Britney Spears has withdrawn from social media in recent days after what sources described as a personal "breaking point," following renewed public scrutiny tied to a memoir released by her ex-husband Kevin Federline and the circulation of footage showing the singer driving erratically in California. Spears, 43, deactivated her Instagram account around November 2, prompting concern among fans and reopening debate regarding her emotional wellbeing.
The disappearance from social platforms came after Spears had used Instagram and X to respond to Federline's book and to criticism of her behavior. In mid-October, she wrote that the renewed allegations against her amounted to "constant gaslighting" and were "hurtful," adding, "Trust me, those white lies in that book, they are going straight to the bank and I am the only one who genuinely gets hurt here."
The scrutiny intensified after video surfaced on October 22 showing Spears leaving the Red O restaurant in Thousand Oaks, California. The footage appeared to show her raising a glass inside the establishment before getting behind the wheel, swerving across lanes and making an illegal U-turn with screeching tires. The clip was widely shared across social media and entertainment news outlets.
Federline's memoir, You Thought You Knew, released October 21, includes allegations about their family life from the period when the pair were married between 2004 and 2007. Among the claims are accusations that Spears once "bleached their sons' hair to the point of burns," gave their son Jayden shellfish despite his allergy, and at one point wished both their children "dead." Sources familiar with the book say it also includes allegations of drug use while breastfeeding and an instance where Spears was supposedly seen "standing in their room... with a knife in her hand."
Spears has denied the allegations through her representative, who said Federline is attempting to profit from her post-conservatorship visibility now that child support obligations have ended. Spears also wrote on social media that "the boy hates me and it is deep anger," questioning why Federline would "humiliate" her publicly if he had cared for her in the past.
A source close to the singer said the convergence of public criticism, the driving footage, and the memoir sparked the decision to withdraw. "She needed to come off social media because she was close to going nuclear," the insider said. Another added that Spears was distressed that some followers were using her posts "to weaponise her past issues with mental illness to mock and denigrate her."
Spears is said to be relying primarily on her longtime manager and confidant Cade Hudson for personal and professional support. Hudson, who was active in advocating during the #FreeBritney movement, has known Spears for more than two decades. "She trusts Cade more than anyone else in the world, even more than her family," a source familiar with the situation said. "He's one of the few people who can talk sense into her when she needs it, but who can also be a friend." Hudson is currently serving as her main point of contact and gatekeeper, "standing between her and anyone who tries to get to her both personally and professionally."
