According to Britney Spears‘s manager, the pop star may never perform again. A renewed Las Vegas residency, originally scheduled to kick off in February, has been pushed back indefinitely.
As reported by TMZ, Spears’ longtime rep Larry Rudolph said the singer has been under considerable strain lately and hasn’t expressed the desire to perform. In addition to the grueling work of steady live performances, Spears is distraught over her father’s recent illness, and Rudolph says she’s experiencing complications with her own health and medications. Though Spears is still under conservatorship, Rudolph says she’s always had agency to say whether or not she performs, and he is there to tell her whether or not he thinks it’s a good decision.
“As the person who guides her career — based on the information I and all of the professionals who work with her are being told on a need-to-know basis — from what I have gathered it’s clear to me she should not be going back to do this Vegas residency, not in the near future and possibly never again.”
Rudolph continues:
“I don’t want her to work again ’till she’s ready, physically, mentally and passionately. If that time never comes again it will never come again. I have no desire or ability to make her work again. I am only here for her when she wants to work. And, if she ever does want to work again, I’m here to tell her if it’s a good idea or a bad idea.”
As it happens, May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This is never a topic to take lightly or take cheap shots at. First and foremost, we want Britney to be well. As much as we’d hate to never see her on stage again, her wellness is infinitely more important than all that.
Our thoughts are with Spears and her family, and we only wish the best for this icon and longtime LGBTQ+ advocate.
For more on this story, visit TMZ.