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Home / Entertainment

Britney Spears hits out at New York Times, BBC docos about her: 'So hypocritical'

By Bella Fowler
news.com.au·
4 May, 2021 08:22 PM5 mins to read

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Watch: Framing Britney Spears trailer. Video / Britney Spears Media

Britney Spears has responded to fresh scrutiny on her life in the spotlight after a second documentary aired over the weekend.

Just three months after the Framing Britney Spears documentary, the BBC released The Battle For Britney: Fans, Cash And A Conservatorship via its web streaming service on Saturday.

Like Framing Britney Spears, the new film explores the #FreeBritney movement and the singer's complicated 13-year conservatorship, which the star will address in court herself in the coming months. It features interviews with Perez Hilton, makeup artist Billy Brasfield and choreographer Brian Friedman.

And Spears is not happy.

Britney posted a video of her dancing with a word-dump caption urging to be left alone.

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"Geez!!!! 2021 is definitely way better than 2020 but I never knew it was gonna be like THIS!!!! So many documentaries about me this year with other people's takes on my life … What can I say … I'm deeply flattered," she began.

"These documentaries are so hypocritical … they criticise the media and then do the same thing ????? Damn … I don't know y'all but I'm thrilled to remind you all that although I've had some pretty tough times in my life … I've had waaaayyyy more amazing times in my life and unfortunately my friends … I think the world is more interested in the negative."

She went on to lash the film for focusing on the darkest points in her career: "Why highlight the most negative and traumatising times in my life from forever ago.

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"I hope you're all living your best lives and sh*t or as @parishilton would say SLIVING!!! … I know I am!!!!" she added, before directly addressing claims from her former makeup artist including that she personally told him she has no control over her social media accounts.

"PSSSS I don't actually talk to Billy B AT ALL so I'm honestly very confused!!! This is my Instagram!!!!" she said.

Among several bombshells, the new doco revealed that Spears' dad claims she has dementia.

Documents are shown explaining the purpose of the pop star's "conservatorship" that puts her father, Jamie Spears, in charge of her finances, business and personal life.

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A post shared by Britney Spears (@britneyspears)

The documentary claims in those forms, Mr Spears indicated his daughter had dementia to justify having control over her finances.

However, fans have disputed the claim, saying it couldn't be possible for Britney to have dementia while releasing four albums, pulling off four ­energy-sapping global tours and performing 248 gigs in Las Vegas during the conservatorship.

"There is no way any dementia patient is going on world tours, doing Vegas residencies, is learning 27 back-to-back combo numbers, full choreography. No honey, that is not happening," fan Hayley Herms, who is part of the #FreeBritney movement.

Journalist Mobeen Azhar, who investigated Britney's controversial conservatorship in the documentary, said Mr Spears had ticked a box saying it related to "dementia placement or treatment".

"There's only two options with that," Azhar said.

"Britney might have dementia. Now I'm not a doctor but if that's the case, then the world isn't aware of that. But the other option is actually more sinister."

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Mr Spears declined to comment on the allegations made in the film. But he has previously insisted he is working in the best interests of his daughter and is dedicated to "protecting her".

Britney Spears has spoken out about the recent documentaries made about her mental health struggles. Photo / Getty Images
Britney Spears has spoken out about the recent documentaries made about her mental health struggles. Photo / Getty Images

The singer's fans have long-speculated whether it's actually Britney posting photos and videos to her own Instagram page as much of the public continues to worry for her welfare.

Today's post was no exception, with a number of followers flooding the comments section with doubts.

"I won't believe it until she says it on her stories," one said.

"Nah sis, do a video of you saying all of this and maybe I'll buy it," another added.

"Hmmm I don't know about this one," one more wrote.

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However, when Brasfield supported the claims last month, Britney hit back: "No, I'm not talking to him at all. I write my posts. I'm not sure who he is talking to, but I am not talking to Billy B."

In addition to the FX and BBC documentaries, Netflix is set to release a third film about the embattled star.

Britney said in March that she had only seen part of the Framing Britney Spears documentary but "cried for two weeks" when she saw it and felt "embarrassed by the light they put me in".

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