After pop icon Britney Spears posted a video of herself dancing with knives, someone was concerned enough to contact authorities.
Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Captain Dean Worthy confirmed to CNN that officials visited Spears’ home in Thousand Oaks, Calif., after an unnamed person close to the star who was “genuinely concerned about her wellbeing,” called the Los Angeles Police Department mental health assessment team.
“Some would argue this is her expressing her creative freedom, and some might argue this is dangerous and there’s a safety issue or mental health concern,” said Worthy.
Spears posted the video Monday. She can be seen dancing in a crop top and bikini bottoms as she twirls knives around her body. As of Saturday, Spears had updated the caption to read: “I started playing in the kitchen with knives today 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️ !!! Don’t worry they are NOT real knives !!! Halloween is soon 🙈🙈🙈 !!!”
WWL’s Scoot had another perspective on the wellness check: “Why the hell would people think they need to send people over to check on her? I don’t know, but I’m thinking – you know, they’re sitting around the police station, this weird video of Britney Spears comes up… you think they’re not looking for a reason to go check on her?”
In a follow-up post, Spears further explained that her team rented the knives from “Hand Prop shop” in Los Angeles, Calif. She also said that she knew she “spooked” some people but that “no one needs to worry or call the police.
“Lighten up about the knives I’m copying Shakira,” she said in another post.
Shakira brought out knives this month for her Video Vanguard performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. Spears is also known for daring stage acts, including her 2001 VMAs performance with a huge snake.
Still, a sergeant from Ventura County who “has had multiple prior contacts with Ms. Spears over the course of many years” was dispatched to Spears home out of caution after the concerned person contacted authorities.
There, the sergeant spoke with a member of Spears security team via intercom.
“The singer’s head of security told the sergeant he was with Spears, there was no threat to her safety, and the singer did not want deputies to enter the property,” according to CNN. “Worthy said Spears’ attorney also called the sergeant, ‘explained he had just spoken with the singer,’ and “assured him there were no issues with Ms. Spears mentally, physically, or otherwise.’”
CNN has reached out to a representative for Spears for comment, said the outlet.
In 2021, a 13-year conservatorship that allowed Spears’ family to make decisions for her and restricted her freedom ended, and many of her friends would post with the #FreeBritney hashtag while she was under the conservatorship. She often posts dance videos to her Instagram account.
Last month, Spears and her husband Hesam 'Sam' Asghari split, and she was also in the news when security for San Antonio Spurs player Victor Wembanyama backhanded her in a Las Vegas, Nev. hotel.
“No woman deserves to be hit,” she said of the incident.
Spears’ memoir “The Woman in Me” is set to be released late next month. According to a press release, it “illuminates the enduring power of music and love — and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms.”
A Friday Instagram post from Spears showed that she was in good spirits.
“I’m in such a beautiful location !!! l'm so lucky to have amazing friends !!! Positive affirmations are important to me at the moment !!! I say this because I’m going through a divorce and having to reflect my past in a book was… let's just say not easy !!! I'm just saying !!! But I take one day at a time learning to breathe !!! Self love is so unbelievably important !!! I woke up and just cried because I felt grateful to be in such a beautiful place !!!” she said.