The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears is a 2021 American documentary film directed by Samantha Stark, reported and produced by Liz Day, and produced by Liz Hodes, Mary Robertson, Jason Stallman, Sam Dolnick, Ken Druckerman and Stephanie Preiss. The documentary follows the life and career of American singer Britney Spears; her rise to fame as a global music superstar at age 16, her gratuitous and misogynistic treatment by the media and paparazzi, her highly publicized breakdown in 2007, the conservatorship that during 2008–2021 placed her involuntarily under the control of her father Jamie Spears, and the #FreeBritney movement sparked by Spears's fanbase.
The documentary was released on February 5, 2021 as an edition of The New York Times Presents on FX and FX on Hulu. Shortly after the documentary aired, a probate judge dismissed objections by Jamie regarding the co-conservatorship arrangement. The documentary garnered critical acclaim, and widespread international media coverage, contributing to heightened mainstream public awareness of the conservatorship dispute and a reassessment of Spears' sexist & gratuitous treatment. The documentary won the TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in News and Information, and received two nominations at the 73rd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, including for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.
Featured subjects[]
- Britney Spears (archive footage)
- Liz Day (senior editor for The New York Times)
- Felicia Culotta (Britney's friend and former assistant)
- Hayley Hill (former fashion director for Teen People and Britney's former stylist)
- Nancy Carson (children's talent agent)
- Kim Kaiman (former Senior Director of Marketing for Jive Records)
- Wesley Morris (critic-at-large for The New York Times)
- Dave Holmes (former MTV V.J.)
- Kevin Tancharoen (former backup dancer and tour director)
- Brittain Stone (former photography director for Us Weekly)
- Daniel Ramos (celebrity videographer)
- Joe Coscarelli (pop music reporter for The New York Times)
- Vivian Lee Thoreen and Adam Streisand (lawyers)
- Babs Gray and Tess Barker (Hosts of Britney's Gram podcast)
- Junior Olivas, Anali Calva, Leanne Simmons and Kevin Wu (#FreeBritney activists)
International broadcast[]
| Country | Network(s) | Date of broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FX, FX on Hulu | February 5, 2021 |
| Australia | Nine Network | March 2, 2021 |
| Austria France Germany |
Amazon Prime Video | April 5, 2021 |
| Belgium | VTM | February 18, 2021 |
| Brazil | Globoplay | March 20, 2021 |
| GNT | April 28, 2021 | |
| Canada | Crave | February 26, 2021 |
| Denmark | TV 2 | February 15, 2021 |
| Finland | MTV3 | February 18, 2021 |
| Israel | HOT8, yesVOD | February 23, 2021 |
| yesDocu | February 25, 2021 | |
| Italy | Discovery+ | March 1, 2021 |
| Malaysia | Hello | June 5, 2021 |
| Middle East | OSN | February 23, 2021 |
| Netherlands | Net5 | February 15, 2021 |
| New Zealand | ThreeNow | |
| Norway | NRK2 | February 18, 2021 |
| Poland | Canal+ Premium | April 4, 2021 |
| Portugal | Odisseia | February 22, 2021 |
| Slovakia | Voyo | March 11, 2021 |
| Sweden | TV4 Play | February 13, 2021 |
| United Kingdom | Sky Documentaries, Now TV | February 16, 2021 |