Britney Spears arrested for DUI in California, released hours later

Pop icon Britney Spears was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Ventura, California.

According to Ventura County Sheriff's Office records, Spears was taken into custody on the evening of Wednesday, March 4, and released early Thursday morning under a “cite and release” procedure. 

She is scheduled to appear in court for the incident on May 4.

A law enforcement source told People that the arrest was DUI-related. TMZ first reported the news. Spears’ arrest did not include probation, per public records.

In the wake of the incident, Spears has deleted her Instagram account, where she previously shared personal updates and commentary on her life and career.

This latest development follows a series of significant milestones for the singer. Spears was freed from her 13-year conservatorship in 2021 and last month finalized the sale of her music catalog, though financial details were not disclosed.

Spears has also been publicly vocal about her past family struggles. In a February Instagram post, she criticized the way she was treated by relatives, writing:

“For those of you in your family that have said to help you is to isolate you and make you feel unbelievably left out … they were wrong. We can forgive as people but u don’t ever forget. Yearning and longing for contact is always crucial !!!”

She continued, reflecting on her personal resilience:

“I believe I am incredibly lucky to even be alive with how my family treated me once in my life and now I’m scared of them.”

The Criminal hitmaker's arrest comes amid continued public scrutiny of her personal life, including her highly publicized conservatorship battle and recent music business moves.