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Singer Britney Spears has publicly acknowledged the recent New York Times-produced documentary, Framing Britney Spears.
The film premiered on FX on February 5 and is now streaming on Hulu. It took a sympathetic look back at Spears’ career, her mental health challenges, how she has been portrayed in the media and pursued by the paparazzi. It also explored her ongoing legal conservatorship order, which allows others, including her father, to make major decisions about her life and finances.
The documentary was widely praised by many of her fans. It also prompted former boyfriend, Justin Timberlake, to issue an apology for some of his behavior to her during their relationship and post-breakup.
Related: Perez Hilton says he’s sorry for tormenting Britney Spears, says people need to be more forgiving
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Spears, 39, had not referenced the documentary directly on her social media until yesterday when she posted two videos of herself dancing to music by Aerosmith. She captioned one with a message saying dancing brought her joy and mentioned her reaction to the documentary.
“My life has always been very speculated … watched … and judged really my whole life !!! For my sanity I need to dance to @iamstevent [Steven Tyler] every night of my life 💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼 to feel wild and human and alive !!!
“I have been exposed my whole life performing in front of people 😳😳😳 !!! It takes a lot of strength to TRUST the universe with your real vulnerability cause I’ve always been so judged… insulted… and embarrassed by the media… and I still am till this day 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼 !!!!
“As the world keeps on turning and life goes on we still remain so fragile and sensitive as people!!!
“I didn’t watch the documentary but from what I did see of it I was embarrassed by the light they put me in … I cried for two weeks and well …. I still cry sometimes !!!!
“I do what I can in my own spirituality with myself to try and keep my own joy … love … and happiness ✨🙏🏼 ☀️ !!!! Every day dancing brings me joy !!! I’m not here to be perfect … perfect is boring … I’m here to pass on kindness 💋💋💋 !!!!”
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A few days after the documentary first aired, Spears said on February 10, without explicitly mentioning it: “Each person has their story and their take on other people’s stories !!!! We all have so many different bright beautiful lives !!! Remember, no matter what we think we know about a person’s life it is nothing compared to the actual person living behind the lens!!!!”
Framing Britney Spears director Samantha Stark told the Hollywood Reporter in February that making the film without Spears’ participation had influenced her approach.
“It’s very difficult as a journalist ethically to try to make a piece about somebody who’s not participating. That really bothered me, and so one thing we really wanted to do was make sure was that we were never assuming what was inside Britney’s head in any of our reporting or interviews or conversations with people.”
Spears indicated last November that she will not perform again while she remains under the conservatorship of her father, James Spears. She was placed in conservatorship by Los Angeles Superior Court following a mental health crisis in 2008.
In recent years, Spears has been challenging this legal arrangement through the courts.
Related: Britney Spears just bested her dad in court, moving one step closer to freedom
Cam
The thing that is so weird about this situation is a lot of people seem to think Spears is being trapped in the conservatorship.
From what I understand, she can request that the conservatorship end and have a hearing on that. She apparently is not interested in ending the conservatorship, she just wants her father to not be in charge of it.
All in all a sad situation, I hope things turn out well for her, she’s had a rough time of it.
jayceecook
That is true but not really the whole picture. The conservatorship is more like two; one over her estate, finances, and career while the other is a personal conservatorship. The latter is the one that is essentially responsible for her personal well-being, medical care, who has access to her, etc. Essentially like a parent but for an adult. Britney has never asked to end the personal conservatorship and had has repeatedly asked to have Jodi Montgomery, a care professional, who has been filling that role since her father stepped down in 2019 due to his health. While he doesn’t act as her personal conservator anymore he could ask to be be reinstated since Montgomery is not his permanent replacement. That is one thing Britney wants. To have this woman be made her permanent personal conservator until she decides to request a hearing to have it ended.
The second part is, which is the one that is being played out in the media at the moment, is that she wants him removed as a co-conservator of her money and career. He has tried multiple times to gain sole control but the courts have said no. The other co-conservator has changed over the years but has always been somebody Britney’s people have suggested.
To me it seems like if she can get Montgomery in as her sole, permanent personal conservator and her father out of her financial and career business she’ll one day seek to end the conservatorship. It’s like she can’t get to that healthy place mentally, physically, and emotionally until her father is out of her life. By staying in it and requesting who is responsible for what she gains some control of her life that she hasn’t had since 2008.
Though I agree her “fans” and a lot of the media really portray it as if she has zero options and is some sort of chained prisoner while under the conservatorship. Maybe she will never be without the conservatorship. However I do feel that she should be allowed to request who fills those roles. Especially if her happiness and well-being are truly the most important thing.
jeters
Invitation to a sex club – xmeet.fun
jayceecook
I think the “documentary” did more harm than good. For Britney Spears. It was just as sensational and exploitative as most of the tripe that gets pumped out about her life post 2008. People just need to leave her alone. Especially her whacked out fans and their #FreeBritney cringefest.
And the re-outrage with Justin Timberlake was just beyond stupid. He has apologized more than once for both the way he handled whatever it was that ended their relationship and for the Janet Jackson thing. He could apologize every day and it still wouldn’t be enough for folks.
Hdtex
Brittany…..still a mess.
Chrisk
Leave Brittany alo…oh eff it. Who cares.
ShiningSex
SHE’S TIRED.
Troyfight
Made mostly for the millennial$ (dob: 1980–1994). Sad that she cried, but…. uggh.
ShiningSex
BRITNEY SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED OVER HER MUSIC AND HER LIP SYNCHING. BYE GIRL!
rickywintour
Do you do anything else but be a judgment tired queen. Grow the hell up old sissy!
humble charlie
Britney still sounds like a girl in her early teens.
Donston
There’s clearly some arrested development and mental health issues there. But that goes without saying.
johnnymcmxxx
Dear Britney, I really like you a lot but please stop with the !!! !!!! !! !!! !! !! !!! It detracts from the point you are trying to make. Take care. Keep fighting.
winemaker
Oh boo, hoo, hoo, oh woe is me! Just more unimportant drama from this one of many little talent hollyweirdos. Most people have more important things to deal with than hear about this drama and don’t really give a rats ripe ass about britney spears, move on!
rickywintour
If you don’t care then shut up. Don’t read and don’t post because you obviously care about Britney.
whateverokok
Cry me a river. The only reason this low class, talent-less trailer trash is saying anything is because her 15 minutes of fame have been up for years. And her career dried up faster than Charlie Sheen at an AA meeting. Therefore, she will do anything to stay relevant.
Problem is she wasn’t relevant when she had her 15 minutes. So what makes her think she could be relevant now?! She needs to do like every other pop teen act with 15 minutes of fame has done. Leave the limelight, pose for Playboy/Playguy, do lots of coke, go to rehab, dry out, and leave us the f–k alone. We didn’t want you then and we sure as shi- don’t want you now. Take the da-n hint cu-t!
Cam
hey @winemaker,
If you’re going to bring out a screename you haven’t used in a year to troll, why waste it on something like this? Normally you save old screenames to attack Trans or black people, or to mock gay victims of bigotry.
Ohhhhhh right, you hate women too.