for attempting a break-in at her former boyfriend’s home. Love regained custody in 2005 after proving that she had kicked her drug addiction. In a 2008 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Frances expressed her love for her grandmother, telling the magazine, “She’s probably the person I respect most out of anybody in the world.” O’Connor lives in Olympia, Washington.
