Britney Spears, the 44-year-old pop icon, was formally charged on Thursday with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs in California, authorities confirmed. The Ventura County District Attorney's Office announced that Spears faces a single misdemeanor count of driving while under the combined influence of alcohol and at least one drug.
Details of the Charge
The criminal complaint filed by prosecutors does not specify the type or quantity of alcohol or drugs allegedly involved. An email sent to Spears' representative seeking comment was not immediately answered.
Arrest and Investigation
Spears was arrested on March 4 after California Highway Patrol officers observed her driving a black BMW at high speed and erratically on U.S. 101 near her home. According to the CHP, she appeared impaired, failed field sobriety tests, and was taken into custody on suspicion of DUI involving a combination of alcohol and drugs. She was booked into Ventura County jail and released on bail the following day. Police completed their investigation and submitted it to prosecutors on March 23.
Rehab and Public Statement
Following her arrest, Spears voluntarily entered a substance abuse treatment facility, her representative confirmed. At the time of the arrest, the representative called Spears' actions "completely inexcusable" and expressed hope that this would be "the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney's life."
Court Proceedings
Spears' arraignment is scheduled for Monday. Because the charge is a misdemeanor, she is not required to appear in court, prosecutors said.
Background on Britney Spears
Spears rose to fame as a teen pop sensation and former "Mickey Mouse Club" star, becoming a defining superstar of the 1990s and 2000s with hits like "Toxic," "Gimme More," and "I'm a Slave 4 U." Most of her albums have been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, with two achieving diamond status: 1999's "... Baby One More Time" and 2000's "Oops! ... I Did It Again."
In the early 2000s, Spears became a tabloid fixture and faced intense public scrutiny as she battled mental illness, with paparazzi documenting her private life. In 2008, she was placed under a court-ordered conservatorship controlled by her father and his attorneys, which governed her personal and financial decisions for over 13 years. The conservatorship was dissolved in 2021.
Since then, Spears has married and divorced, and released a bestselling tell-all memoir, "The Woman in Me." She has largely retired from performing in recent years, releasing only a few collaborative singles since her last full album in 2016.
