Netflix Announces Its Own Britney Spears Documentary
After the public support for Britney Spears following Hulu's Framing Britney Spears documentary, Netflix has announced that the streaming service is producing its own documentary about the singer. According to Bloomberg News, the film, directed by Erin Lee Carr, does not have a name or projected release date at this time, but was in production before the Hulu picture.
Carr is largely known for her true crime documentaries. Her previous work has covered topics like Larry Nassar and the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal, Gypsy Rose and Dee Dee Blanchard, and the New York City "Cannibal Cop."
The original project used the growing #FreeBritney movement as a jump-off point to explore the "Toxic" singer's rise to fame, malignment by the media, and mental health struggles which led her to being placed under a conservatorship controlled by her father, Jamie Spears. The documentary heavily examines the conservatorship, even interviewing a member of Jamie's legal team, and what drove her fans to take action against its continuation.
Reaction to the film launched a social media frenzy, including many users who called out journalists like Diane Sawyer and Matt Lauer for their misogynist attitude towards Spears in interviews. Spears' ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake also received significant backlash after the piece pointed out his involvement in her downfall. As a result, Timberlake took to Instagram to apologize to the pop star, as well as to his former Super Bowl Halftime Show co-headliner Janet Jackson.
"I am deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn, or did not speak up for what was right. I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others and benefitted from a system that condones misogyny and racism," said Timberlake. "I specifically want to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually, because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed."
