After accidentally setting fire to her Los Angeles home gym in 2020, Britney Spears took to Instagram to share a photo of the damage. The pop star shared a photo of the ash-covered gym, captioning it: “Reflecting back remembering when I burned the gym down in 2020!!!”
The Instagram photo depicted the aftermath of the fire and other items that appeared to be charred, including kettlebells and a bosu ball.
When Did Britney Spears Burn Down Her Home Gym?
Three years ago, Spears revealed on social media that candles caused an accidental fire in her home. “Hi, guys. I’m in my gym right now. I haven’t been in here for, like, six months because I burned my gym down, unfortunately,” Spears explained in an April 2020 Instagram video.
She continued, saying, “Um, I had two candles, and, yeah, one thing led to another, and I burned it down.”
The Fire Department Was Not Notified About the Fire
Spears shared more details about the accident in another caption, writing, “By the Grace of God the alarm went off after that and yippy hoorah nobody got hurt. Unfortunately, now I have only two pieces of equipment left lol, and a one-sided mirror gym!!!!! But it could be much worse so I’m grateful. Pssss I like working out better outside anyways!!!!”
Us Weekly reported that the Ventura County Fire Department was not alerted about the house fire, and “no records found” of phone calls made to her phone between January and April of 2019.
This Isn’t the First Time Britney Spears’ Love for Candles Started a Fire
In 2002, Britney nearly burned down an apartment building in New York City, E Online reported. This almost happened because Britney left a candle burning after she went out on the town with a friend.
“Brit had left a candle burning in front of an air vent,” Lynne Spears recounted at the time. “The wall caught on fire, and the fire department had to come to put it out.”
The First Candle Fire Happend When Britney Spears Was Living at Home
But that New York City fire wasn’t the first of Britney’s candle mishaps. Britney’s mother revealed that the pop star’s love for candles sparked an earlier fire in the family’s Louisiana home. One time, Britney set the bathroom on fire with a misplaced candle.
“She has really learned a lesson this time,” said Spears’ mother of the New York fire. “I love candles, too, and I have to remind myself to really be cautious with them.”
The Spears Family Bans Candles
However, it is not unlikely that candles were indeed the fire starter. The result ended with the family banning candles from the home, according to Jamie Lynn Spears (via Entertainment Tonight).
“We don’t light candles in our house, because I’m not good with candles,” Jamie Lynn said in May 2022. “So literally, we just decided, like, no candles. So, I think that we can prevent any future fires.”
Britney Spears Rebuilds Her At-Home Gym
In June 2020, Britney updated fans that her gym renovations were underway. In an Instagram video, Britney said, “Hi guys, I’m in my gym today, and yes, it is the gym that I burned down. It’s still not fixed yet, but I’m getting there,” before showing off her workout routine.
These types of glimpses into Britney’s life are common on the pop star’s social media. It seems to be the only place that Britney connects with her fans on a personal level.
Is There More to the Fires?
However, fans think there is more to the fire than Britney is letting Instagram followers believe. Fans became suspicious of the fire, with one X user sharing that there has to be more to the story.
The fire happened while Britney was still under the conservatorship that was controlled by her father, Jamie Spears. The judge ended the 13-year arrangement in late 2021, with Britney celebrating her freedom with a memoir.
Britney Spears’ Memoir Reveals Her Rebelious Side
Britney’s “The Woman in Me” was a shocking memoir that revealed secrets from Britney’s past. When Britney originally told fans her gym burned down, many people believed that the pop star was a danger to herself and shouldn’t be left alone.
However, some fans believe that Britney burned her home gym down as an act of rebellion against her father and the others who controlled her during her conservatorship.
The Pop Star Defied Those Who Made Money Off Her
This wouldn’t be the first time that Britney protested those who controlled her. In her memoir, Britney wrote that she wore tight wigs and was told to move her hair during her Las Vegas residency.
Britney knew that people were making money off her and her performance, so she wouldn’t move her hair. It was a similar reason why the singer shaved her head back in 2007.
Not Everyone Believes the Fires Were Accidental
Elle writer R. Eric Thomas believes there is more to the story than the two candles that burned down an entire gym. After quickly transitioning from fire talk to her new workout routine, Thomas believes that Britney would only tell the truth after a damning accusation.
Until then, Britney’s comment section is turned off, leaving fans in the dark as they wonder what happened.
What Is the Truth Behind Britney Spears’s Gym Fire?
Sure, we’ve all been warned about leaving lit candles burning. The open flame has led to an estimated 8,200 house fires each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. But can a fire be so isolated to only burn a gym and the only record of it be on a pop star’s Instagram?
Britney has a history of fires, abuse from her family, and a rebellious streak that leaves people dumbfounded. Whatever the truth is seems obsolete to the public, but we are glad our Pop Princess is okay.
