The media culture of the late 1990s and early 2000s, and in particular the treatment of famous women, has not aged well. After the February 5 premiere of Armando Britney Spears, “We’re sorry, Britney” has become a trending phrase on Twitter. The new documentary, which is part of New York Times gifts series on FX and Hulu, revisits the tabloid obsession with the pop star’s personal struggles, as well as analyzes his ongoing legal battle to regain control of his finances.
Inspired by the #FreeBritney movement, Armando Britney Spears focuses mainly on the 13-year-old guardianship that allowed her father, Jamie Spears, to control the singer’s finances and daily affairs. In August, Spears petitioned to end her father’s guardianship in court, and many fans became fervent supporters of the singer’s financial freedom, according to the LA Times.
However, the documentary doesn’t just focus on Spears’ legal battles; he steps away to show the negative impact of media mistreatment to the star in the midst of his public struggles. The documentary compiles footage of talk show hosts asking inappropriate questions to the singer (in 2006, Matt Lauer asked the star to respond to criticism that she was a “hick”), comedians who told jokes about their struggles and hordes of paparazzi following move in public. On Twitter, fans apologized to Spears for the public’s role in his struggles, sharing appreciation and support for the pop star.
On Sunday, February 7, a fan tweeted who “the media has treated Britney Spears horribly for years” and added, “I’m glad she is finally getting the respect she deserves.” Other #FreeBritney supporter shared an apology to the singer, writing: “The way the media treated you … and the world stood still. You deserved much better and the world failed you.”
“We’re sorry, Britney,” another user tweeted Domigo. “For the horrible tabloids, the nasty interviews, the scathing comments and the dehumanizing looks.”
Other fans circulated old images of comedians Sarah Silverman and Kevin Hart mocking Britney Spears, asking the stars to apologize to the singer. Other users have reacted to the revelations about Justin Timberlake and his relationship in the documentary, with writer Muna Mire tweeting, “Come in as JT did Britney and Janet, I don’t understand why we didn’t excommunicate him as a society.”