It’s not 2007 anymore, so I’m not sure why we’re still acting like it is. Pop legend Britney Spears has struggled openly with her mental health for the past 12 years, but the “…Baby One More Time” stunner has been vocal about getting healthy and making the best decisions that she can as a woman, mom, and a beloved entertainer. In the past decade, American society as a whole has been more open about discussing mental health, self-care, anxiety–and a slew of other things that human beings across racial, social, and economic lines struggle with. Now we need to give some grace to Britney Spears.
Spears has always been close to her father, Jamie Spears, who has been the permanent conservator of her business and life affairs since her public mental health setback in 2007. Unfortunately, Mr. Spears is currently suffering from a grave medical issue that has caused a great deal of strain on his family. The “Oops I Did it Again” singer recently canceled her Domination Las Vegas residency and stepped away from the stage to give her father her undivided attention. As someone who has lost both parents to cancer, I know first hand how mentally, emotionally, and physically draining it can be to watch your loved ones struggle with their health. Deciding to be proactive about her mental health, the songstress checked herself into a mental health and wellness facility this past spring to undergo treatment. Though the public seemed to stand with Spears and her decision at first–commending her for being both open and proactive, it seems the tides are turning.
While Spears was undergoing treatment–rumors began to buzz that she was being held at the wellness center against her will and that she was struggling more than she initially let on. The gossip prompted the singer to upload a video to her social media accounts addressing the reports head-on. Things calmed down for a hot second, but now it seems that folks are buzzing again.
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Photo: Britney Spears via Instagram.