Britney Spears Backtracks After Accusing Halsey of Bullying

Pop icon Britney Spears initially lashed out at Halsey for allegedly misinterpreting the message behind Spears' 2000 hit "Lucky" in a new music video. However, the singer quickly retracted her statement, claiming her initial post was a result of a hacked phone.

Spears took to social media on Tuesday afternoon to express her anger towards Halsey's "Lucky" video, which she felt "harassed, violated and bullied" by. She accused Halsey of portraying her as a "superficial pop star" and disregarded the struggles she's faced with her mental health.

"For obvious reasons I’m very upset about the Halsey video," Spears wrote. "I feel harassed, violated and bullied. I didn’t know an artist like her and someone I looked up to and admired would illustrate me in such an ignorant way by tailoring me as a superficial pop star with no heart or concern at all. I have my own health problems which is why I took down my IG account yesterday. I will definitely be putting it back up now to show I CARE. I’m speaking with my lawyers today to see what can be done on this matter. It feels illegal and down right cruel.”

However, Spears quickly removed this post and replaced it with a new one claiming, "Fake news !!! That was not me on my phone !!! I love Halsey and that’s why I deleted it !!!"

Halsey, known for her honest and relatable lyrics, released the song and video for "Lucky" earlier this week, assuring fans that she'd obtained Spears' permission to interpolate the song. "Yes, of course! I wouldn’t even dream of doing it without her blessing!" she responded to a fan's query about approval.

Halsey's "Lucky" video follows the story of a young girl idolizing the singer, but behind the scenes, Halsey is struggling with a difficult relationship and health issues. The video shows her getting medical infusions and removing her wig to reveal a shaved head, which she references in the lyrics.

“I shaved my head four times because I wanted to and then I did it one more time cause I got sick,” Halsey sings. “I thought I changed so much nobody would notice shit, and no one did. Then I left the doctor’s office full of tears / Became a single mom at my premiere / I told everybody I was fine for a whole damn year, and that’s the biggest lie of my career.”

"Lucky" is expected to be a part of Halsey's upcoming fifth studio album, her first since 2021's Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross-produced "If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power."

This incident highlights the challenges of navigating social media, where misunderstandings and misinformation can easily spread. It remains unclear if Spears' initial reaction was truly her own or a result of hacking, but her swift retraction and clarification demonstrate the importance of fact-checking in the digital age.