Britney Spears voluntarily checked herself into a treatment facility after several people close to her encouraged her to do so, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Spears, 44, was arrested in March on suspicion of driving under the influence in Ventura County, California. The people close to Spears told her it was important to show the judge she was taking the matter seriously, said the source, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
A spokesperson for Spears declined to comment Monday on why she decided to check into rehab. TMZ reported Sunday that Spears checked into a rehab facility in the U.S. for substance abuse, citing sources with direct knowledge of the events.
Spears, known as the “Princess of Pop,” was freed from her conservatorship in 2021, ending the 13-year arrangement that had legally stripped her of the authority to make her own personal and financial decisions.
But in the years since then, many of her followers have expressed concern over her mental health, citing her social media posts. Many of her Instagram updates show her dancing alone in her home, including one in which she was dancing with knives that she later said were not real.
Her most recent post, shared Sunday on Instagram, is a video that appears to show someone putting their fingers in a water-filled bowl of pink flowers. She also posted a video of herself dancing to Cardi B.
Following the arrest, a representative for Spears described the incident as “completely inexcusable” and said “hopefully this can be the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life."
Spears' next court hearing is May 4, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
