Britney Spears Opens Up About Her Head-Shaving Incident and Acting Out in 2007

Britney Spears made headlines in 2007 when she shaved off her hair during a challenging period in her life.

The media seized on this event, portraying it as evidence of her supposed erratic behavior.

However, what was going through Spears' mind at the time?

In her highly anticipated memoir, “The Woman in Me,” set to be released on October 24, Spears reveals her thoughts and motivations behind shaving her head.

She explains that growing up, she had constantly been scrutinized and judged, with people commenting on her body since she was a teenager.

Shaving her head and acting out were her ways of rebelling against this constant scrutiny.

Following the head-shaving incident, Spears found herself placed under a court-ordered conservatorship in 2008.

This legal arrangement granted her father and a lawyer control over her personal and financial affairs.

Under this conservatorship, she claims that she was not allowed to maintain her new look.

Spears writes, “I was made to understand that those days were now over.

I had to grow my hair out and get back into shape.

I had to go to bed early and take whatever medication they told me to take.”

Although Spears achieved significant success during the conservatorship, recording and releasing four successful albums and headlining her Piece of Me Las Vegas residency, she felt deeply unhappy.

Her passion for singing and dancing waned, and she describes feeling like a shadow of herself for thirteen years.

Reflecting on the control her father and his associates had over her body and finances, Spears expresses her disgust, pointing out that male artists faced fewer restrictions even when dealing with substance abuse or mental health issues.

She firmly believes that she did not deserve the treatment she received from her family.

In September 2021, after publicly pleading with the judge to end the conservatorship, Spears' father, Jamie, was suspended as her conservator.

Two months later, the conservatorship was finally terminated.

This newfound freedom prompted Spears to share her story on her own terms.

After years of others speaking for her and telling her story, Spears now feels liberated to speak out without fear of consequences.

In an email interview with PEOPLE, she states, “After getting out of my conservatorship, I was finally free to tell my story without consequences from the people in charge of my life.”

Her upcoming memoir, “The Woman in Me,” delves into her journey from a teenage superstar to one of the best-selling female artists of all time.

Spears emphasizes that it is time for her to raise her voice and set the record straight.

She wants her fans to hear her story directly from her, without any more conspiracies or lies.

The release of “The Woman in Me” on October 24 marks a significant milestone in her journey toward reclaiming her narrative.

To read more about Britney Spears' exclusive excerpt and interview, grab the latest issue of PEOPLE, available at newsstands everywhere on Friday.

Don't miss out on this intimate look into the life of one of pop music's most iconic figures.