Britney Spears has been arrested in California on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, according to authorities.
The pop singer was detained by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) at around 21:30 local time (05:30 GMT) on Wednesday. A representative for Spears said: “This was an unfortunate incident that is completely inexcusable.”
Officers said Spears was reported to authorities for driving her BMW “erratically at a high rate of speed” on a motorway. When stopped by police, she allegedly showed signs of impairment and agreed to undergo a series of field sobriety tests.
Spears was later released from jail in the early hours of Thursday morning. She is scheduled to appear at Ventura County Superior Court on 4 May.
Her representative told the BBC: “Britney is going to take the right steps and comply with the law and hopefully this can be the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life.
“Hopefully, she can get the help and support she needs during this difficult time.”
“Her boys are going to be spending time with her. Her loved ones are going to come up with an overdue needed plan to set her up for success for well being.”
Authorities said the incident remains under investigation and that chemical test results are still pending.
At the time of the stop, Spears was driving alone in a black BMW 430i southbound on US-101. Her vehicle was impounded following the incident, according to jail records, which reportedly listed her occupation as “celebrity”.
Spears was not admitted to hospital after her arrest, but was briefly taken to a medical facility by law enforcement officers to administer blood tests, in line with drink-driving procedures in the state.
News of the arrest coincided with Spears apparently deleting her Instagram account on Thursday.
Spears remains one of the most commercially successful pop artists of her generation, known for hits including “Baby One More Time”, “Toxic”, “Everytime”, “Gimme More”, “Womanizer” and “Stronger”.
In January 2024, the singer said she would “never return to the music industry”. Her most recent release was a 2022 duet with Elton John.
However, in a social media post earlier this year that was later deleted, Spears suggested she might perform live again outside the United States, mentioning possible shows in the UK and Australia.
For 13 years, until 2021, Spears was under a legal conservatorship that placed control of her finances and many personal decisions under the authority of her father.
In 2023, she published her memoir, “The Woman in Me,” reflecting on her career and describing her experiences during the conservatorship.
