Britney Spears' posts are worrying fans. Here's why.

Some Britney Spears fans are worried about the singer after she recently posted on Instagram.

On her 43rd birthday on Tuesday, the singer posted videos on the social media site saying she had moved to Mexico, was turning 5 and was going to kindergarten. USA TODAY has reached out to a representative for Spears for clarification.

Those posts — as well as others, like one last year in which she appeared to dance with knives — have sparked mixed reactions, including concern, from Spears fans. Therapists say these reactions are normal and to be expected. After all, Spears is a popular celebrity and her fans care deeply about her well-being; However, their mental health has also long been the subject of intense and often inappropriate scrutiny and speculation.

Spears’ posts and fans’ reactions to them raise an important question: How do you properly express your concern about someone, especially someone you’ve never met? And how can Spears’ fans best support her?

“Because we are caring, empathetic people, we worry about someone – and that’s okay,” says psychotherapist Stephanie Sarkis. “I think if it’s becoming too stressful and causing you to be unable to participate in normal day-to-day life, then maybe it’s time to evaluate it and talk to someone.”

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“People are really rooting for her.”

One reason fans feel particularly protective of Spears is the legal battle to free her from her conservatorship, which made headlines and led to rallies and protests in her support. The pop star was placed under conservatorship in 2008 at the age of 26 after suffering a public meltdown the year before, which played out in front of the paparazzi who captured her erratic behavior.

Momentum to end Spears’ conservatorship increased dramatically in February 2021 after The New York Times released the documentary “Framing Britney Spears,” which spotlighted her conservatorship and the #FreeBritney movement to end it. The public outcry against the conservatorship reached its peak after Spears herself gave emotional testimony at a court hearing in June in which she called her conservatorship “abusive” and argued for it to be ended without further psychological evaluation.

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All of this, Sarkis says, has made people feel particularly invested in Spears’ well-being — and that’s why she believes most of the concerns surrounding her are well-intentioned.

“People are really pushing for her to do well because we want people to do well overall,” Sarkis says. “We want them to triumph and we want them to fulfill their potential.”

Spears’ conservatorship battle has also made her more than just a pop star in people’s eyes. For many, it also represents resilience, autonomy and finding your voice after being silenced.

“It represents on a global level what can happen when people with mental health problems are stigmatized, excluded or dismissed,” says Sarkis. “She kind of speaks for those who have been in situations like a conservatorship situation or where they felt like their voice was being suppressed.”

Britney Spears reactions and what they say about us

Sarkis says it’s normal for people to worry about someone exhibiting bizarre behavior. This concern is often heightened when the person is famous.

“In a scenario like this, watching someone from a distance can make people feel helpless, like they want to help but don’t know how,” she says.

However, it’s important to remember that our feelings about a celebrity often say more about us than the famous person. For many, Spears’ posts may strike a chord because they remind them of times in their lives where they struggled with their mental health or dealt with a close family member or friend in a similar situation.

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If your feelings of helplessness or concern for a celebrity are taking a significant toll, this is a good opportunity for introspection.

“It’s a really good opportunity to look at yourself and ask, ‘What have I been through that I associate with this or identify with?’ ” Says Sarkis. “Something as simple as feeling like you don’t fit in, feeling like society doesn’t accept you.”

It’s not just Spears’ supporters who could benefit from this kind of reflection. The trolls and keyboard warriors should also take a close look in the mirror, says relationship therapist Philip Lewis.

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“I would tell them the same thing,” Lewis says. “What is happening to you that causes you to react this way, and is there a way to be more compassionate and empathetic?”

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Britney Spears’ posts are worrying fans. Here’s why.

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