Die-Hard Fans: 'Britney Spears Saved My Life'

Troubled teens tell documentary of singer's impact
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 23, 2009 5:38 AM CDT

Britney Spears may not be the most obvious role model for the troubled, but hardcore fans credit her with changing their lives in a new BBC documentary, Newsweek reports. In Britney Spears Saved My Life, the superfans testify that Britney and her music guided them through the darkest times of their lives, and helped them beat depression and eating disorders.

Britney's lyrics may not be profound, but the themes of insecurity and loneliness strike a real chord with teens, who feel connected to her by the constant coverage, say pop culture experts. "It's like every day you open a paper, you read something new about her. So if you are a fan, you feel like you actually know her," said one teen, who told filmmakers Britney gave him the courage to come out as gay. The documentary climaxes in a mass re-enaction of the Hit Me Baby One More Time video. (More documentary stories.)

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