Available on Amazon Prime Video, Framing Britney Spears is a shocking documentary on the career and legal woes of the pop singer. Here are 5 things to know about this documentary.
Shocking documentary directed by Samantha Stark and produced by the New York Times and Left / Right, Framing Britney Spears traces the career of the pop singer through scandals, high profile private moments, paparazzi harassment and legal setbacks. Find 5 things to know about this documentary, finally available in France on Amazon Prime Video.
Britney Spears has been under her father’s care since 2008
The year 2007 was that of Britney Spears’ descent into hell, between stays in nursing homes, drug rehab clinics, court cases and loss of custody of her children. This year, an image will mark the spirits: that of the singer shaving her head in the middle of the night under the flash of dozens of paparazzi.
Since then, Britney Spears’ every act and deed has been controlled. Since February 1, 2008, the singer has been under the tutelage of her father, Jamie Spears, and a lawyer, Andrew Wallett, who together manage her dating, career and fortune. Although she continued to record albums and give concerts, she has made it known on several occasions that she wants this tutelage to end.
It has now been two years since Britney Spears began legal proceedings to end her father’s guardianship. She asked the judge in charge of the case that Jodi Montgomery, a professional curator, be her permanent guardian until she can end the guardianship. The next court hearing is scheduled for April 27.
The documentary reignited the fan mobilization behind #FreeBritney
If Britney Spears fans have always supported him in the most difficult moments, – we remember the video of Chris Crocker who shouted “Leave Britney alone” in 2007 – their mobilization has increased since the singer has was put under trusteeship in 2008. The following year, blogger Jordan Miller posted a post in support of Britney by launching a “Free Britney” which would appeal to the community.
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But the #FreeBritney movement did not really gain momentum until ten years later when the singer canceled a series of residency concerts in Las Vegas and made a request for an end to legal guardianship. Fans then look for any clue on Britney Spears’ social networks to learn more about her living conditions and her mental health.
The documentary Framing Britney Spears has only revived the enthusiasm of the fans, always ready to defend the singer, who demand the end of her wardship and her freedom, far from her father Jamie Spears and his lawyers. They mobilize at each court hearing and do not hesitate to show their support for the singer.
The main subjects do not appear in the documentary
The documentary ends with a list of people contacted to contribute to the film and who declined. Among them, we find the family of Britney Spears but also the former companions of the singer: Jason Alexander, Kevin Federline, Jason Trawick and Charlie Ebersol.
In addition, photographers Nigel Dick and David LaChappelle do not appear in the documentary despite being interviewed like others who could not appear in Framing Britney Spears. Finally, director Samantha Stark told Variety that she tried everything to contact the singer:
“We have tried by all means to send signals to Britney about the documentary but there is such a small circle around her that we don’t know if she received our requests or not. got no from her, we never got anything from her ”.
Involved in the documentary, Justin Timberlake apologized for his behavior
Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears’ former companion from 1998 to 2002, was implicated by several testimonies in the documentary Framing Britney Spears. They claim the singer used their breakup to launch his solo career after leaving boy band NSYNC. As a reminder, an extra very similar to Britney Spears appeared in her music video for the song “Cry Me A River”.
Hulu
The life of Britney Spears has been scrutinized by the tabloids on the lookout for any crisp information and Justin Timberlake hinted in the media at the time that she had cheated on him and then brutally left him. The singer also brought up sexual details of their intimacy in some interviews.
Since the documentary aired in the United States, Britney Spears fans have challenged Justin Timberlake on his sexist and misogynistic behavior. The singer apologized to Britney Spears, but also to Janet Jackson whose breast he had unveiled during the Super Bowl of 2004, in a post on Instagram : “I care about these two women, I respect them, and I know I didn’t do the right thing.”
Britney Spears “embarrassed” by documentary
The singer reacted only recently to Framing Britney Spears through a post on her Instagram account in which she indicates that she has only seen small bits of the documentary but that she is “embarrassed by this highlighting”. She takes the opportunity to explain that she has always been judged and that she has “cried for two weeks” :
“My life has always been discussed… watched… and judged, really my whole life! […] I’ve been exposed all my life in front of people! It takes a lot of strength to trust the universe with a certain vulnerability and I have always been so judged, insulted and embarrassed by the media, and still am today. “