Britney Spears take from Twitter Thursday to give her side of the story, after actress Alexa Nikolas shared her “traumatic” encounter with the pop star 15 years ago.
In an interview earlier this week, Nikolas, 30, revealed the singer, 40, yelled at her on the set of Zoey 101 – a Nickelodeon show where she co-starred with Spears’ younger sister Jamie Lynn, 31 – after Jamie accused her of bullying.
Nikolas added that Britney has since ‘personally apologized’ for the incident, which the star echoed in her lengthy Twitter post, sharing that it was her mother Lynne, 67, who should have stepped in and blaming the explosion on her pregnancy hormones.
Sorry: Britney Spears apologized to actress Alexa Nikolas on Thursday, after Nikolas shared her ‘traumatic’ encounter with the pop star, who yelled at her after being accused of bullying her sister Jamie Lynn; Britney and Jamie pictured in 2003
The Toxic hitmaker – who was nine months pregnant at the time of the incident – began the post by writing: “It broke my heart to see your interview about your experience in the business… Hollywood is a dream place but let’s be honest…on rare occasions people come out years later and share the dark side!!!’
Spears continued, “The one thing you said you wish you could have told your younger self is that you wish you had known you could have left!!! Countless times I’ve done the same thing and been abused, it’s nice to know I’m not the only one who has felt this.
She then acknowledged that although many years have passed, Nikolas’ experience still matters: ‘I know it’s 15 years later you’re sharing but trust me…I know it still counts!!!’
What happened: In an interview earlier this week, Nikolas, 30, revealed that the singer, 40, yelled at him 15 years ago on the set of Zoey 101 – a Nickelodeon show where she co-starred with Jamie Lynn, 31 – but had since ‘personally apologized’ for the incident
Britney then appeared to challenge her mother and sister, accusing them of knowing “acting language” well.
‘Although I apologized to you personally just out of ‘instinct’, my heart at the time didn’t know how incredibly good my family was with ACT LANGUAGE!!!’
She then shared that her pregnancy hormones hadn’t helped the situation: “Just imagine…me visiting my little sister on her set, last day of filming, bringing Sprinkles cupcakes…9 months pregnant, hormones that are raging like hell and the assistant director lan seeing Jamie Lynn running towards me, placing her hands in my lap as I sit, her sobs telling me she’s being bullied on set!!! ‘
Hormones: Britney – who was 9 months pregnant at the time – shared a long post on Twitter, writing that it was her mum who should have intervened and blaming her pregnancy hormones for the heated exchange
Family drama: The star appeared to challenge his mother and sister: “Although I apologized to you personally out of ‘gut feeling’, my heart at the time didn’t know how incredibly good my family was with D LANGUAGE ‘DEED !!! ‘
Embarrassed: “It’s always been extremely interesting the situations my family put me in to embarrass me,” Britney added, before ending her post with another apology
‘The assistant director and my mother included in the room were just silent!!! My sister was literally like my daughter growing up… So I apologize for my ignorance for yelling at you when I obviously had no idea what was really going on!!!’
Spears continued: ‘Jesus Christ…I was pregnant and let’s be HONEST all those mums and dads.. “THE WATCHFUL WHITE OWLS” lurking behind the scenes watching their star children…referring to my mum who should have immediately stepped in and taken control of the situation…and told my 9 month pregnant wife to sit down, relax and have a Sprinkles cupcake.
Britney continued to take issue with the way she was treated, writing: ‘They should have treated me like a guest because that’s exactly what I was!!! The situations my family has put me in to embarrass me have always been extremely interesting.
Upsetting: Nikolas appeared on Tuesday’s episode of former Disney Channel star Christy Carlson Romano’s ‘Vulnerable’ podcast where she spoke about the incident
Understand: “It wasn’t OK because I was 12, 13. But looking back, knowing the dynamic that was in place for her, I think, of course, that’s what happened. And I think, like, oh my God, poor Britney. She’s in a horrible situation there’
Spears then addressed her upcoming memoir: “I know you probably heard about what happened to me 3 years ago… I wrote 3 different versions of a book and since then, honestly, it’s is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do!” !!”
‘ And if you HAVE NOT HEARD already it’s become a joke because TMZ News says I ran out of paper… I’m also sure they’re having a good laugh seeing me on my Instagram.. What was done to me is frankly beyond anything.
She concluded the lengthy message with another apology, writing: “The way you spoke gave me strength and inspiration, but I am writing this message to you today because I am sorry to have never hurt your feelings!!! You should tell Nickelodeon to kiss your ass!!!’
Nikolas – who portrayed Nicole Bristow on the hit show – appeared on Tuesday’s episode of former Disney Channel star Christy Carlson Romano’Vulnerable‘ podcast where she spoke about the incident.
Handle: “And she was eight months pregnant, so she was also hormonal. And I remember her rubbing her stomach as she screamed, and it was like she was trying to calm herself down. And you could just tell it was very unbalanced in a way that felt like… someone was manipulating her’
She recalled how a talent co-ordinator told her and her mother he was taking her hair and makeup, but instead he brought the teenager to a room where Britney and Jamie were waiting .
She said Jamie ran to hide in the back of the room as Britney started yelling at Nikolas. She added that Spears has since apologized and called her an “incredible person”.
“She apologized to me personally. Actually, Britney Spears apologized, but Nickelodeon didn’t. Isn’t that funny? Yeah, Britney Spears apologized, and Nickelodeon didn’t.
“It wasn’t OK because I was 12, 13. But in retrospect, knowing the dynamic that was in place for her, I think, of course, that’s what happened. And I think, like, oh my God, poor Britney. She’s in a horrible situation there.
Retrospective: Zoey 101 was a comedy drama series created by Dan Schneider for Nickelodeon, which aired from 2005 to 2008; Pictured are Alexa, Jamie Lynn and Sean Flynn in a photo from 2005
“And she was eight months pregnant, so she was also hormonal. And I remember her rubbing her stomach as she screamed, and it was like she was trying to calm herself down. And you could just tell it was very unbalanced in a way that felt like… someone was manipulating her.
Nikolas recalls returning to her dressing room and being “in a fetal position” when series creator Dan Schneider walked in and asked her to finish filming.
‘I remember looking around and saying, ‘Wow, nobody cares what happens to me. I don’t feel protected and I don’t feel safe. I’m scared , and now I have to go back on set and pretend that nothing happened and that I have to be with those who did this to me.
It comes after Nikolas protested alleged abusive practices by Nickelodeon executives outside the network’s Burbank headquarters in August this year.
When asked why she chose to protest, Nikolas said she wanted to “make Nick child safe, because in my personal experience working on Zoey 101, [I] didn’t feel safe.
Accountability: Nikolas protested alleged abusive practices by Nickelodeon executives outside the network’s Burbank headquarters in August