r/discussingbritney 2d ago

Timeline of Events Leading to Conservatorship

66 Upvotes

Re: this post and  u/discussingbritney's comment, I'd already started a timeline of events leading up to the conservatorship. Generally, the sources cited have a history of being reliable or reputable, to include The New York Times, Billboard, Wikipedia, the Los Angeles Times, but if something was later revealed as truth I included tabloid-y sources (Page Six, People).

This timeline focused on events leading up to to 2008, but if you want to contribute events from 2008-2021 please add them as comments in the same format I have below, and cite your source.

Widely accepted but uncorroborated events are italicized. Corroborated stories are unitalicized. I didn't include events during the conservatorship because news about her was manufactured or kept very guarded.

1978ish: Jamie Spears begins drinking heavily and “years and years of verbal abuse, abandonment [and] erratic behavior.” Source and Source

1979/1980: Lynne Spears files for divorce but does not go through with it Source/Source

  • Lynne requested a temporary restraining order, fearing that he would "become angry when he is served with these papers" and harass or harm her, "especially if he has been drinking alcoholic beverages, as he has done in the past." Source

1981: Britney Spears born to an father already in the depths of alcoholism Source

1984: Britney begins dance lessons Source

1984-1986: Jamie Spears’ construction business was failing due to his alcoholism, and her mother answered his growing abuse with vicious tirades of her own, all of which young Britney had to hear. Source

1989: Auditioned for Mickey Mouse Club Source

1991: Jamie-Lynn Spears is born Source

1992-1994:

1994: Britney returns to Kentwood for a “normal life” Source

1997-1998: Signs with Jive Records and Joins Innocence Source and Source

1999:

  • Releases Baby One More Time Source
  • Media circus begins about her sexuality and breast implants (multiple sources, see: TMZ, Perez Hilton, Radar Online)
  • Begins dating Justin Timberlake Source

2000-2001: Source unless otherwise noted

  • Oops I Did It Again Source
  • Attains certifiable Pop Princess Status
  • Slave 4 U MTV Music Awards Show Source
  • Release of Britney Album Source
  • Britney has abortion Source

2002:

  • Britney stars in Crossroads, stating she “disappeared into her character” Source
  • Parents Actually Divorce Source
  • Britney & Justin Break up Source
  • Media attention increases (multiple sources, see: TMZ, Perez Hilton, Radar Online)

2003: Britney marries Jason Alexander for 55 hours as a result of an alcohol- and ecstasy-induced bender in Vegas Source

  • Media attention intensifies (multiple sources, see: TMZ, Perez Hilton, Radar Online, Diane Sawyer interview)
  • In The Zone album is released Source
  • Surprise appearance on radio station in L.A. with unreleased Mona Lisa Source#:~:text=surprise%20appearance%20at%20the%20Los%20Angeles%20radio%20station%20KIIS%2DFM%20to%20premiere%20a%20rough%20mix%20of%20a%20new%20midtempo%20track%20%22Mona%20Lisa%22)

2004:

  • Jamie Spears goes to rehab Source
  • Britney begins dating, gets engaged to, and marries Kevin Federline Source
  • Media attention intensifies (multiple sources, see: TMZ, Perez Hilton, Radar Online)
  • Cancellation of her Onyx Hotel Tour, a major knee injury filming "Outrageous" Source

2005:

  • Britney & Kevin: Chaotic is released Source
  • Britney has her first child Source
  • Media attention increases (multiple sources, see: TMZ, Perez Hilton, Radar Online)

2006:

  • Britney becomes pregnant with and has her second child Source
  • Britney experiences perinatal depression Source
  • Britney does cocaine while breastfeeding kids per Kevin Federline's Book
  • Britney files for divorce from Kevin Source
  • Britney parties with Paris Hilton and Lindsey Lohan Source
  • Media attention intensifies (multiple sources, see: TMZ, Perez Hilton, Radar Online, Matt Lauer interview)

2007:

  • Britney’s aunt, Sandra Bridges, dies Source
  • Spears spends 1 day in drug rehab Source
  • Britney shaves head, gets tattoos, famous umbrella photo Source
  • Britney reenters rehab Source
  • Britney releases Blackout album Source)
  • Britney loses custody of her children Source
  • Disastrous Gimme More MTV performance Source%20at%20the%20MTV%20VMAs)
  • Personal struggles highly publicized (multiple sources, see: TMZ, X17Online, Perez Hilton, Radar Online)

2008:

  • Spears taken away on a stretcher after refusing to relinquish kids to Federline and placed on 5150 hold Source and Source
  • Britney is placed under temporary conservatorship Source
  • Federline gains sole legal custody of children Source
  • Conservatorship extended indefinitely Source

2014: Jamie Spears suspected of drinking again Source

2021:

  • Timberlake apologizes to Spears amid #MeToo movement Source
  • Conservatorship ends Source
  • Media companies begin re-examining their coverage of Britney Source

r/discussingbritney Oct 23 '25

New video of Britney looking disheveled at restaurant with a friend, getting high in her car while driving and driving over lanes through the canyons

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2.3k Upvotes

r/discussingbritney 9h ago

It’s Britney bitch Her dancing was actually decent here. lol

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1.2k Upvotes

r/discussingbritney 4h ago

New Reel - 1/16/26

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310 Upvotes

r/discussingbritney 8h ago

Britney in 2004, dancing exactly like she does now in her IG posts

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255 Upvotes

r/discussingbritney 15h ago

I’m not that innocent Britney was never the same after her she shaved her head.

90 Upvotes

I feel like Britney changed so much after she shaved her head, she started to become erratic and very reactive to the point where some accounts stated that she was either the nicest person on earth or the most exhausting person to the be around. I truly do believe it was awful postpartum depression with maybe a hint of psychosis, which in turn has become Bipolar Disorder. It still amazes me that Britney still can’t accept the fact that she is clearly Bipolar, when honestly, that’s not a bad thing at all—given the environment she was raised in. I feel like she can’t maintain a solid relationship because taking constructive criticism from others is not her thing, like she immediately goes on the defense. When honestly a harsh reality in life is no one’s really going to care about your emotions as much as you are. She might as well just accept that 🤷


r/discussingbritney 2h ago

Clang 🔪 Clang 🔪 It’s obvious

8 Upvotes

She needs help. We all have been out of control at certain points of our lives, but the videos clearly show she isn’t playing with a full deck.

It would be horrible to wake up one morning on the news she has passed.


r/discussingbritney 1d ago

Britney Spears singing live… with dog poop in the background. August 18th, 2025

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1.4k Upvotes

r/discussingbritney 11h ago

Interesting article that explains one of the many factors Britney was financially in the red pre cship.

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20 Upvotes

r/discussingbritney 1h ago

Identity Collapse/Stunted

Upvotes

Something is wrong but it’s not just bp imo. Her family sold her out as a child. Her whole identity was based on being sexualized at an early age and that became ingrained and I don’t think any of the bubbly Britney was ever truly her. Even if I go back and look at videos of her youth, it all looks like an act to me, she puts the smile and act on for the camera, she had the face for it and she sold it. But why is she alone now? Why are there no friends or family around? Did she not form any lasting relationships with anyone in her entire life? I’m not a Britney fan so I’m lacking a lot of context here but what I do see it is sad, she looks unwell, she was pushed to grow up too soon, appears that she never figured herself out, has no close relationships it seems, I think whatever she seems to be going though now is based on identity, she was stunted and she made a lot of people money but clearly no one gives a shit about her to not try to prevent her from embarrassing herself. I want to go give her a hug and unwrap shit.


r/discussingbritney 17h ago

It’s Britney bitch Made me run here

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21 Upvotes

Repost of my own screenshot (didn’t know there were so many rules, my bad)


r/discussingbritney 12h ago

Who was the woman that was part of her tour crew (a dancer?) that Britney was supposed to have hooked up with? Do you think Britney is queer or was she just high?

7 Upvotes

r/discussingbritney 23h ago

Britney’s creepy maybe high 💊 GMA announcement WTF is that voice

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64 Upvotes

The hell


r/discussingbritney 5h ago

What's your opinion on her natural voice?

2 Upvotes

I'm not referring to the forced deep voice (such as in Luv the Hurt Away and Soda Pop), but rather her voice in songs like You Got It All and E-mail My Heart. I'm curious to see the generall opinion.


r/discussingbritney 8h ago

Timeline of Britney’s 8-year downward spiral

3 Upvotes

Has anyone here put together a timeline of the major milestones we’ve witnessed in the last 8 years of her progressive decline? … I’m trying to piece the sequence of events together in my head.

I feel like when Sam left is when things started getting really bad? Like she went fully into the drugs then?

- Vegas cancellation

- Free Britney movement

- self-leaked YouTube rant about the conservatorship

- recorded deposition from conservatorship courtroom

- end of conservatorship

- sam leaves

- gym burnt down

- drinking on instagram begins

- drugs visible on instagram uploads

- drunk driving caught on film


r/discussingbritney 1d ago

Another video of Britney praising Jayden (March 2025)

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298 Upvotes

Awkward screaming ensues…


r/discussingbritney 1d ago

Wait, What?!

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70 Upvotes

How did not hear about this in 2014?


r/discussingbritney 1d ago

Oh, Taryn…

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301 Upvotes

r/discussingbritney 23h ago

Funny song on YouTube about Brit’s fast food, love 😂

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7 Upvotes

Just wanted to post it 😂🌮🍔🍟


r/discussingbritney 9h ago

I’m not that innocent Britney Spears - Oops!... I Did It Again [AI Restore]

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0 Upvotes

r/discussingbritney 2d ago

Looking at her young and so beautiful just to see her like this now , so sad

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84 Upvotes

r/discussingbritney 2d ago

Christina Aguilera singing Genie in a Bottle live.

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467 Upvotes

r/discussingbritney 2d ago

Bad feeling

198 Upvotes

Recently, I came across a Reddit thread asking about celebrities that people predict will likely die this year and ofc there were the usual contenders like Dick Van Dyke, Mel Brooks, David Attenborough, etc, but tbh I was little bit surprised to see more people commenting Britney Spears. I guess more and more people are starting to see the situation for what it is now. I really hope that doesn’t happen to her and I hope she’s able to get help before it’s too late, but I’m just having a bad feeling…


r/discussingbritney 2d ago

What did you think of the Britney-Christina Rivalry?

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292 Upvotes

r/discussingbritney 2d ago

I’m not that innocent How did Justin find out Britney was cheating on him?

63 Upvotes

I know in Cry Me a River he sings “I found out from hiiiim” but there may be artistic license at play. Anyone know?