Britney Spears and the Danger of Performance

In 2002, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, the young pop power couple parted ways. This came as a shock to the public, especially media, officials who met Britney with condemnation rather than compassion. Men and women decades older than Britney were essentially slut-shaming her in an effort to save her purity. Meanwhile, Justin Timberlake and his team were using this break as a way to promote his album. Media personnel often swayed in his favor as he painted Britney to be this miserable villain.

The news and Justin Timberlake spent most of their time eviscerating Britney’s character. Nevertheless, Britney was expected to be courteous and composed as she was met with hostility. Her performances on stage were expected to be perfect. The music that she created could not lose its 2000s upbeat flair. Britney Spears, along with various other women in the music industry, are often pushed to create idyllic realities while undergoing immense amounts of trauma. 

All the efforts to dehumanize Britney as a young woman in the spotlight seemed to culminate when her father Jamie Parnell Spears decided to put her in a conservatorship in 2008. Most people, even those close to Britney, agreed to this arrangement, thinking it would be the best for her as she suffered a mental breakdown. Only later would people realize how inhumane this conservatorship was. For instance, during her 2018 tour, her management stated that if  “[she] didn’t do this tour, [she would] have to find an attorney and by contract, their own management could sue me, if [she] didn't follow through with a tour.” Aspects like performing which are integral to Brittney’s artistry, have become weapons utilized against her. Touring is already physically tasking but even more draining when it is done is under duress. Something that was supposed to bring Brittney joy, was being used to exploit her.

Besides Britney’s management forcing her to perform, she also has to undergo intensive treatment where if “[she] didn't do any of [her] meetings and work from eight to six at night which is 10 hours a day, seven days a week, no days off, [she] wouldn't be able to see [her] kids or [her] boyfriend.” At the behest of Britney’s father, the mental health treatment that is supposed to make her better, is used to blackmail her. How can various players in this conservatorship believe they are helping Britney when they are isolating her from her loved ones? To make matters worse “[she’s] not able to get married or have a baby ... [she] wanted to take the I[U]D out so [she] could start trying to have another baby. But this so-called team won't let [her] go to the doctor to take it out because they don't want [her] to have [any more children].” Greed has propelled various players in the conservatorship into making her a machine for their exploitation. Decisions that don’t revolve around money are frowned upon but simultaneously taken away from her.  

Hearing this all from Britney’s mouth is surprising because the persona she has on various social media platforms says otherwise. There are videos of her dancing, smiling, and her going about her day. Even her Instagram captions exude positivity. It’s only now that the public has heard from her, how the past thirteen years have been emotionally taxing. 

All of these actions done by the conservatives are abominable, to say the least. Yet, various female musicians appeared to be delighted in their space in the pop industry while being taken advantage of. Kesha was known for upbeat pop anthems like Tik Tok and Die Young in the early 2010s. In 2014, she revealed that Dr. Luke, her supposed mentee, physically, sexually, and emotionally abused her in a legal suit against him. Dr. Luke has vehemently denied all these claims and although he has faced some backlash, he still manages to produce under various monikers like Tyson Trax or MADE IN CHINA. Lady Gaga is also known for eccentric pop songs of the late 2000s and early 2010s. Her music persona was extravagant and excessive many times to people’s relief. Three years before she released her album Fame, she was sexually assaulted by a producer who remains unnamed. Gaga still battles with PTSD from those events and even years after the attack, she dealt with a psychotic breakdown and paranoia. 

Currently, observers of pop music have grown disillusioned with the sad pop star persona that has become a prevalent trend in the industry. Some say Lorde’s emergence into the pop music realm prompted many other pop musicians to adopt a melancholic tone. Those bright visuals, elegant costumes, and over-the-top dance performances have now been replaced with a stand-alone musician on stage. In the past, pop music has been a space for escapism in a society plagued with complications. Now, it’s just a reflection of the anxieties of this decade. But maybe there should be a space for artists, especially female artists, to make heart-wrenching ballads while disregarding outward presentation. At times, many of these female musicians are worrying about creating new eras, working with designers on new looks, and trying to alleviate their fans' worldly concerns while being exploited by their managers and producers.

In many ways, these female pop stars represent a common phenomenon. Across the globe,  women constantly perform for other people so they can procure a place to live, have a sense of stability, and go about their lives peacefully. Britney Spears’ predicament, along with the other women mentioned, put these oppressive systems under a microscope. The general public should not only lend their full support to Britney, but should examine how sexism and misogyny robs women of their time, their sanity, and their agency.