Netflix ‘to release its own Britney Spears documentary’ – but fans are already divided
Britney Spears. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Netflix is reportedly taking its own shot at a Britney Spears documentary in the wake of Framing Britney Spears.
The New York Times documentary – released by Netflix’s American rival Hulu – earned plaudits for its candid dive into the highs and lows of Spears’ career: charting her meteoric rise, her highly-publicised breakup and contented conservatorship.
Netflix, according to Bloomberg, is set to drop its own film on the legendary hitmaker, directed by true-crime filmmaker Erin Lee Carr.
It is understood that a Netflix Britney documentary has been in the works long before Framing Britney Spears dropped earlier this month.
It’s not uncommon for two production companies to drop competing programmes – such as when both Hulu and Netflix released duelling documentaries on the Fyre Festival saga.
How Netflix’s own take on Britney’s life might unfold remains unknown at the time of writing.
Rumoured Netflix Britney Spears documentary is just more ‘exploitation’ say critics.
As much as the majority of Britney Spears’ legion of fans reacted to the news with glee, relieved that the documentary might help raise “more awareness“, some responded with unease.
Some said they were weary of yet another documentary on the singer made without her involvement, arguing it signalled a “new phase” of her “exploitation”.
this is great but i also am kinda sketched out about these streaming services making docs about her that she can’t contribute her personal story to/receive some of the profits from. https://t.co/N5QSTPYMSD
— monique samuels stan account. (@DariaanMichelle) February 15, 2021
the only other britney documentary that might be needed is where shes allowed to speak on her own terms abt her life like if shes not directly involved in the making of it then we really dont need or want it… https://t.co/90AIUsedNs— paul (@FALLENAL1EN) February 15, 2021
without including Britney’s consent or the addition of her own narrative, these documentaries participate in the exploitation that they try & detest—especially when they are a series of talking heads interviews with “cultural commentators” who do not know her personally https://t.co/jwHXBz3NtS— viv (@viviantheole) February 16, 2021
If Britney isn’t getting money or in the documentary to talk about her own personal experience I simply do not want it.. this just seems like they’re trying to profit off of her.. https://t.co/FbgeVryAx6— mykaila ? (@glambymykaila) February 16, 2021
netflix has become this like weird factory of shane-dawson-esque exploitation content, it’s such a race to the bottom, i still can’t believe they made a 4 part series on Elisa Lam’s death https://t.co/18GGoAGynB
— mia culpa ? (@phendetta) February 16, 2021
The media doing Britney-sploitation again but this time wokely https://t.co/2XrRDP0jxq— Italian-American Advocate (@TheEpicDept) February 16, 2021
Framing Britney Spears filmmakers sought to show how misogynistic the media was during the throes of the star’s late-noughties success.
In one example pulled from the archives that deeply alarmed viewers, a 70-year-old Star Search host Ed McMahon asked an 11-year-old Britney whether she had a boyfriend – she did not, for “all men are mean”, she said.
In scrutinising the media’s relentless focus on Spears’ body, sex life and mental health, the documentary ignited a fresh wave of criticism against the way the press and public treat women. Some media personalities have even owned up to the roles they placed in the musician’s downfall since it aired, while the film’s scathing portrayal of her ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake prompted him to publicly apologise.
PinkNews contacted Netflix for comment.
