In Defense of Britney
- Fred
- 8 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Way, way back in 2021, we wrote an article with the headline #FreeBritney.
We are currently not fans, nor have ever been fans, of Britney Spears, but I keep seeing articles that she should be returned to her conservatorship.
That should not happen.
"In January of 2008, Britney Spears was put on an involuntary psychiatric hold and was released after a few days under the condition that she enter a conservatorship run by her Father. He was worried that she was about to become a member of the 27 Club....Britney Spears is now going to be 40, it is absolutely ABSURD that is she is still under that conservatorship. What should have happened is that her Father should have helped her sort out her business affairs and placed her back on her feet. That conservatorship should have been for a year, max, or at least until Britney was able to work again. Instead, Jamie Spears put his daughter to work immediately and then started cashing checks."
Listen, I don't know how to say this kindly, so I'm just going to blurt it out.
Britney Spears has a reputation for not being smart.
But no other modern multi-millionaire artist has gone from filthy rich, to almost broke, from Michael Jackson to Aaron Carter, and then was under threat of being placed in a conservatorship.
Right now, the headlines at the Drudge Report:
No one is asking: Should Shia LaBeouf be placed in a conservatorship?
According to the Independent:
When Michael Jackson died, he owed creditors $500 million. How? Through a lavish lifestyle and unchecked spending. Jackson became a billionaire in death because he only had money coming in, very little money going out.
Despite earning nearly $400 million in his boxing career, Mike Tyson burned through ALL his cash and declared bankruptcy in 2003. Why do you think a 58 year old Mike Tyson took that payday to dance around the ring with Jake Paul in 2024?
Aaron Carter made $200 million in his entertainment career before declaring bankruptcy shortly before his death. Unlike Jackson, Carter's kid will see very little windfall from his career.
Toni Braxton declared bankruptcy twice despite selling 70 million records and winning an armful of Grammys.
I recall lots of hand-wringing over celebrities blowing through cash in their careers, but the word conservatorship only seems to come up with Britney Spears.
The day after the internet was flooded with Britney stories with her son, I just wonder what we're doing here. It's been almost 20 years since the "Leave Britney Alone" video, if Spears herself says she's done recording and performing, that means she's just a well known social media influencer at this point.
If she keeps getting DUI's, she's going to end up in prison.
But celebrities driving under the influence is hardly unique to Britney either. The news today is also filled stories of Tiger Woods' 4th major accident since 2009.
No actions, whether bizarre behavior, abuse of substances, or burning through piles of cash, distinguishes Britney from any other celebrities. She currently possesses no unique skill set for a middle-aged, divorced Mom.
Someone close to Spears simply needs to convince her to hire a Crisis Management Team or a Fixer, if she wants a normal life.
But then she wouldn't be in the tabloids every other day. No one is forcing her to stay on social media. But in America, you have the right to be stupid and make bad decisions.
Especially if you have money.