CNN
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On Wednesday, officials were called to Britney Spears’ southern California home for a welfare check after the singer posted a video of herself dancing with knives on social media.
Someone close to Spears called authorities “genuinely concerned for her well-being,” Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Dean Worthy told CNN.
“Some might argue that this is an expression of her artistic freedom, and some might argue that it’s dangerous and that it’s a safety or mental health issue,” Worthy said, but authorities decided to check on the singer’s welfare because of the initial call from someone close to Spears.
CNN has reached out to Spears’ rep for comment.
The initial call from Spears’ employee, whom authorities have not named, was to the Los Angeles Police Department’s mental health assessment team, which then forwarded the call to the sheriff’s office, Worthy said.
The sheriff’s office dispatched a sergeant who “had several previous contacts with Ms. Spears over the years” and who had a relationship with the singer to the star’s home in Thousand Oaks, California, to check on her well-being, Worthy said. .
The sergeant arrived at Spears’ home and was contacted over the intercom by a member of Spears’ security detail, Worthy said. The sergeant “explained that he was there based on information (Spears) may be experiencing a potential mental health crisis or at risk of self-harm,” Worthy said.
The singer’s security chief told the sergeant that he was with Spears, there was no threat to her safety, and the singer did not want sheriffs to enter the property. Worthy said Spears’ attorney also called the sergeant, “explained that he had just spoken with the singer” and “assured him that Ms. Spears was not in trouble, mentally, physically, or otherwise.”
On Monday, Spears shared a video on Instagram of herself dancing with what appeared to be two metal kitchen knives. She later updated the post with the caption, “I started playing with knives in the kitchen today,” later adding, “Don’t worry, these are NOT real knives!!! Halloween is coming!”
After receiving assurances from two independent parties that Spears was not in danger, Worthy reported that the sergeant had left the residence.
In January, Spears was the subject of another medical examination when she said “prank phone calls” prompted police to visit her home.
The singer posted a note on Twitter in which she spoke about the police visit and said: “I love and adore my fans, but this time it has gone too far and my privacy has been invaded.”
Spears further clarified that police “never came” to her home and that once they arrived, they “quickly realized there was no problem and left immediately.”
The singer complained that the incident left her feeling “gassed and intimidated” and that the media had “again portrayed her in a bad and unfair light.”
“At this time in my life, I sincerely hope that the public and my fans, whom I care so much about, will respect my privacy in the future,” she wrote.
In a statement emailed to CNN in January, Sergeant Jason Karol of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the department “received several calls from concerned fans” after Spears deleted her Instagram account.