'Framing Britney Spears' Review: A Pop Star Trapped in the Stigma Around Mental Health

 

Right off the bat, the “New York Times Presents” documentary “Framing Britney Spears” brings us to the time when a female pop star is ruined by tabloid journalism and the systemic stigma around mental health in the entertainment industry. It led to her father’s conservatorship of her estate and reported emotional abuses towards the 2000s icon.

The events, TV interviews, and paparazzi videos are not news to those who grew up following the life of Britney Spears - by life, I mean what was only presented by the media. That said, these people who are now in their 30s and 40s might get a sense of guilt for not knowing better about the celebrity being harshly judged, stalked, and exploited.

There are pieces of the documentary that will hit people in the emotional gut. It is also unsettling to realize the truth that people enjoy seeing celebrities fall without any remorse on how the jokes and comments will harm a person’s well-being.

Being helmed by New York Times, it is no surprise that the documentary meticulously attempts to cover all sides and even goes as far as mentioning names of those who refused to be interviewed or were not able to respond in time for the episode’s completion.

“New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears” is streaming on Hulu.

Rating: 9 out of 10