She wanted to do it though. It wasn't something that she did in some crazed mental state because she defended it after in Britney: For The Record.
It was still kind of disrespectful though but eh.
Just because she said people shave their heads everyday it is not a big deal doesn't mean she did it in a clear state of mind. It was obvious that she was going through stuff when she did it and even if she wasn't I find joking about it inappropriate. It is not like he would joke about Christina's weight problem back in the day even though she was fine with her weight.