Photo by rhysadams via Wikimedia Commons

What Brought on the Britney Spears Meltdown?

Ivy Cosca

January 23, 2023

Not many stars managed to stay as relevant as Britney Spears. However, it comes with a price — the Popstar Princess means she also has to deal with decades-long media scrutiny. Just a few days ago, a video of Britney and her husband having a meal at a Los Angeles restaurant was uploaded where she allegedly had a “meltdown.” The Britney Spears meltdown narrative is probably not new to anyone anymore as she’s been observed to have gone through it back in 2007.
Meltdown or not, there are several reasons why Britney (and others) would have one.

Britney Spears — A Speedrun

Her journey to stardom

Britney Spears started in the Mickey Mouse Club (alongside other fellow pop stars) and it didn’t take long before she became a household name. If you grew up in the 90s, either you or you know someone who had posters of her on the wall — especially when she was at her …Baby One More Time peak. Many young girls and boys then looked up to her because the Southern Belle (with an adorable Louisiana accent) who turned into a global superstar was proof that dreams really do come true.

“I’m not a girl, not yet a woman”

However, when Britney Spears released I’m a Slave 4 U, many were shocked, appalled, and concerned about what could’ve happened to the once-shy and humble Britney; this is something we see as a pattern that the media tends to exacerbate — some of them rule out natural growth and maturity and claim that it’s a form of rebellion. These harsh criticisms may or may not have had an effect on the pop icon as she’s been tailed by countless paparazzi for years and years.

Britney the Bride…until she wasn’t.

Fast forward to a now-grown-up Brittney Spears — the Princess of Pop got married to backup dancer Kevin Federline but it wasn’t a successful one; they, however, have two kids together. Being in the public eye most likely aggravated her failing marriage. As an effect, the infamous head-shaving, umbrella-hitting incidents occurred.

Free Britney Movement

Since Britney Spears’ stressful bouts with the paparazzi, her father decided to placed her under conservatorship — Mr. Spears claimed that his daughter wasn’t in the right state of mind to care for herself and her children. Thus, Britney’s money and her freedom were compromised as she didn’t have full control of any of those — including her children. This legal process went on for 12 years until the fans and the public decided that the law should #FreeBritney as she’s redeemed herself.
This is not to say that Britney Spears is — and will be —at her 100% all the time.

Pop Princess vs. Exploited Entity

Britney Spears, like any other human, is bound to go through hardships. Some may be easier to deal with but receiving criticisms can be a setback from moving forward in life — and to hear it from millions will probably do nothing but worsen the situation and a person’s mental state. The pop star's been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder in the past. And there seem to be speculations that Britney Spears’ meltdown — and her babbling “incoherent words” — at an LA restaurant are typically signs of someone having a manic episode. However, the singer clarified that she was just “tipsy” at the time.

So it Seems,

We cannot know for sure if the Britney Spears meltdown was the cause of a mental disorder or that, according to her, she was under the influence of alcohol during that time. However, there’s no denying that her life has been turbulent. Anyone with a mental health issue knows what it’s like to be triggered by certain words, people, and scenarios.
If you think someone with Bipolar Disorder is having a manic episode, try your best to stay calm and call someone who can defuse the situation. Don’t try to do it yourself unless you know the person well enough that they won’t harm you, themselves, and the people around them. Don’t invalidate what they’re saying! It might worsen the situation.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Name

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Arts

Events

Cannabis

Things To Do This Week

This Week's Top Stories

Music