Britney Spears has broken her silence to assure her fans “all is well”, amid concerns for her well-being.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Britney had checked into a mental health facility after suffering “emotional distress”.
However, during her time out, some of her supporters have grown worried about her welfare, leading to the creation of the hashtag #FreeBritney by fans who believed the star is actually being held against her will by her management or father, who she has been under the conservatorship of for more than a decade.
In a short video posted on her Instagram page, Britney said: “Hi guys, just checking in with all of you who are concerned about me. All is well.
“My family has been going through a lot of stress and anxiety lately so I just needed time to deal. But don’t worry, I’ll be back very soon.”
The post was accompanied by a longer message, which read: “I wanted to say hi, because things that are being said have just gotten out of control!!! Wow!!! There’s rumors, death threats to my family and my team, and just so many things crazy things being said.
“I am trying to take a moment for myself, but everything that’s happening is just making it harder for me. Don’t believe everything you read and hear.
“These fake emails everywhere were crafted by [her former manager] Sam Lutfi years ago... I did not write them. He was pretending to be me and communicating with my team with a fake email address. My situation is unique, but I promise I’m doing what’s best at this moment.”
The caption went on to say: “You may not know this about me, but I am strong, and stand up for what I want!
“Your love and dedication is amazing, but what I need right now is a little bit of privacy to deal with all the hard things that life is throwing my way. If you could do that, I would be forever grateful. Love you.”
Britney was pictured for the first time in weeks days before her Instagram post, when her boyfriend Sam Asghari paid her a visit.
Earlier this year, Britney cancelled plans for her second residency in Las Vegas and announced an “indefinite work hiatus”, revealing that her father had fallen seriously ill.
Useful websites and helplines:
- Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
- Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.)
- The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk
- Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on www.rethink.org.