Following the end of her conservatorship, Britney Spears has become a staple figure on Instagram, taking us behind the scenes of her life – showing footage of her dancing, snaps of her favourite outfits, and glimpses into her marriage with Sam Asghari.

She's spoken briefly on her wellbeing, saying she knows what it feels like to be "on defence" constantly. Just this week, she addressed the rumours, reports and conspiracy theories circulating about her online. And Spears has had enough.

She was referencing a recent report from TMZ ,which suggested Spears was having a "manic episode" at a restaurant in Los Angeles where she was dining alongside her husband.

Watch: A look back at the Britney Vs Spears official trailer. Post continues below.

Spears has criticised the outlet, calling for her fans to speak up about the reporting and take her words for face value instead.

To get you up to speed on what's happening, here's everything we know.

The bizarre conspiracy theories.

Near the end of 2022, TikTok was abuzz with clips from some suggesting Spears was missing – arguing her recent Instagram posts looked staged. During this time there were also a lot of throwback photos posted, rather than current present-day content.

Some claimed she had died, others said she was using body doubles, and there were many that even alleged she was using a green screen to make it look like she wasn't stuck at home.

It was further fueled when Spears said she was on a private jet heading to New York – yet no fan photos or paparazzi shots surfaced of her heading to or from an airport, which was odd.

But as expected, the claims all proved to be unfounded.

A source close to Spears and her husband said she wasn't in fact New York City bound, but had said so to throw paparazzi off the track. She and Asghari were actually off to Mexico for a quiet holiday.

"Britney Spears isn't missing, in trouble or dead as growing fan theories might suggest – in fact, it's quite the opposite," the source said.

The Los Angeles restaurant 'altercation'.

Last week, TMZ ran an article that claimed Spears was experiencing a serious decline in her mental health.

They alleged that Spears had a "manic episode" over the weekend at the restaurant, eyewitnesses alleging that Spears was acting "erratically" and that Asghari soon left the food venue by "bolting in anger".

"The dinner was a bust for Britney. Patrons pulled out their cell phones and began shooting footage of her. Britney got pissed and things went south quickly. Eyewitnesses say Britney became 'manic,' yelling and talking gibberish – not another language, just unrecognisable speech. We're told Sam got visibly upset, abruptly stood up and stormed out the door," the tabloid said.

Someone in the restaurant evidently took video footage of the situation and sent it toTMZ, and there were also paparazzi outside the restaurant looking in.

Britney Spears and Sam Asghari respond.

Asghari was the first to challenge the claims made byTMZ, denying his wife had experienced a "manic episode". He explained that when diners began taking photos of her, it left her "frustrated". He said it was an unfortunate situation, but said it comes with the territory of fame.

He then confirmed he had not bolted from the table in anger as suggested, but instead briefly left to go get the car.

As for Spears, she elaborated on the whole situation via an Instagram post, expressing her disappointment at the suggestion she was not well.

"I'm sure I brought a billion smiles to me looking like Shrek at a restaurant. Even my best friend couldn't wait to send it to me, they don't think twice. I know the news is all hyped about me being a little drunk at a restaurant... it's like they'll be watching my every move!" she wrote.

"I'm so flattered they talk about me like a maniac THEN have the balls to talk about all the negative things that happened in my past!!! I know y'all are rooting for me and all and make sure you check out the shocking Shrek picture of me... I was like damn that's horrific yet there were two pics where I was normal... either way honestly I know nobody gives a flying f**k what I do!"

TMZhas since received criticism in the wake of the #FreeBritney movement, with fans acknowledging that similar press coverage had played a major role in Spears' emotional breakdown in 2007 after being hounded by paparazzi incessantly.

It's now being circulated thatTMZhas been reported to the Federal Communications Commission for "distorting" the news about Spears.

BREAKING: TMZ has been REPORTED to the Federal Communications Commission ( @FCC) for distorting the news about Britney Spears. #JusticeForBritney pic.twitter.com/QXaGRAKEYS

— Britney Stan ✨ (@BritneyTheStan)

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