Britney Spears arrested and released, California sheriff’s records show, though charge is not clear

Britney Spears was arrested in Ventura County, California, on Wednesday night and released on Thursday morning, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's office. The arresting agency was identified as the California Highway Patrol, but the specific charge remains unclear. Spears has a scheduled court date on May 4. Spears rose to fame as a teen pop star in the late 1990s and early 2000s, achieving multi-platinum success with hits like "...Baby One More Time" and "Oops!... I Did It Again." She was previously under a conservatorship that controlled her personal and financial decisions for over a decade, which was dissolved in 2021.

Britney Spears was arrested in California by the California Highway Patrol around 9:30 PM PT on Wednesday. Court documents confirm the arrest, but do not specify the reason. Spears was released early Thursday morning and is scheduled to appear in Ventura County Superior Court on May 4th. News of the arrest coincided with the deletion of her Instagram account. Spears, a successful pop star, was under a conservatorship for 13 years until 2021 and released a memoir in 2023 detailing her experiences.

Britney Spears was arrested in Ventura County, California, on Wednesday night for driving under the influence and was released early Thursday morning after being booked. Following her release, she deleted her Instagram account. This arrest comes after Spears was granted a restraining order earlier in the week against a man who had been harassing her. In February, Spears sold her music catalog for a reported $200 million, following the end of her 13-year conservatorship. Spears has stated she will never perform in the US again, but hopes to perform with her son in the UK and Australia. Her last full-length studio release was in 2016.