Hulu’s ‘Framing Britney Spears’ Shines a Light on Mental Health as it Showcases Conservatorship and Terrorizing Media Coverage
The Fox documentary, New York Times Presents, premiered “Framing Britney Spears” as the sixth episode of their documentary series, shining a light on Britney Spears’s mental health battle and her father’s conservatorship.
Watch a sneak peek of tonight’s #NYTPresents: Framing Britney Spears. 10 p.m. on FX and @Hulu. pic.twitter.com/dJKiuJcX7i
— FX Networks (@FXNetworks) February 6, 2021
It is no secret that throughout her career, Spears has been poorly treated by the media and the public regarding her mental state. In 2008, Spears suffered a very public breakdown that put her on psychiatric hold at a Los Angeles hospital. Photos of her mental breakdown were published on covers of magazines, social media sites flooded as people made fun of Spears in her most distressed and vulnerable state, and the world of journalism battled to write the best story regarding her breakdown. However, “Framing Britney Spears” brings a new perspective of how the mental health crisis’ should be handled.
“Framing Britney Spears” focuses on the conservatorship of her father, Jamie Spears. This title gave her father full legal control of her life after her 2008 mental breakdown. A conservator is someone that a judge appoints to care for a child or another adult that cannot care for themselves, including financial and medical affairs. The singer’s father petitioned for conservatorship back in 2008 when she suffered a very public breakdown that put her on a psychiatric hold. The judge granted her father what is coming out to appear as full control of her life. The petition her father filed was seen as a “temporary” measure until Spears could get to a healthy place mentally. Though 11 years have passed, her father still holds full control.
Finally watched the “Framing of Britney Spears” on Hulu. It’s an understatement to call it heartbreaking. #FreeBritney
— Tamron Hall (@tamronhall) February 8, 2021
Britney Spears has come a long way since her public break. She appears to be thriving via her Instagram post. A few months ago, she announced her new 35 million dollar deal with Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. She also is recording her ninth studio album to be released later this year, and this will be her first album since 2013. She seems to be in a good place and happier than in previous years. Her stability and success question her father’s conservatorship’s continuing any longer, a concern that should have been brought to attention years ago.
My biggest question after watching #FramingBritneySpears is how does a 39-year-old woman with the emotional/mental capacity to perform, tour and bring in millions of dollars in revenue annually need a conservator? #FreeBritney
— Chris Witherspoon (@WitherspoonC) February 7, 2021
Sources say that in August of 2020, Spears made a court filing in resistance against her father’s control. A month later, she went against her father’s wishes for privacy and requested that the case be open to the public, which gained her a large amount of support to fight against her father to regain control over her life. Her next court date regarding her filing is said to be on February 11. It took much bravery and strength from the singer to break the silence. She has reframed the way the world views the conversation of mental health. It should never be something to be ashamed of; a mental breakdown should never be published on the cover of a magazine for entertainment purposes. Craig Ferguson’s defense of Britney Spears back in 2007 exemplifies this when he stated ‘we should not be attacking the vulnerable.’
The fact that the paparazzi terrorized Britney on a level not seen since Princess Diana and not seen since, it’s a miracle she made it out alive. And an even bigger miracle that her only retaliation during this disgraceful era was an umbrella to the car. #FramingBritneySpears
— Farah Galfond (@Farah_Galfond) February 8, 2021
We do not know the future of her case beyond the upcoming court date, but will continue to update information as it comes. You can follow Britney Spears on Instagram or Twitter to keep up to date with the world-famous pop star. You can also stream “Framing Britney Spears” on Hulu now to see first hand the intimate workings of the singer’s life and how she is changing her own narrative.
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