Pop star Britney Spears has been charged in Southern California with driving under the influence, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office said Thursday.
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Spears, 44, was arrested in March on suspicion of driving under the influence. In April, she voluntarily checked herself into a treatment facility after several people close to her encouraged her to do so, a source familiar with the situation previously told NBC News.
A spokesperson for Spears did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
A court hearing for the star has been set for Monday, according to the district attorney’s office.
“Whether or not Ms. Spears will appear at the hearing will be a decision made between her and her attorney,” the Ventura County District Attorney’s office said in a statement. “Since it is a misdemeanor charge, she is not required to attend, and her attorney can make the appearance for her.”
With DUI cases, the DA’s office said, if there was a low blood alcohol level and no crash or injury, defendants often reach a resolution, “particularly when a defendant demonstrates self-motivation to address underlying issues through rehabilitation or a drug and alcohol treatment program.”
“Under that offer, a defendant is placed on probation for 12 months, receives credit for any time spent in custody, is required to complete a DUI class, and must pay state-mandated fines and fees,” the DA said in a statement, noting that the “DUI case will be handled according to our standard protocols.”
After the March arrest, a representative for Spears described the incident as “completely inexcusable” and said, “hopefully, this can be the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life.”
The DA did not specify what Spears was alleged to be under the influence of.
Spears, known as the “Princess of Pop,” was freed from her conservatorship in 2021, ending the 13-year arrangement that legally stripped her of the authority to make personal and financial decisions.
In the years since, many of her followers have expressed concern over her mental health, citing her social media posts. Many of her Instagram updates show her dancing alone in her home. One featured her dancing with knives that she later said were not real.
Her most recent post, shared in April on Instagram, is a video that appears to show someone putting their fingers in a water-filled bowl of pink flowers. She also posted a video of herself dancing to Cardi B.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Marlene Lenthang and Andrew Blankstein contributed.
