Ruined By Fame! Documentary ‘Framing Britney Spears’ Shows How Paparazzi Was Her Unbecoming

Many people yearn for fame, success and money because who doesn’t want it all? We obsess over the rich and the famous, we idolize them and try to get a piece of them every which way that we can. Invasion of their privacy translates into our entertainment. Paparazzi culture is only exploding with every passing year. While earlier it was just photographers, thanks to smartphones and social media, everyone and anyone can be a pap.

The downside of fandom is that there’s no limit of obsession. Come to think of it, celebrities have to make a lot of personal sacrifices to enjoy fame and recognition. Pop sensation Britney Spears had to pay a huge price for exactly that.

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The FX/New York Times recently released a documentary which gives an insight into the life and times of pop sensation Britney Spears. Not only does it reveal the harshest truth of her life but it also takes you through the countless heart-wrenching episodes that led to her downfall.

The fact which plays the most important part is that the media/paparazzi culture often failed to cover her side of the story and she had to bear the brunt of assumptions which made her look in a bad light. Ripped of her innocence and projected as problematic, Britney Spears’ harrowing tale is backed by some of her dearest friends, family members and people who have worked with her. Even her attorney Adam Streisand was brought onboard to show the world how she hasn't had it easy.

A fan-led movement #FreeBritney led to exploration and interrogation of the terms of the conservatorship that the popstar has been living under since 2008.

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For the unversed, Conservatorship is a legal concept in the United States. A guardian or a protector is appointed by a judge to manage the financial affairs and/or daily life of another person due to physical or mental limitations, or old age.

Now, a LA court essentially gave her father, Jamie Spears, full control over her decision-making and finances. This came to light when a popular broadcast Britney’s Gram got an anonymous tip which revealed that Spears was at a mental health facility against her will. It was then that #FreeBritney movement began. Speculations have been rife that the tipper is a paralegal who worked closely on her conservatorship case.

A failed marriage and pressure to deal with fame pushed Britney Spears to the edge of a dark tunnel. She, along with Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton became a trio of party gals who would bring the house down and chill together most nights. This was followed by her infamous salon breakdown.

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Back in 2006-07, Spears was shattered by her divorce with Kevin Federline. A newly-single Britney would often party with Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton who were notorious for being the bad girls of Hollywood at that time. Her friends and family were increasingly concerned by her late night adventures while she retreated into the darkness of the Hollywood party scene.?

Days before her shaved head incident, she was encouraged to check into a rehab facility but 24 hours later, she discharged herself and had a severe meltdown at a random salon shortly after.

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After checking out of the rehab, "the first thing she did was try and visit her kids," a close source said at the time. "But when she tried to see them she was told she needed to get help first. She kind of lost it."

That’s when she found herself inside a small salon. She told the salon owner her extensions were too tight and she wanted them removed. When the person attending to her encouraged her to reconsider, Britney grew impatient, grabbed the razor and started shaving her head on her own. That evening of Feb 2007 marked the beginning of one of the biggest public meltdowns in pop culture history.

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This was definitely a massive cry for help. Not only did she start losing touch with her closed ones she also started to lose herself. The paparazzi culture added to her agony when she was pictured against her will and she was seen getting violent and attacking a photographer’s car out of frustration.

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s public breakup, her interview with Diane Sawyer, an appalling Family Feud question and rejection of her plea for change in conservatorship contributed to her flailing mental health.

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A girl who started working very young, Britney’s journey has witnessed several bumps. Timberlake and Spears had been a legendary star couple. They performed together on The Mickey Mouse Club as children and dated for four years before splitting in 2002. This was just before JT was supposed to launch his solo career. As if his infamous Janet Jackson controversy wasn’t enough, Timberlake at that time steered the narrative of their breakup and blamed Spears for cheating on him. The press without bothering to ask her side of the story dissected the details of their relationship.?

Cut to her interview with Diane Sawyer where she told Britney that Kendal Ehrlich stated that she would shoot Spears if she had the opportunity to. This made Britney really disturbed and she ended the interview earlier than expected.

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Her troubles became an entertainment piece when a Family Feud question was “Name something Britney Spears has lost in the past year.” One of the appalling ‘correct answers’ was her mind.?

According to the attorney Adam Streisand, Spears wanted “a professional; somebody independent” to be the conservator of her person and her estate. He also further shared that Britney Spears told him,? she understood that this conservatorship was going to happen — she just didn’t want her father to be the person in charge.

Further, Samuel D. Ingham told the judge during a hearing, ‘My client has informed me that she is afraid of her father.’ This hearing was conducted to determine whether another conservator should be appointed.

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Spears who is now 39, has spent more than 13 years as someone who has been legally deemed unfit to have control of her own life despite amassing money from record sales and a four-year Las Vegas residency, which made nearly $140 million. With the Free Britney campaign gaining momentum, the details of her conservatorship have come up for reevaluation.?

Update:??In a setback, a judge has denied US pop star Britney Spears’ request to remove her father Jamie Spears from her conservatorship, according to Variety. Last week, the 39-year-old singer told the Los Angeles judge overseeing the arrangement that she wanted the 13-year-long conservatorship that has controlled her life to end. She also appealed that her father be removed as her conservator.

However, the judge has reportedly denied removing Britney’s father from conservatorship, stating that Jamie Spears and Bessemer Trust will retain equal power over the pop star’s finances and person, as per a report by Variety.

Britney called the conservatorship “abusive" and said that it did “more harm" to her than good.?

In a recent post on Instagram last week, Spears said that she was embarrassed to share what happened to her.