Jessica Simpson couldn’t watch Framing Britney Spears as it was too close to home: ‘It gives me anxiety and I lived it’

Jessica Simpson was unable to watch documentary Framing Britney Spears as she feared she’d find it ‘triggering’.

The New York Times film was released in February this year and tells the story of Britney’s rise to fame, her 2007 public meltdown and her life under the control of her controversial conservatorship today.

And American warbler Jessica, 40, has spoken out following the release of her memoir Open Book, saying she admires Britney’s strength but sees similarities between her and Britney’s difficult life.

She told People: ‘I honestly choose not to watch the documentary. I didn’t want to watch and bring back any of the dark pieces of my personal coming of age in the music business.

‘I have worked through a lot and want to keep moving forward in my own story on my own path.

‘I admire her ambition, strength and the capability to live unapologetically and authentically,’ adding that she’s ‘happy that people are supporting Britney.’

Jessica elaborated further during a recent appearance on The Tamron Hall show in the US.

She said: ‘If I were to watch [Framing Britney Spears], reliving that for me, it’s like one of those triggers, you know? It definitely gives me anxiety and I lived it.

‘I know Britney and I know what she went through. And it’s so, it’s so hard, because it’s so many people’s opinions on you just trying to live your life as a normal human being, because inside we’re really just, you know, we are normal.

‘We might have a big platform but you can only take stuff for so long. You can only allow people in and [attack] you until you have to really put your guard up.’

Britney appeared to have a public breakdown in 2007 when she shaved her head and attacked a photographer’s car with an umbrella.

The star was caught on camera acting erratically a number of times before she was involuntarily hospitalised.

Following her hospital stay, Britney’s life and finances have been controlled for the last 13 years by a controversial conservatorship headed up by her father Jamie Spears.

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