Britney Spears suffered through the trials and tribulations of young stardom

The idea of being young and famous brings about thoughts of celebrity friends, access to the best parties, amazing clothes, traveling on private jets, and having millions of fans. Sadly, the life of a child star is often lonely, stress inducing, and guided by unethical managers and stage parents.

Britney Spears is part of a club of young singers, including Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato, that got their start on Disney Channel shows but struggled with fame and mental health challenges. Spears’ personal issues were compounded by greedy adults, including her own parents, who put their financial gain ahead of her wellbeing. After living under a 13 year conservatorship controlled by her father, Spears could likely fill a book with stories about the dark side of Hollywood.

At age 11, Spears was cast on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club where her dance moves made her a standout on the show. The following year, she gained attention by dating fellow cast member Justin Timberlake. A few years later, her debut album “…Baby One More Time,” which included the hit single with the same name, stayed on top of the Billboard 100 Chart for 2 weeks. Britney officially became a household name.

Success brought Spears the fame, money, and fans that she dreamed of, but it also put her in a position that she wasn’t ready to handle as a teenager. At an age when most kids are dealing with the stresses of high school, Britney was working full time making music, doing product endorsements, and attending industry events. She was also supporting her family who lived off her earnings and used her connections for their personal gain. There was a lot going on behind the scenes for the singer.

While Britney appeared to be another cool celebrity who was enjoying fame, the reality was much different. Spears worked long hours under constant pressure from her record company, managers, and family. She became addicted to amphetamines and other drugs and struggled with her mental health. After going to rehab, Spears returned to work, released more successful albums, and made a lot of money for everyone in her circle.

When she was 22, Britney married backup dancer Kevin Federline, who she had only dated for a few months. She divorced Federline after just 2 years and went through a legal custody battle over their 2 young kids. Spears had difficulty managing the stress, continued to struggle with mental health issues, and made several bad choices that the Paparazzi captured in pictures and videos. She went to rehab again, was placed in a psychiatric ward, and Federline got custody of both kids.

After a public breakdown, Spears’ parents requested a temporary conservatorship for their daughter. Conservatorships are usually granted by courts for short periods of time to protect people who are incapable of caring for themselves. Britney’s father Jamie Spears was named her conservator. Even after Britney proved that she could work and had earned more than 100 million dollars from her Las Vegas residency, a court continued to extend the conservatorship.

Mr. Spears and the lawyers and managers that he hired as her conservator were all being paid millions from the conservatorship. For more than 13 years, Britney’s father controlled every aspect of his famous daughter’s life and paid all expenses for the conservatorship from his daughter’s bank account. In November 2021, the conservatorship was terminated. At the age of 39, Spears was finally free to make her own decisions.

Britney has been exploited by the entertainment industry and her family since she was a child. She has paid a high price for fame and still makes the news whenever she posts on social media, eats dinner in a restaurant, or does just about anything. Hollywood and fame have been toxic to Britney’s mental health, but she is fighting to make her own voice heard for the first time in years.