Britney SpearsThanks to an enormous new book deal, she will be able to share her story as she sees fit. According to DeadlineThe pop star signed an reported deal with a company called $15 million deal with publisher Simon & SchusterYou can also use it as a memoir.
Three months later, news of the publication comes to you the end of Spears’ 13-year conservatorshipA judge made that ruling. She should be able to make her own decisions about finances, personal life and health. It also coincides with a larger cultural reckoning regarding the misogynistic tabloid cultures of the early 2000s. Spears was arguably the greatest pop star of the Y2K era and will now be able return to the spotlight.
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Learn More Britney Spears’ Pop Legacy Goes Way Beyond Her Music
Few details about the book have been released (Simon & Schuster did not respond to a request for comment on the book or the details of the deal). But followers and fans of Spears’ complex story are eager to hear more in her own words. These are her words. FiveWe hope Spears covers these topics in her memoir.
Justin Timberlake’s breakup
Spears and Timberlake’s split in 2002 after three years of dating provided endless fodder for gossip rags—and marked the beginning of Spears’ contentious relationship with the tabloids. Timberlake began to believe that Spears had cheated upon him after the split.Spears denied it vehemently.While promoting his album, he spoke out about his relationship with Spears. Justified—particularly the song “Cry Me a River,” which was about infidelity. Spears, already criticized for her sexuality, was then demonized in media. Nearly 20 years after their relationship ended, Timberlake apologized via an Instagram statement also addressed to Janet Jackson for his behavior and role in the narrative surrounding the breakup (and Jackson’s wardrobe “malfunction” at Super Bowl XXXVIII). Spears seemed to refer to the apology in a cryptic Instagram post last summer, but we’re eager to hear her unvarnished reflections on the controversy—and how she looks back on that time in her life now.
The “bad mother” narrative
Spears was constantly covered by the media throughout her entire career. But, this coverage only intensified when she had to become a mother. The press picked apart her every move—where Spears had once been shamed for her sexuality, she was then bashed for her approach to parenting. Paparazzi followed her everywhere, often threatening her safety and capturing moments, like an instance when she was seen driving with her months-old baby in her lap, that tabloids then used to propel a narrative of her being a “bad” mother. Spears, a mother to her two children (which she shares with Kevin Federline), could take this opportunity to tell her story.
Forced to use an IUD
One of the most chilling moments during Spears’ June 2021 court testimony against her conservatorship came when she testified that she was forced to have an IUD, despite the fact that she wanted to have more children. Spears’ supporters may have already heard the shocking details of her revelation. However, Spears’ new book might give her more space to offer a deeper perspective about the harmful nature of conservatorships and the unforeseeable dangers. Spears’ voice is essential to the ongoing debate about conservatorships, and her admission about the IUD sparked a larger discourse about reproductive control and forced sterilization. Spears has been interviewed numerous times in the years since her appearance before the court. Representative asked for testimony on conservatorships. She has more to say on the subject, and we’re eager to hear it.
She shares her thoughts on the #FreeBritney Movement
While Spears’ celebrity is massive enough that her conservatorship hearing would have made headlines regardless, much of reason why the case became a key point of cultural discourse around abuses of power was spurred by the #FreeBritney movement, a campaign started by loyal Spears fans. The singer’s supporters rallied round her and demanded a more thorough investigation into any abuse or exploitation she suffered during her conservatorship. Spears was then publicly attacked by her guardians.
Spears thanked the members of the movement during her court hearing, crediting them with giving her the power to stand up for herself: “It’s because of them I am here today. It’s because of them I have the f–king strength to speak up against my family who have silenced me and my fans for years.” With the #FreeBritney movement having played such a major role in her conservatorship case, Spears’ reflections on the significance of their activism could help sustain momentum for cases that might not be as high-profile.
The music
For all the headlines surrounding Spears’ personal (and legal) life, it would be easy to overlook her indelible influence on music. From her many hit albums and her groundbreaking use of visual culture to her iconic performances and the crafting of her artist persona, Spears’ impact on pop culture remains omnipresent. Spears looks back at her studio moments and stage performances. What songs are most important to her? Long-time Spears fanatics will find these questions of utmost significance. We are hopeful that her book will provide the answers.
