Britney Spears song - "an apology to her unborn baby" killed by abortion
The BBC reports that a Britney Spears song could be an apology to her unborn baby that she aborted over 20 years ago.
Fans have been speculating over whether her song Everytime contains references to the abortion she had in 2000.
The singer revealed in her new memoir that she had a abortion after getting pregnant with Justin Timberlake during their relationship.
Britney and Justin were teenagers when they dated between 1999 and 2002.
Justin is yet to comment on Britney's latest revelation but said in a social media post in 2021 that he was "deeply sorry" and would "take accountability" after admitting he had failed her during their relationship.
Excerpts from Britney's upcoming memoir, The Woman in Me, reveal Justin "didn't want to be a father".
In an extract published in People, Britney also said: "It was a surprise, but for me, it wasn't a tragedy. I loved Justin so much. I always expected us to have a family together one day."
She revealed she had the abortion in late 2000, when she was 18 or 19 years old, and said, "To this day, it's one of the most agonising things I have ever experienced in my life."
A year after the pair split, Britney released her album In the Zone, the third single from which was Everytime - a slow ballad which was a departure from some of her earlier, more upbeat releases.
Some fans have gone back to revisit the song's lyrics and believe they could be referencing the abortion, seeing them as an apology to the unborn baby rather than her mourning the end of her relationship with Timberlake.
The song's chorus: "And every time I see you in my dreams I see your face, you're haunting me. I guess I need you, baby," is now being interpreted in a new way by some.
The theory has prompted significant discussion among fans and gone viral on social media, where many are re-sharing clips of the music video.
There are also parts of the music video for the song, which was released in April 2004, that fans have suggested appear to point to an abortion too.
The video explores Britney's huge levels of fame, showing her being hounded by paparazzi and fans and then her getting injured after being hit in the head with a camera.
She retreats to her hotel room and gets in the bath and is seen to lose consciousness as she bleeds and then drowns.
The video then has scenes which show Britney being carried into an ambulance, being resuscitated by doctors in a hospital bed all whilst her ghost looks on.
Britney's ghost then walks into the next room of the hospital, where a baby girl is being born - perhaps referencing the situation the singer would have been in if she had had the baby.
However, it does not explicitly allude to an abortion. The narrative arc appears to be one life ending, while another one begins.
Britney's live performances have also been mentioned since Britney revealed details of the abortion - with one showing her touching her stomach whilst singing the song.
ABORTION COERCION
In a survey of women who sought help after abortion, 83% said they would have carried to term if they had received support from the baby’s father, their family, or other important people in their lives.
64% of American women who had abortions felt pressured by others.