Britney Spears’ Memoir: 10 Shocking Revelations
The pop star opens up about her conservatorship, relationships, and more.
Britney Spears is one of the most successful pop stars of all time. But she has also been through a lot in her life, including a controversial conservatorship and a very public breakdown. In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. In her memoir, The Woman in Me, Spears shares her story in a raw and honest way, and she does not hold back.
Here is a list of 10 shocking facts from Britney Spears’ memoir, including the father of the unborn baby and a bit more detail about five of the most shocking facts:
1. Spears had an abortion when she was 19. The father of the unborn baby was Justin Timberlake, who felt that they were too young to be parents. She says that the abortion was a difficult decision, but she knew that it was the right one for her at the time. Spears also writes that she was worried about how the public would react if they found out about the abortion. She says that she felt like she had to keep it a secret, and that this put a lot of pressure on her.
2. She was dumped by Justin Timberlake via a two-word text message. Spears writes in her memoir that Timberlake broke up with her via a text message that simply said, “I’m done.” She was devastated by the breakup, and she writes that she felt like she was “going to die.”
3. The popstar felt like she was going to “die” during the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards. Spears was scheduled to perform at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, but she was so nervous that she felt like she was going to “die.” She writes in her memoir that she had to “fake it till I made it” through the performance.
4. She had an affair with her choreographer, Wade Robson. Spears writes in her memoir that the affair happened with the Australian dancer and choreographer. while she was married to Kevin Federline. She says that the affair was “passionate” but “short-lived.
5. Spears wrote, that she was “brainwashed” by her conservatorship team. Spears’ conservatorship, which was in place for 13 years from 2008, was widely criticised as being unfair and restrictive. Britney’s father James “Jamie” Spears, and attorney Andrew M. Wallet were appointed as conservators by judge Judge Reva Goetz. Spears mentions that her conservatorship team “brainwashed” her into believing that she was incapable of taking care of herself. She says that they controlled every aspect of her life, from her finances to her personal relationships.
6. She was forced to work against her will. Spears writes in her memoir that she was forced to work against her will during her conservatorship. She says that she was forced to tour and perform even when she was sick and exhausted. She also says that she was forced to take medication that she didn’t want to take.
7. Britney Spears was denied access to her own money during her conservatorship. She says that she was only allowed to spend a certain amount of money each month, and that she had to get permission from her conservatorship team before she could make any major purchases.
8. Spears declares, that she was slut-shamed and body-shamed by the media. Spears has long been a target of the paparazzi and the tabloids. In her memoir, she describes how the media’s coverage of her has often been inaccurate and hurtful. She also reveals how she was slut-shamed and body-shamed by the media, which contributed to her mental health struggles.
9. She was sexually harassed by a music producer when she was a teenager. She says that the producer made inappropriate comments to her and touched her without her consent.
10. Spears was allegedly given drugs against her will during her conservatorship. She says that she was forced to take medication that made her feel “numb” and “detached”.
The Woman in Me, published by Simon & Schuster, is available from October 24, 2023.
Elena Leo is the Arts & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.
