Britney Spears’ Friend Warns Pop Star Needs To ‘Get Out of Los Angeles’ After Her DUI Arrest

Britney Spears' former personal assistant has warned that the singer needs to "get out of Los Angeles" for the good of her mental health after she was arrested for a DUI near her California home.

On March 4, the 44-year-old was arrested in Ventura County after driving "erratically" at a high speed, with officers noting that they suspected she was under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Law enforcement officials told USA Today that Spears showed "signs of impairment and submitted to a series of field sobriety tests."

Spears was taken into custody on March 5 at around 3 a.m. and spent three hours behind bars before being released, according to inmate records.

The incident is the latest in a long line of troubling behavior exhibited by the star—and prompted Spears' close confidante and former employee, Sean Phillip, to voice concerns about her well-being during an appearance on "Good Morning Britain."

Phillip revealed that he had texted Spears shortly after the incident to ask whether she was "OK," adding that he then checked to make sure she felt comfortable discussing the arrest.

"All I texted her was: 'Are you OK' and she just said 'I’m OK.'" I then asked if I could speak about this and she said: 'Go ahead,'" he shared.

Phillip went on to voice his admiration for Spears, noting that she should not be criticized for making a mistake—insisting that she is a "great person," albeit one who might benefit from getting away from the trappings of Hollywood.

"She is such a great person and we all make mistakes. It makes me feel bad when she suffers such public mistakes," he said.

"The change I would like to see is for her to get out of Los Angeles. But I have been talking to her weekly, daily. She’s the same Britney that I knew in 2003."

He hinted that Spears' behavior may be due to the people she is surrounding herself with but did not reveal them.

"You have to think about who else is she associating herself with," he warned.

Following her arrest, a spokesperson for Spears told USA Today: "This was an unfortunate incident that is completely inexcusable. Britney is going to take the right steps and comply with the law, and hopefully this can be the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney's life.

"Hopefully, she can get the help and support she needs during this difficult time. Her boys are going to be spending time with her. Her loved ones are going to come up with an overdue needed plan to set her up for success for well-being."

Chemical tests to determine whether Spears was under the influence of any substances are pending.

Following Spears' release from custody, mother Lynne Spears reached out to offer her support, as well as her sons Sean, 20, and Jayden, 19, who relocated to Hawaii with her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, in 2023, according to TMZ.

Spears' arrest came nearly one year after she prompted an influx of concerned messages from fans after she revealed a glimpse inside her incredibly messy mansion while filming a video of herself singing along to the hit Prince song "Kiss."

In the social media clip, Spears began off camera, with the lens instead focused on the living space inside her sprawling Thousand Oaks, CA, estate, where she has been living on and off since purchasing it for $7.4 million in 2015.

Behind Spears, a large white couch could be seen littered with all manner of items, including several pieces of clothing, while several other objects are scattered across the floor.

The disarray in her home spurred many fans to voice words of support—and worry—on X after Spears turned off the comments on the videos.

"She needs intervention this is so sad to watch," one person wrote, as another expressed fear about the health of the singer's pets, writing: "Poor dogs! Someone please take them away from [t]here."

It was not the first time that the "Baby One More Time" singer had been inundated with worried messages from fans—and she even appeared to try to reassure them when posting her Prince-themed video, writing in the caption that she was filming in her pajamas, noting that the unusual nature of her outfit was not lost on her.

"These are my pjs, but I put these boots on to play with lighting ... not the most elegant look but hey!!!" she wrote.

Spears has been living full time in her Thousand Oaks home for several years now, having relocated back to the property after listing the Calabasas, CA, mansion she shared with her ex-spouse, Sam Asghari.

The former couple purchased that abode for $11.8 million in June 2022, shortly after tying the knot; however, by February 2023, they had sold it at a significant loss, with reports suggesting that Spears felt the dwelling lacked sufficient privacy.

Spears and Asghari, who split in August 2023, ultimately sold the property for just $10.1 million, according to records, with sources suggesting that they had relocated back to the pop star's longtime Thousand Oaks home in the meantime.

After the couple finalized their divorce in May 2024, Spears retained her Thousand Oaks home, along with any and all assets she held before the marriage—all of which are said to have been protected by a rigid prenup, along with her personal fortune, which was then valued at $60 million.

The home has served as Spears' personal primary residence ever since, featuring regularly in her social media content, which she captures in various rooms through the property.

Luckily for the prolific Instagram poster, there are plenty of backdrops for her to choose from inside the enormous estate, which sits on an impressive 20-acre spread.

The main residence at the heart of the estate features more than 13,200 square feet of living space, including five bedrooms and 7.5 bathrooms—although Spears may have made changes to the layout in the 10 years since she bought it.

Her home also affords her ample privacy, an amenity that she is understood to have found lacking at her Calabasas abode.

Set behind two private gates within the prestigious White Stallion Estates community, the dwelling is surrounded by land, helping to protect the primary residence from prying eyes.

The main house features an incredibly ornate two-story entry, a great room with a 35-foot ceiling, an oak-paneled library, a formal living room, a dining room, a chef's kitchen, and a breakfast room. High-end perks include a 3,500-bottle wine cellar, an elevator, and a huge media room.

Parklike grounds include a lighted tennis court, an infinity pool, a spa, an orchard, and a three-green golf course. A detached pool house with a full kitchen and bath is included, too.

It is the second dwelling that Spears has owned in the Thousand Oaks neighborhood of Southern California. She also purchased a five-bedroom, seven-bathroom Spanish-style abode in 2012, which she sold for $7 million in 2017.