Episode #105 | 7.12.22
Britney Spears (Part 1): Family Trauma, Predatory Paparazzi, and Mrs.-Extra-Extra-This-Just-In
In this episode
No musician owned pop music quite like Britney Spears at the turn of the century. After graduating from Mississippi tween queen to full-fledged American superstar, her fame exploded at a time when tabloids circled celebrities like prey. 30 to 45 predatory paparazzi would follow Britney’s every move during 12-to-14 hour shifts, eager to document the collapse of her marriage and social circle. As her public image crumbled, it’s no wonder Britney ended 2007 with a bald head and a “blackout.” The conservatorship that came next, however, surprised everyone—even Britney herself.
Sources
How The Fast Times Of The Paparazzi Came To A Screeching Halt (Buzzfeed)
Shooting Britney (The Atlantic)
Britney Spears’ mother: ‘It’s been a whirlwind’ (Today)
The Tragedy of Britney Spears (Rolling Stone)
Timeline: Britney’s Meltdown (CBS)
Spears charged with hit-and-run (Hollywood Reporter)
Troubled Britney faces jail sentence (The Guardian)
Britney Spears Apparently Drives Over Paparazzo’s Foot (MTV)
Los Angeles Proposes Restraints on Paparazzi (New York Times)
Britney Spears Inspires A New Law (Today)
Britney Spears’ paparazzi problems could spark new law (NME)
'Britney Bill' Aims to Prevent Paparazzi Disaster (NPR)
Britney Spears loses custody of her children (The Guardian)
Britney Spears Dropped By Management (CBS)
Britney Spears in Hospital After Standoff (New York Times)
Britney Spears Leaves Hospital After Visit from Dr. Phil (MTV)
Britney Spears Rushed to Hospital Again (MTV)
Britney on 72-Hour Mental Lockdown (People)
Britney Spears Was Drugged, Controlled by Sam Lutfi, Parents Allege (MTV)
Britney: Inside the Dream by Steve Dennis
Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World by Lynne Spears
Framing Britney Spears (Hulu)
Controlling Britney Spears (Hulu)
Britney Vs. Spears (Netflix)
Britney Spears: For the Record (MTV special)
Disgraceland is a podcast about musicians getting away with murder and behaving very badly. It melds music history, true crime and transgressive fiction. Disgraceland is not journalism. Disgraceland is entertainment. Entertainment inspired by true events. However, certain scenes, characters and names are sometimes fictionalized for dramatic purposes.
Music
Hosted by Jake Brennan.
Written by Victoria Wasylak.
Copy editing by Pat Healy.
Mixed and Engineered by Sean Cahalin.
Score by Jake Brennan.
Disgraceland theme song, "Crenshaw Space Boogie" written and produced by Jake Brennan. Performed by Jake Brennan, Bryce Kanzer, Jay Cannava and Evan Kenney. Mixed and engineered by Adam Taylor.
*illustrations by Avi Spivak @avispivak