Framing Britney Spears revisits life of ‘hounded, shamed’ young star

From being probed about her breasts at 17 to becoming a punchline after a public mental health breakdown — there’s a lot to unpack in the controversial new Britney Spears doco.

A confronting new Britney Spears documentary detailing her treatment by the media and her father’s control of her finances has sparked a fierce reaction from Australian viewers.

Framing Britney Spears, produced by The New York Times, aired last night, with viewers expressing anger at the star’s treatment — from the misogyny of the media to her father Jamie Spear’s 13-year conservatorship over her finances.

The doco revisits the media’s treatment of a young Spears as she’s probed about everything from her breasts to her breakups before becoming a punchline on late night and game shows following a public mental-health breakdown

Treated as a cash cow and a sex symbol since childhood, hounded, berated and shamed. We all owe Britney an apology #FramingBritneySpears

— Sian (@sew821) March 2, 2021

Viewers expressed shock at the media’s treatment of the singer, with one commenter labelling her “objectification” at such a young age as “disgusting,” and another saying she had been “abused, mistreated, violated, stalked, slandered” by media.

In an interview with Dutch TV, presenter Ivo Niehe asks Spears – then aged 17 – about rumours she’d had breast implants.

In another awkward exchange in 2001, ACA journalist Mick Carlton calls 20-year-old Spears a contradiction, saying: “On the one hand you’re a sweet, innocent virginal type. On the other hand you’re a sexy vamp in underwear.”

Journalist Diane Sawyer is also shown grilling Spears after her break-up with Justin Timberlake, accusing her of “upsetting a lot of mothers in this country.”

Britney Spears in 2008 leaving the Los Angeles County Superior courthouse after a child custody status hearing. Picture: AFP

The tabloid media’s hounding of the star is exposed in graphic detail ahead of her public breakdown, where she shaved her head, attacked a photographer’s car with an umbrella and was placed under an involuntary medical hold in hospital.

“So Britney attacks the paparazzi with an umbrella....... wow what about how they taunted her DAILY??!!!! I actually don’t blame her for snapping in that way...... enough is enough #FramingBritneySpears #FreeBritney,” on fan tweeted.

That episode led to her father, 68-year-old Jamie Spears, being granted a conservatorship in 2008 which gave him full control of her finances and life decisions.

Britney Spears with former boyfriend Justin Timberlake. Picture: AFP

The film will examines Britney’s portrayal in the media. Picture: AFP

Such conservatorships are usually reserved for the elderly or people with severe disabilities unable to care for themselves. Spears was put in place as she battled personal issues and fought for custody of her children with ex husband Kevin Federline.

The doco favourably portrays the Free Britney movement, in which fans have raised red flags over the unusual conservatorship, including late last year when Britney applied to have her father removed as conservator, stating she was “afraid” of him and the pair never spoke.

Britney Spears with her father Jamie Spears. The doco examines the unusual conservatorship arrangement the singer has lived under for more than 12 years.

Many viewers voiced concern over the conservatorship, now in place for well over a decade, even as the star largely has withdrawn from public life.

“She was pushed into this career by her family to be the cash cow! #FramingBritneySpears,” wrote one viewer on Twitter.

“Britney’s net worth has not increased during the time she has been under the conservatorship despite earning hundreds of millions of dollars. Where is Britney’s money?”