Britney Spears sparked concerns of a mental health crisis after she was photographed barefoot and topless outside the Chateau Marmont in the early hours of Thursday, May 2, following an alleged fight with Paul Soliz.
The singer, 42, had scrapes to her knees and looked disheveled as she stepped out flanked by her guards, her and thug Paul.
It’s claimed Britney and Paul – who she was reportedly dating – got into an argument before a woman matching Britney’s description ‘harassed and threatened hotel staff and guests’.
While Britney insisted she was single in February, she has been linked to Paul in recent months following her split from husband Sam Asghari.
So who is Paul Richard Soliz and how did she meet Britney?
Who is Paul Soliz, Britney Spears’ ‘friend’? (pictured left, in September) A look inside the singer’s turbulent relationship with an ex-con after months of romance rumors
Britney sparked concerns of a mental health crisis after she was photographed barefoot outside the Chateau Marmont in the early hours of Thursday, May 2, following an alleged fight with Paul
Paul, 37, and Britney have known each other since he was hired about a year ago to perform household chores and maintenance around her home, according to American weekly.
Speaking to the publication, he revealed that he repaired the entire house, including fixing doorknobs and unclogging toilets.
That’s what insiders said Page six that Paul was fired from his job with Britney, but she “still chose to spend time with ‘him’ and doesn’t try to hide their new-found friendship.”
In August, Britney was spotted driving a white Mercedes-Benz with a mystery man, believed to be Paul, in her passenger seat in Calabasas, California.
That same month, her husband Sam reportedly filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences,” which led to Britney having a falling out with her former housekeeper.
A insider told DailyMail.com in September that the couple was not officially dating, clarifying: ‘They had a brief fling after Sam left, but that was it.
‘Britney had contact with him twice and at that time… [she] knew nothing about his criminal past. She no longer has any communication with him.”
According to legal records reviewed by the US Weekly, Paul was convicted in April 2014 on charges of disturbing the peace; and entered into a plea deal to dismiss the child endangerment charge.
Paul, 37, and Britney have known each other since he was hired about a year ago to perform housekeeping duties and maintenance around her home
In 2016, Paul was convicted of driving without a license, the newspaper reported, citing court documents. According to Page Six, a charge of driving with a suspended license was dismissed after a plea deal that year.
In December 2020, Paul was convicted of felony firearm possession during a time when he was working for the singer.
Also in September 2023, Paul was seen in the San Fernando High Court after allegedly violating his probation.
Despite his past, Paul emphasized in an interview that he is not a “bad guy.” Background grid last September.
He admitted that he has a “handful of children” and that the mother of his children has passed away.
“I have custody of my kids, I’m not a bad guy. I have my own company. I license engineering tile for contractors.”
He also disclosed that one of his children is in a 5150 detention, which is a legal code that allows a person with a mental illness to be involuntarily held for a 72-hour psychiatric stay.
Paul confirmed during the interview at the time that he was still seeing Britney and that the singer had been incredibly helpful during the legal proceedings over his criminal convictions.
He said: “She’s a very positive person,” adding that he was not at liberty to confirm whether he and Britney were an official couple.
While supporting his girlfriend through her divorce, the housekeeper said, “She’s doing great,” while also telling US Weekly that she’s a “phenomenal woman.”
In February this year, the Toxic hitmaker shut down rumors she was dating Paul in an Instagram video.
Alongside a photo of the star showing off her dancing skills, Britney wrote that she is a “hopeless romantic who understands that being single is great.”
Days earlier, a source claimed to Us Weekly that “Britney and Paul are definitely together.”
“He’s still in the picture,” the insider insisted, while another claimed they had been quietly taking road trips to Santa Barbara and he was spending “two or three nights a week” at her house.
“She doesn’t like it when he leaves,” the second source told the outlet. ‘[Britney] it feels like she deserves more attention, but he needs to be there for his kids.”
Britney has reportedly met his children, who are said to “like her.”
She was spotted next to Paul in April as they sat in a Mercedes SUV on the side of the road, as seen in photos obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com.
While Paul sat in front of the wheel, Britney sat in the passenger seat and slumped on the red leather material before kicking the dashboard with her heels and cracking the windshield on her side.
She also spent the evening with Paul at Chateau Marmot in April, with the pair reportedly previously involved in a huge row.
Britney’s husband Sam Asghari filed for divorce from the singer in August last year (pictured in 2019), the same month she reportedly had an affair with Paul.