In the days since the release of the New York Times documentary Framing Britney Spears, a lot of attention has been brought to the people who many of her fans felt had let down the pop singer during the height of her career.
One of the major names to emerge has been her ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake, whom she dated from 1999 to 2002. Many of her fans have demanded an apology from him for the way he handled their break-up.
On Friday, the Can't Stop The Feeling singer issued a lengthy apology on social media, saying he wanted to apologise to Spears as well as Janet Jackson. "I care for and respect those women and I know I failed," he wrote.
“I’ve seen the messages, tags, comments, and concerns and I want to respond. I am deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn, or did not speak up for what was right. I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism.”
The documentary focuses on the circumstances that led to Spears’ conservatorship in 2008 and highlights the #FreeBritney movement of fans who want to see her released from it and given control of her life.
Since its release, those closest to the Lucky singer have also spoken out:
Jamie Lynn Spears
The younger sister of Britney issued a short statement on social media. “Dear media, try not to repeat the mistakes of your past. Look where that got us. Do better,” she wrote on an Instagram story.
She also went to clarify a story in which she said was untrue. “A few media outlets ran a false story about me attending a virtual rally yesterday. In fact, someone represented themselves as me without my knowledge. I love my sister very much, but I was not aware of a rally, nor was I in attendance for a virtual rally.”
Kevin Federline
The former husband of Britney and father to her two sons, also issued a statement through his lawyer after the release of the documentary.
His family law attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan told E! News that Federline has "no involvement with regard to Britney and her attorneys asking to remove Jamie as conservator" and has "stayed out of the conservatorship issues."
Sam Asghari
Britney’s long-time boyfriend shared some words of support in a statement after the documentary's release.
"I have always wanted nothing but the best for my better half, and will continue to support her following her dreams and creating the future she wants and deserves," the 27-year-old told People. "I am thankful for all of the love and support she is receiving from her fans all over the world, and I am looking forward to a normal, amazing future together."
He also followed up that statement with an Instagram story post in which he shared his opinion on the conservator battle.
“Now it's important for people to understand that I have no respect for someone trying to control our relationship and constantly throwing obstacles our way,” he wrote.
"I won't be going into details because I've always respected our privacy but at the same time I didn't come to this country to not be able to express my opinion and freedom."
Other celebrities show support
Other celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Miley Cyrus, Paris Hilton and Bette Midler have also spoke out by posting #FreeBritney on their social media accounts. Sharon Osbourne, who co-hosts The Talk, also addressed the documentary.
— Sarah Jessica Parker (@SJP) February 7, 2021
“She has always seemed very young to me anyway, but there she was a baby; she was just a little girl. And it’s like, it doesn’t seem appropriate to talk to a little girl with that tone,” said Osbourne.
Singer Charlie Puth credited her music to helping him discover his passion for it.
Britney Spears’ music was my first exposure to POP music. Her impact was/is profound and it always baffled me as to why people were so brutal to her when she was down. It’s great the world is more sensitive to mental health now, but upsetting it took this long in Britney’s case.
— Charlie Puth (@charlieputh) February 9, 2021
Courtney Love Cobain also tweeted with the hashtag #WeAreSorryBritney
#freebritney
— Courtney Love Cobain (@Courtney) February 8, 2021
Thank you @nytimes you did what you could. 🎀💔#wearesorrybritney pic.twitter.com/F8TZnXyyAa
In the latest news about her case, a judge ruled on Thursday, February 12, that her father Jamie had to share his power over her conservatorship.
