Ben Affleck knows that being in the spotlight can be exhausting.

While detailing his own experience with being followed by paparazzi over the years, the Good Will Hunting star explained why he has so much compassion for stars like Britney Spears, who have dealt with intense photographers not respecting their boundaries.

“Years and years ago, I really had a lot of empathy for Britney Spears,” Affleck, 52, explained in an April 24 episode of Theo Vonn’s This Past Weekend podcast. “[She’s] not someone I knew or hung out with, but just like everybody else, you see all this s--t that comes through. But having had my own experiences, I knew these are people who are following her around at a time where she may or may not have been having difficulty.”

Affleck then described the media scrutiny the “Toxic” singer went through during the late aughts as “poking a stick” at someone until they become a “growling animal.” Indeed, some of Spears’ most private moments have been captured by the paparazzi, including when she infamously shaved her head in 2007. At the time, she was in the middle of her divorce from Kevin Federline and custody battle over their sons Sean, 19, and Jayden, 18.

The Gone Girl actor—who shares kids Violet, 19, Seraphina, 16, and Samuel, 13, with ex-wife Jennifer Garner—noticed those invasive photos painted Spears in a certain light in the media, and he realized how quickly a certain narrative can start.

In fact, he’s dealt with this perception in the past, with him often accused of being angry because the paparazzi always caught him looking agitated.

“I’m usually with my kids trying to go somewhere and then there’s four guys going, ‘Hey, hey!’ And I’m like, ‘Hey, man. Can you give me some time? Do you mind?’” he joked about the viral “Sad Affleck” meme. “It’s this selective experience of taking a picture of somebody everytime they’re feeling irritated, they’re going to look irritated.”

Plus, his expression comes out that way simply because he’s “shy.”

“I don’t really like to do big social events or go out much,” the Oscar winner continued. “I don’t want people looking at me, [and with] my family, my kids, my life—I wish that were more private. But I [also] really like making movies and telling those stories. The truth is, I always knew that that was kind of part of it.”

https://www.eonline.com/news/1417240/ben-affleck-details-empathy-for-britney-spears-over-paparazzi

Britney Spears has been an icon in the music industry and Tyla took it upon herself to honour the popstar’s legacy during her Coachella performance.

The 23-year-old singer paid tribute to the Toxic hitmaker by donning an ensemble inspired by Spears’ legendary I’m a Slave 4 U performance at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards.

The Jump songstress recreated popstar’s look with a vintage floral printed top from S/S‘01 runway collection by Dolce and Gabbana, paired with denim shorts with crystal accents, silk fringes, glass beads, and safety pins.

Tyla switched her hair look for a long wavy length, from her usual short style, in order to channel the Womanizer singer.

This is not the first time the Water singer has credits Spears as her inspiration. During the Billboard 2025 Women in Music event in March, Tyla named the pop icon as one of her biggest inspirations in music.

Spears’ musical career has continued to inspire many young artists, including Megan Thee Stallion and Tate McRae, who have also paid tribute to her in previous performances.

Tyla herself embodied a Y2K inspired look, as a nod to Spears, during her last Coachella performance.

Bobby Brown is finding out the hard way that Britney Spears fans (affectionately called the #BritneyArmy) don’t play about their commander-in-chief.

The 56-year-old, while reflecting on artists who have covered or sampled his hits over the years, took aim at Spears for her 2004 cover of his signature hit ‘My Prerogative.’

“I don’t think [anyone has] really done justice to any of the samples that they have done to my songs,” he shared with host Shannon Sharpe. “Britney Spears butchered ‘My Prerogative’…”Teddy Riley produced it. But that was a butchering. I couldn’t take it.”

His critical pan of ‘Prerogative’ ignited a firestorm of debate on social media about whose version was better – a conversation that even spilled to Brown’s social media pages with members of the #BritneyArmy dissing him for blasting Britney’s cover.

The pop star’s sophomore album features ten bonus tracks and two new remixes
Sony Music’s Legacy Recordings and RCA Records celebrate the phenomenal career and dance-pop epoch-defining music of Britney Spears with the release of Oops!… I Did It Again (25th Anniversary) on Friday, May 16th.

Available in digital and 2 LP 12-inch vinyl formats, the newly-expanded 25th anniversary edition of Spears’ historic sophomore album contains the original album and offers ten collectible bonus tracks including rarities and two new remixes–“Stronger” (Adamusic Remix) and “Oops!…I Did It Again” (Pessto Remix)–created especially for this release.

The deluxe vinyl physical package includes a premium 20-page booklet highlighting the most memorable moments from the iconic album’s creation. In addition, a limited edition

sangria colored 2 LP 12-inch vinyl pressing will be available as a direct-to-consumer (D2C) exclusive.

At the time of its initial release, Oops!… I Did It Again was one of the most anticipated pop culture album events of the early 21st century, following the success of her debut album, …Baby One More Time. In 1999, pop icon Britney Spears reached international superstar status with the massive chart-topping commercial success that earned her a pair of Grammy nominations (including Best New Artist) while achieving RIAA diamond status (14-time platinum as the top-selling debut album). With all eyes and ears on Britney to create a worthy follow-up to one of the best-selling albums of all-time, the evolving young artist incorporated the teen/dance/pop aesthetic she’d introduced on her debut with an infusion of R&B and funk influences. Recorded from November 1999 through February 2000, Oops!… I Did It Again is a musical bridge into the new century, with Britney Spears building on the foundation of her debut with a sophomore album that delivered the real goods.

For Oops!… I Did It Again, Britney collaborated with a wide range of producers, including Max Martin, Rami Yacoub, Per Magnusson, David Kreuger, Kristian Lundin, Jake Schulze, Darkchild, and Robert John “Mutt” Lange. Echoing the success of her debut, Oops!…I Did It Again was a monumental commercial and cultural success around the world, debuting at No. 1 in more than 20 countries. In the United States, the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and held the record for fastest-selling album by a female artist and largest first-week sales for a female artist for 15 years. Oops!… I Did It Again received a nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards (2001) and became Britney’s second consecutive album to be certified RIAA diamond, making her the youngest artist to have multiple diamond albums. With worldwide sales of over 20 million copies, Oops!… I Did It Again remains today as one of the best-selling albums of all time.

To coincide with the announcement of this music release, a new merch collection inspired by the album will also be available within Britney’s Official Store. Merch items include two new t-shirts, a tank top and shorts set and bumper sticker set featuring images, lyrics and phrases inspired by the Oops!… I Did It Again album.

“Thank you to my fans,” said Britney Spears on the release of Oops!… I Did It Again (25th Anniversary). “This album was recorded at such an exciting time in my life, and I’m so grateful to my incredible fans for keeping the legacy of this album alive!”

Side A:

1. Oops!…I Did It Again
2. Stronger
3. Don’t Go Knockin’ On My Door
4. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
5. Don’t Let Me Be the Last to Know

Side B:

6. What U See (Is What U Get)
7. Lucky
8. One Kiss from You
9. Where Are You Now
10. Can’t Make You Love Me

Side C:

11. When Your Eyes See It
12. Dear Diary
13. Girl In The Mirror (Released on Jive/RCA UK CD, Oops!… I Did It Again (Special UK Edition), in 2000)
14. You Got It All (Released on Jive/RCA UK CD, Oops!… I Did It Again (Special UK Edition), in 2000)
15. Heart (B-Side to “Lucky”) (Released on Jive/RCA UK CD, Oops!… I Did It Again (Special UK Edition), in 2000)
16. Walk On By (Released on Jive/RCA UK CD-Single, Stronger, in 2000)

Side D:

17. Oops!…I Did It Again (Riprock ‘n’ Alex G. Ooops! We Remixed Again! (Radio Edit)) (Released on Jive/RCA UK CD-Single, Don’t Let Me Be The Last To Know, in 2000)
18. Lucky (Jack D. Elliot Radio Mix) (Released on Jive/RCA 12″ Single, Lucky, in 2000)
19. Stronger (Miguel Migs Vocal Edit) (Released on Jive/RCA UK CD-Single, Stronger, in 2000)
20. Don’t Let Me Be The Last To Know (Thunderpuss Radio Mix) (Released on Jive/RCA UK 12″ Single, Lucky, in 2000)
21. Stronger (Adamusic Remix)
22. Oops!…I Did It Again (Pessto Remix)

Source: https://themusicuniverse.com/britney-spears-oops-i-did-it-again-expanded-for-25th-anniversary/