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Britney Spears Opens Up That She 'Felt Like A Robot' During Her Conservatorship In Now-Deleted Post: 'Real Damage Was Done'

September 2, 2026 by Abigail Connolly
shefinds | Celebrity
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Britney Spears once again opened up about how her conservatorship and the incidents leading up to it affected her career.

The pop star is looking back on some of the most difficult years of her life and opening up about the lasting emotional toll they had on her. In a now-deleted Instagram post, she reflected on how much she has changed since her years in the spotlight, revealing that she once felt like a “robot” while describing the “real damage” she believes was done to her during her conservatorship. Read more about her buzzing posts below.

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"Britney Spears performing"

Britney Spears Opened Up About How Much She's Changed In A Since-Deleted Post

If there's one big thing the "Baby One More Time" singer loves, it's sharing candid, oftentimes scandalous, social media posts.

 

She recently returned to Instagram with a pair of videos of herself dancing, using the captions to reflect on her past and how different she feels today. The 44-year-old, who has increasingly spoken candidly about her life after her conservatorship, admitted that she is surprised she was once able to perform in front of huge crowds and said she is proud of herself for stepping away from that lifestyle.

 

"Let's just say I've actually changed big time. I honestly can't believe I used to be able to perform in front of so many people. Good lord. I'm so sensitive and proud of myself for shutting all that down, 'cause for too many years it was forced," Britney wrote in a since-deleted post, as reported by Bang Showbiz.

 

Her comments come more than four years after the end of the conservatorship that had governed major aspects of her life for 13 years. The legal arrangement began in 2008 and ended in November 2021, with her father, Jamie Spears, serving as conservator of her estate for much of that time.

"Britney Spears at the Smurfs 2 premiere"

Britney Spears Said She Felt Like a 'Robot' During Her Conservatorship

The mom-of-two went on to connect her relationship with performing and other people to the years she spent under the conservatorship.

 

In her newer posts, she recalled being extremely shy and anxious early in her career, saying that even meeting small groups of fans could leave her physically overwhelmed.

 

"When I used to work with [longtime assistant] Felicia [Culotta], in my beginning days, I would get asthma and start shaking if I had to meet more than 10 people in a meet and greet," she recalled. "I lost the sensitivity of my soul. And it literally hurt. I felt like a robot....I feel like, still to this day, people don’t realize the real damage that was done to my heart and soul in the conservatorship."

 

Britney also reflected on how the experience affected her ability to connect with people.

 

"I think during that time I lost a sacredness I used to have with people because I was secretly very sensitive and painfully shy. I miss my real relationship I used to have with people," she continued. "Honestly, I felt like a robot, a machine. And thank the lord it's over."

Author:

Editorial Assistant

Abigail is a journalist based in Brooklyn, New York. As an Editorial Assistant for SheFinds, she covers topics ranging from celebrity news and fashion to wellness. She has written for other publications, including Chip Chick, Bandsintown, BroadwayWorld, and more. When she isn't writing, Abigail loves spending time in the city with her friends, being a 'dog mom' to her Chihuahua, and singing along to some of her favorite music.

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