Fans are speaking out about their concerns for Britney Spears after the singer posted a strange video Monday in which she is dancing with what appears to be two knives—though she would later adjust the video’s caption to reassure watchers that the implements were “NOT real knives!!!”
The Instagram video had Britney, clad in a polka-dot crop top and bikini bottoms, brandishing what seemed to be two kitchen knives as she spun, danced, and swung the knives around in the air. The bizarre clip comes soon after the news broke that the “Toxic” songstress would be divorcing her husband, Sam Asghari, and prompted authorities to perform a wellness check, the second known to be urged for Britney this year after another strange social media post in January.
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Britney Spears Posts Video Dancing With Knives; Assures They’re ‘NOT Real’
Britney, who according to TMZ has a “years-long fascination with knives,” posted one of her many dancing videos to Instagram on Monday—but this time, with two very concerning props. The singer swung around what appeared to be two stainless-steel kitchen knives as she danced barefoot in front of her living room, with her three small dogs watching behind her. The video was originally posted with the caption, “I started playing in the kitchen with knives today.”
It’s notable that, when Britney’s controversial conservatorship came to an end, one of the recommendations made for her continued care was that knives should be kept away from her. As TMZ reported, “We’re told Britney viewed knives as a means of protection … she has a constant fear of being re-institutionalized, something she’s referenced in the past … the recommendation was cautionary.”
However, the "Circus" singer returned to Instagram soon after her video went viral to change the caption on the clip and assure her fans there was nothing to be concerned about: "Don't worry they are NOT real knives!!! Halloween is soon!!!" Some viewers, though, noted that the knives could be heard clanging together during the dance, which seemed to indicate that they were at least made of metal. The video's audio is now muted on Britney's account.
Wellness Check Called On Britney For Safety Concerns
The concerns by those viewing the video were so great that authorities were apparently urged to make a wellness check on Brit this past Wednesday, with Ventura County Sheriff's Office Captain Dean Worthy telling CNN that someone close to the Grammy winner called them "genuinely concerned about her wellbeing." Worthy added, "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." The Sheriff's Office responded by dispatching a sergeant to the pop star's home who "has had multiple prior contacts with Ms. Spears over the course of many years" and has thus created a rapport with Britney.
I’m very concerned for Britney Spears is she okay?
— paradox (@vinnyveil) September 27, 2023
Once at the home, the sergeant reached Brit's head of security over the house's intercom, who relayed the information that there was no threat to her safety, and that she did not want deputies entering the property. Additionally, Britney's attorney also contacted the sergeant, "[explaining that] he had just spoken with the singer" and "[assuring] him there were no issues with Ms. Spears mentally, physically, or otherwise."
This is the second wellness check that we know of called on Britney this year: the first was in January, when the star disclosed that "prank phone calls" had spurred a police wellness check at her home. Britney asked that her privacy would be respected, saying, "I love and adore my fans but this time things went a little too far and my privacy was invaded." She added that the incident left her feeling "gaslit and bullied...once again [portrayed] in a poor and unfair light by the media."
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Just hours before publishing this article, Britney posted a second dancing-with-knives video to her Instagram page, this one while wearing a cropped white peasant-style top and hot pink bikini bottoms. The caption reads, "I know I spooked everyone with the last post, but these are fake knives that my team rented from Hand Prop shop in LA. These are not real knives. No one needs to worry or call the police. I’m trying to imitate one of my favorite performers Shakira … a performance I was inspired by !!! Cheers to us bad girls who aren’t afraid to push boundaries and take risks!"
