NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Entertainment

Britney Spears sparks mental health concern with latest Instagram video

By Bella Fowler
news.com.au·
14 Oct, 2020 05:49 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Britney Spears continues to spark mental health concern with social media activity. Photo / Instagram

Britney Spears continues to spark mental health concern with social media activity. Photo / Instagram

Fans are continuing to express concern for Britney Spears' mental wellbeing in response to her unusual social media activity.

Today, the star posted a clip on Instagram enthusiastically telling fans how much she enjoyed her summer, in what many have described as a frenzied state.

The Toxic hit maker and mother-of-two, who is currently embroiled in an ugly court battle with her father over her ongoing conservatorship, appears in the video rocking back and forth while delivering a message that many feel is scripted.

Fronting the camera in a white shirt, her long blonde hair dishevelled and makeup slightly smudged, Britney tells fans: "OK so yesterday I felt like it was the beginning of fall (autumn). I pulled out all of my jackets and then the next day it was really hot. It was very confusing."

She continues: "Anyhow this summer has been so much fun for me. I learned so much, I laughed so much, I swam so much.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"But the most important thing that I did learn was that life has so many spontaneous gifts at each moment. Sometimes we need to slow down and learn how to embrace them all."

View this post on Instagram

🌹🌹

A post shared by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) on Oct 13, 2020 at 10:36am PDT

She concludes: "Anyways I hope your summer was as good as mine and god bless you all."

Followers – who have been leading the #FreeBritney campaign amid the star's ongoing legal troubles – flocked to the comments, worried the shakiness in her voice may be a sign that things are not going well for the pop star.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"The way she rocks herself back and forth is a self-soothing tactic. Something isn't right," one posted.

Another wrote: "Brit you look like you haven't slept for days but trying to look and sound like you are in good spirits and full of energy."

"This is very unsettling for some reason," one fan commented.

"I love Britney so much, but something isn't right," said another.

Spears with sons Jayden and Sean from her marriage to Kevin Federline. Photo / Instagram
Spears with sons Jayden and Sean from her marriage to Kevin Federline. Photo / Instagram

The footage comes amid a tumultuous time for the star, whose lawyers last week likened her mental state to that of a comatose patient.

The 38-year-old has been trying to remove her dad from her conservatorship for several months now.

However, TMZ reports that Britney's own lawyer, Sam Ingham, claims she does not have the mental clarity to sign a legal document on her own.

Mr Ingham said while she isn't physically comatose, mentally, she isn't capable of making legally binding decisions.

He further explained how comatose patients often have lawyers sign on their behalf, with Britney requiring the same treatment.

Currently, the popstar is under legal conservatorship by her father, Jamie Spears.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

However since his own failing health last year, temporary conservator Jodi Montgomery was appointed in charge of Spears' personal life in September 2019. Father Jamie still retains control of his daughter's finances though.

Britney has been fighting to have dad Jamie removed as her conservator, or legal guardian. Photo / Instagram
Britney has been fighting to have dad Jamie removed as her conservator, or legal guardian. Photo / Instagram

Most recently, in August Spears asked for her father to be removed from the conservatorship. Instead, the court extended it in its current form until February 2021 when it will be reviewed again.

Earlier this month, new court documents obtained exclusively by The Sun claimed Spears' $57 million fortune was at risk by her "refusal to perform" and a "burn rate" of lawyer fees.

The paperwork also revealed Britney, who often posts clips dancing around her LA home on Instagram, won't consider getting on stage or in a recording studio again until she gets to run her finances the way she wants.

The star, who last performed in Las Vegas in December 2017, has been trying to employ a new legal team – the New York-based Bessemer Trust – to manage her affairs.

But dad Jamie has said the cost is too high.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Britney wants to employ the Loeb & Loeb law firm to replace her father and make the independent Bessemer Trust her conservator.

As the battle continues, the singer's devotees have fuelled the #FreeBritney viral campaign, concerned she is being exploited by those around her.

Supporters of Britney Spears attend the #FreeBritney Protest Outside Los Angeles Courthouse at Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Photo / Getty
Supporters of Britney Spears attend the #FreeBritney Protest Outside Los Angeles Courthouse at Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Photo / Getty

The focus on the star's welfare has sparked fresh intrigue surrounding her conservatorship, and the puzzling fact that while under the court order typically reserved for individuals in a coma or with severe mental illness over the past 12 years, Britney has released four albums, held a four-year, $140 million Las Vegas performance residency, launched fashion and fragrance products, made cameos on TV shows and judged The X Factor.

Her dad is paid for the role, having also received a cut of her income from a successful Las Vegas residency in the past.

An upset Jamie, 68, recently told The Post that the campaign, which posits him as a cruel and opportunistic father keeping the 38-year-old pop princess under his emotional and financial control in a 12-year-long legal conservatorship, "is a joke".

"All these conspiracy theorists don't know anything. The world don't have a clue," he said. "It's up to the court of California to decide what's best for my daughter. It's no one else's business."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Entertainment

Entertainment

Why matchmakers are conflicted about the new rom-com about matchmakers

18 Jun 05:00 PM
Entertainment

Tom Cruise, Dolly Parton to be awarded honorary Oscars

18 Jun 07:26 AM
Entertainment

Watch: Behind the scenes at this year's Smokefreerockquest and Showquest

18 Jun 06:00 AM

Sponsored: Embrace the senses

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Entertainment

Why matchmakers are conflicted about the new rom-com about matchmakers

Why matchmakers are conflicted about the new rom-com about matchmakers

18 Jun 05:00 PM

Celine Song's new film Materialists has sparked debate among real-life matchmakers.

Tom Cruise, Dolly Parton to be awarded honorary Oscars

Tom Cruise, Dolly Parton to be awarded honorary Oscars

18 Jun 07:26 AM
Watch: Behind the scenes at this year's Smokefreerockquest and Showquest

Watch: Behind the scenes at this year's Smokefreerockquest and Showquest

18 Jun 06:00 AM
Smokefreerockquest Regional Finals - Wellington

Smokefreerockquest Regional Finals - Wellington

Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP