Britney Spears’ Viral Knife Dance Video Spurs Police Wellness Check

Months after Britney Spears requested fans give her privacy after they reportedly called the cops to her residence, the police performed another wellness check on the “Toxic” singer after her recent social media post went viral for all the wrong reasons.

On Tuesday, the Grammy-winning pop star posted a video to Instagram that showed her dancing and twirling with what appeared to be a kitchen knife in each hand. A now-edited caption for the video reads: “I started playing in the kitchen with knives today !!! Don’t worry they are NOT real knives !!! Halloween is soon !!!” The post quickly went viral across social media platforms, with some users expressing concern for Britney’s well-being.

According to NBC News, authorities performed a wellness check on the star after fans’ concern gained steam. A source told the outlet that “this is overblown. [Spears] was expressing her freedom as she continues to do.” In all fairness to the “Gimme More” singer, these types of dancing videos have been commonplace on her Instagram feed for years. Nonetheless, the knives are a new addition. In the caption for an Instagram post on Wednesday — this time with knife-less dancing — Spears wrote, “Lighten up about the knives I’m copying Shakira !!!” Her comment was in reference to Shakira’s recent Video Vanguard performance at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, during which she danced with knives.

Captain Dean Worthy of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office told Billboard: “The Sheriff’s Communications Center received a call from the Los Angeles Police Department SMART team — that’s their Systemwide Mental Assessment Response Team — and they asked us if we would go to Ms. Spears’ residence and perform a check for well-being. This was on the heels of a tip they got not from a fan, but from an individual who is close to Miss Spears and knows her on a personal level that asks that we check her.”

He continued, “We sent one of our sergeants named Sergeant McConville. He’s worked in that area for years. He knows Ms. Spears from prior encounters at the residence. He responded to the house, went through the first security gate. Upon arriving at the second security gate, he was contacted via the intercom system by [Spears’] head of security, who relayed to Sergeant McConville that that she was absolutely fine, that she did not wish to speak with the officer, or have him come in the house, but he was with her and there was absolutely nothing wrong. Her safety was not in jeopardy, from others or self-harm.”

Representatives for Spears did not immediately respond to Billboard‘s request for comment.

Captain Worthy also noted that Spears’ attorney said this was “an overreaction for her expressing herself on social media.” After confirming with “two independent people that closely know [Spears]” that she was of sound mind, “we did our due diligence to check her well-being and we did not believe that she was in any harm whatsoever,” Worthy concluded.

This ordeal is reminiscent of a similar situation in January. After Spears deleted her Instagram page, concerned fans called cops to her house, who then deduced that nothing was wrong. “This felt like I was being gaslit and bullied once the incident made it to the news and being portrayed once again in a poor and unfair light by the media,” she wrote in a note responding to the impromptu police visit. “During this time in my life, I truly hope the public and my fans who I care so much about can respect my privacy moving forward. All the love, B.”

This latest brush with law enforcement comes after Spears separated from husband Sam Asghari, who filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. In spite of all the drama, Spears has remained musically active this year. In July, she teamed up with will.i.am for “Mind Your Business,” which peaked at No. 8 on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs. Her 2002 film Crossroads is also being re-released in theaters for two days only: Oct. 25 & 28.