Exclusive: Britney Spears' Former Confidante Reveals Star's Early Cry for Normalcy
Britney Spears' former make-up artist and stylist Julianne Kaye has broken her silence in an emotional exclusive interview, revealing the pop icon's early struggles with fame and expressing fresh concerns following her recent arrest in California. Kaye, who worked closely with Spears during her meteoric rise to stardom, admits she hopes the troubled star "gets the help she needs" as she watches events unfold from afar.
The Early Years: From Excitement to Exhaustion
Julianne Kaye first began working with Britney Spears nearly three decades ago, accompanying the young singer on international tours from Europe to Asia. She remembers initially encountering a "bright, warm and bubbly young woman" who was thrilled by the opportunities unfolding before her. "She was fun...so much energy, sweet, and super down-to-earth," Kaye recalls. "She was really excited about everything in life."
However, the make-up artist witnessed a dramatic transformation as fame intensified. "As it got more serious and demanding, the management would always make her work more than she wanted to," Kaye reveals. "It started getting her pretty depressed. She'd be crying a lot, saying, 'I want to be normal.'"
The Overwhelming Tide of Fame
The scale of Spears' rise quickly became overwhelming according to Kaye, who describes the transition as happening "like a juggernaut, really overnight." She details how the singer went from being able to walk around malls relatively unnoticed to becoming a prisoner in her own hotel rooms. "We'd be in a van and fans would be rocking it; it felt very crazy," Kaye remembers.
The media attention proved particularly relentless. "The paparazzi were really brutal back then," Kaye states. "I went to The Ivy recently and didn't see a single one, but back then it was a sea of them. They'd be climbing over your fence trying to get a picture. It was relentless."
Recent Concerns and the Conservatorship Legacy
Kaye expresses particular concern about Spears' recent arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence in California, where the singer was handcuffed by highway patrol and held for over nine hours. "It's disappointing and sad," Kaye says. "I feel like nobody should be getting a DUI when you have Uber and car services."
The former stylist also shares her discomfort with the conservatorship that controlled Spears' life for more than a decade. "It all felt very wrong," Kaye asserts. "You don't put somebody in a conservatorship and then make them do Vegas shows. It should be about getting help, not making money for 'the machine.'"
Current Isolation and Medication Concerns
Now that the legal arrangement has ended, Kaye worries about who surrounds the singer. "Now that she's left to her own devices, you wonder if that was the way to go," she says. "It doesn't seem like she has any friends or a good group of people having her back."
Kaye has been increasingly concerned by Spears' erratic Instagram posts, noting that "she does seem off the rails" based on her social media presence. The make-up artist also raises concerns about potential lasting effects from medication administered during the conservatorship period. "I think the lithium they gave her during the conservatorship might have done permanent damage," Kaye suggests. "Her behaviour isn't that of a typical person."
A Friendship That Endures Despite Distance
Despite not having spoken to Spears in years, Kaye maintains a strong emotional connection to the star she grew up with during her twenties. "I'm the kind of person who could pick up with any friend after 20 years," she says. "But I'm afraid we are miles apart mentally based on what I see."
Kaye recently revisited old photographs from their years together, which stirred past emotions. "It was a big part of my life," she reflects. "It's sad that none of our old camp is in touch with her anymore. How do you even get in touch with her?"
Looking back, Kaye insists there were no early signs of the mental health challenges that would later emerge. "Not at all," she states. "I mean, she believed in fairies, but that was about it." Despite the distance and concerns, Kaye concludes with a heartfelt wish: "I just hope that she gets the help she needs."
