Britney Spears has received an outpouring of love and support from fans, amid claims she may never perform again.

The singer’s manager, Larry Rudolph, gave an interview in which he admitted her future as a performer is in doubt amid on-going struggles with her mental health. 

Back in April, it was reported that Britney had checked into a mental health facility after suffering “emotional distress” sparked after her dad Jamie fell seriously ill. 

She has since been involved in a court battle over his conservatorship of her affairs, which has been in place since 2008, with Larry now claiming she is still too unwell to continue with her Las Vegas residency. 

Speaking to US showbiz website TMZ, he said: “As the person who guides her career – based on the information I and all of the professionals who work with her are being told on a need-to-know basis – from what I have gathered it’s clear to me she should not be going back to do this Vegas residency, not in the near future and possibly never again.”

He added: “I don’t want her to work again ’til she’s ready, physically, mentally and passionately. If that time never comes again, it will never come again.”

Reacting to the news, Britney fans shared their support on Twitter: 

Britney was placed under a conservatorship following a public struggle with personal and psychiatric issues.

Conservatorship, also known as guardianship, is an involuntary status usually reserved for elderly or very ill people who are suffering from dementia or otherwise incapacitated and unable to make decisions for themselves.

After the hearing on 10 May, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny wrote in an order that Britney and her parents had agreed on a so-called 730 expert evaluation, a process usually used to determine the mental health and competence of a parent in a divorce case.

It was not made clear who would be examined, and whether it would relate to Britney’s relationship to her two sons or her parents’ oversight of her.

Her ex-husband Kevin Federline has custody of their boys, 13-year-old Sean and 12-year-old Jayden, who have frequent visits with their mother.

Useful websites and helplines:

• Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
• Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI – this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.)
• The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk
• Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on www.rethink.org.