Britney Spears is reportedly set to make a musical comeback with her longtime collaborator, Will.i.am.
The 41-year-old pop icon regained control of her career after a judge terminated the infamous conservatorship that governed her life from 2008 to 2021 after fans mounted the #FreeBritney movement online and sometimes in the streets.
While she has been free from the involuntary order she was placed under which meant her dad Jamie Spears had control of her personal and financial decisions, she has not released an album since 2016's Glory.
However, it is now rumored that the 'Toxic' hitmaker is gearing up to work with the 48-year-old Black Eyed Peas rapper once again, according to The Sun.
A source told the outlet: "Britney and Will have a huge amount of love and respect for each other and really trust each other’s musical judgment.
"Will has long been Britney’s number one supporter and he wants to see her succeed," the source added. "Both of them are excited to be releasing this surprise track and they know fans will love it."
If the collaboration is true, it will be the duo's first song since they release the hit song 'Scream and Shout' - which came out in 2013. The dance-pop track sold more than three million copies in the USA alone and hit number one in almost 30 charts around the world - including the UK.
It would also be Spears' second collaboration since she was featured on Elton John's 2022 track 'Hold Me Closer (Tiny Dancer)', which reached number one in the US and number three in the UK.
The news comes shortly after footage was released of the 'Baby One More Time' being struck in the face by NBA player Victor Wembanyama's security guard.
News broke on Thursday (June 6) that the singer filed a police report after she was allegedly slapped by the security guard while out for dinner at Catch restaurant in Las Vegas with her husband Sam Asghari.
Spears had attempted to approach the 19-year-old San Antonio Spurs star to ask for a photo and tapped him on the shoulder, however, Damian Smith - the Director of Team Security for the team - appeared to slap her, causing her glasses to fall off her face.
Wembanyama claimed that the singer had "grabbed" him, causing his security to react - but, new footage from TMZ appeared to back up Spears' account that she actually only tapped him.
Spears has addressed the incident publicly several times since the news broke, sharing a quote post that read: "You will smile again," before heartbreakingly adding in the caption: "When's that God???"
She also posted a statement that read: "No, I don’t feel like I have been treated as an equal person in this country … of course when I watched the video myself … the people who actually swarmed around me when they heard me get hit made me feel like I mattered!!!"
"I wasn’t aware of that at the time … all people could hear was me saying f**k you all … which was WAY BETTER THAN HITTING HIM BACK!!!" she continued. "Either way I’m still a huge fan of the NBA player … it’s not his fault his security hit me … s**t happens!!! I hope you're all having a wonderful Friday!!!"
