Britney: ‘I didn’t make my own decisions’
She became one of the most famous people in the world when she burst onto the pop scene at just 16 years old – but her world fell apart when she suffered a series of psychiatric breakdowns in 2007 and 2008 that left her needing to be looked after by her family.
During her infamous meltdown in 2007, the pop sensation was seen shockingly shaving her own head before attacking a paparazzo’s car with an umbrella. She temporarily lost custody of her two young sons – Sean, now 14, and Jayden, now 13, from her marriage to ex Kevin Federline – and was banned from visiting them. A year later, Britney was taken from her mansion on a stretcher by paramedics after being found under the influence of an unknown substance.
DENIAL
Talking recently about the dark side of fame, Britney said, “I’m actually a very private person. Sometimes I’m in denial that I’m really famous. It’s too much, I think, for someone to reach that kind of magnitude to really understand it. I feel like when you’re younger, it’s easier. But when you’re older, it’s one of those things that’s kind of like, ‘Huh? What is this? This is kind of crazy.’ There were many decisions that were made for me and that I didn’t make myself. My kids shaped my personality and filled me. They made me not worry about what was happening to me.”
But Britney’s battle with fame hasn’t ended yet. In a shock court battle last week, the star revealed through her attorney how her father Jamie, 68 – who was appointed conservator over her personal and financial affairs in 2007 due to concerns around her mental health – had left her “afraid” of him after gaining control over her life, and announced she would “not perform again if her father is in charge of her career”.
The extreme level of control – which includes everything from being able to sell her house to choosing who she sees – even reportedly resulted in Jamie banning her from having a baby with her boyfriend of three years, Sam Asghari, 26. And despite the singer, who is worth over £45m, telling fans on Instagram that
she is the “happiest I’ve been in my whole life”, the court ruled against Britney’s wish for Jamie to relinquish his control, but agreed to a joint conservatorship with Britney’s own financial company.
ACCUSATIONS
Fans have formed a #FreeBritney movement and rallied against the star’s alleged “entrapment”. Last week, supporters staged protests outside the court, with messages accusing Jamie– who temporarily stepped aside from overseeing Britney’s personal affairs in 2019, citing his own health problems – of manipulating and silencing his daughter. One banner read, “End this abuse”, while another said, “We failed you in 2008, we will not fail you again.” Despite checking herself into a mental health facility in April for “a little me time”, Britney remains hopeful for her future, posting on Instagram last week, “Keep jumping towards your dreams.”
By Lauren Hill-Roger