Why Melissa Joan Hart was left crying at ‘Drive Me Crazy’ premiere…
Melissa Joan Hart is reflecting on “one of the worst days” of her life.
The “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” star opened up about the incident – and the way Britney Spears was concerned – while footage from the highs and lows of her practically 40-year profession earlier this month.
“Aw! Me and Britney!” Hart, 49, started while displaying off a snap of her and the pop star at the New York City premiere of “Drive Me Crazy” in 1999.
Melissa Joan Hart and Britney Spears at the NYC premiere of “Drive Me Crazy” on Sept. 29, 1999. Getty Images
Melissa Joan Hart not too long ago mirrored on how the “Drive Me Crazy” premiere was “one of the worst days” of her life.
“If you look at my eyes, they’re very bloodshot because this was what I would consider, if you read my book, one of the worst days of my life at the time,” she continued.
The teen rom-com, which took its title from Spears’ hit track “(You Drive Me) Crazy,” starred Hart and Adrian Grenier as neighbors who turned unlikely dates.
Hart, however, needed to go away the premiere early because she was due in Canada to movie a scene for “Scary Movie” – until she wasn’t.
Melissa Joan Hart and Britney Spears in a Season 4 episode of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” in 1999. ©Viacom/Courtesy Everett Collection
Britney Spears and Melissa Joan Hart at the NYC premiere of “Drive Me Crazy.” Ron Galella Collection by way of Getty Images
“We did the press together, and then we went inside to watch the movie, but I was actually flying to Vancouver to shoot the movie,” she explained. “I was supposed to be the small part in the beginning, that’s like the Drew Barrymore knockoff part.”
“They decided when I did the fitting that I didn’t have big enough boobs,” Hart added.
The “Clarissa Explains It All” alum revealed that she was already on her method to the airport when she realized she had been handed over for the “Scary Movie” function that would in the end go to Carmen Electra.
Melissa Joan Hart in “Drive Me Crazy.” ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection
Gabriel Carpenter and Melissa Joan Hart in “Drive Me Crazy.” ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection
“I’m driving to the airport, and back in those days, you had the cell phone in the limo, and I got a call, and it was like, ‘Turn around, go back to your premiere. You’ve been fired from the movie,’” she recalled.
“And I was like, all right, at least I get to hang out there,” Hart added.
To make issues worse, the actress then realized that she had been “fired” from “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” shortly after returning to the premiere of “Drive Me Crazy.”
“My lawyer meets up with me first and says, ‘Because of your cover of Maxim magazine, you’re being fired from your show,’” Hart, who appeared on the cowl of Maxim’s October 1999 issue, remembered.
Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina Spellman during Season 3 of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.” ©Viacom/Courtesy Everett Collection
Melissa Joan Hart, Caroline Rhea and Beth Broderick during Season 3 of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.” ©Viacom/Courtesy Everett Collection
“I really start crying, and then my dad comes and hugs me,” she shared. “I don’t see my dad often, so for him to hug me? I was like, ‘Oh my God, my dad’s hugging me.’ It was just a dramatic night.”
But despite being told she was let go from the fashionable WB sitcom, Hart was truly not fired and continued to star as the titular Sabrina Spellman until it ended 4 seasons later in 2003.
The “Melissa & Joey” alum beforehand opened up about what she called “one of the worst days” of her life during an look on the “Pod Meets World” podcast again in 2023.
Melissa Joan Hart during the premiere of “How To Train Your Dragon” at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on June 7, 2025. WireImage
At the time, she credited the backlash from her Maxim journal cowl with serving to “Drive Me Crazy” gross practically triple its price range.
“Can Melissa be sexy? She’s 23 — is she allowed to be sexy? What’s going on here? Is it allowed? Is it OK? Why is she being fired from her show? And all the drama,” she mirrored.
“It made for ‘Drive Me Crazy’ to come out and be a huge success,” Hart concluded.
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