Lindsay Lohan: 'I skipped Venice to focus on my health'

Lindsay Lohan decided to skip the premiere of her new movie The Canyons at the Venice Film Festival in Italy in a bid to stay in the U.S. and focus solely on her "health and well-being" following her latest rehab stint.

The Mean Girls star had been expected to join her director Paul Schrader, screenwriter Brett Easton Ellis and co-star James Deen at Friday's event to promote the erotic thriller, but ended up citing personal reasons for not making the trip to Europe.

During a press conference before the screening, Schrader made it clear that questions about his leading lady's personal issues were "off the table", although he praised Lohan for her work and compared her to Marilyn Monroe.

Now Lohan, who completed a 90-day court-ordered stay at a treatment facility in Malibu, California early last month (Aug13), has reached out to fans online to explain her absence from the Venice Film Festival for herself.

In a blog post titled About Venice, uploaded on Saturday (31Aug13), she writes, "Along with the positive messages and words of support of The Canyons at VFF, I am sending my own to the cast, producers and the amazing Paul Schrader. I am so grateful for the extraordinary experience of being a part of this film. Unfortunately, I have to clear up these reports. I was never confirmed to attend. Of course, I would have enjoyed returning to that wonderful city and being a part of this amazing event, but my focus is on my health and well-being. Plain and simple, it is of the utmost importance."

Lohan also included a postcard snap of the Italian city in the message, with the caption, "To Venice, with love... - L".

The actress reportedly chose not to fly to Italy on the advice of Oprah Winfrey, who interviewed the star for a candid TV chat days after she was released from rehab to deal with alcohol and drug issues.