Britney Spears is, was, and always will be a beacon of female strength.  Her 1990s, 2000s, and ever developing career has sparked both celebration and controversy, but has ultimately defined an era of American music.  She hit the ground running, signing to her first record label at just 15 years old, and has since been crowned the Princess of Pop.  Britney has shattered thirteen world records, received dozens of awards, and quickly became a world-renowned feminine icon.

 

From “...Baby One More Time” (1999) to “Glory” (2016), Spears has amassed billions of streams and millions of dedicated fans-- her influence over young audiences fostering conversations of empowerment, sex, independence, and unapologetic individualism.  With the elated youth, of course, came discourse and pushback from adults who thought she served as a bad influence, and who believed she was the root of raunchy teenage sexuality.

 

For a long time, Britney was idolized.  However, as time passed by, she became regarded as a figure, an object, rather than a person.  The paparazzi was all-consuming, the tabloids stretched the truth as far as it could reach, and her personal battles became public.  News sources exploited and monetized the demise of her relationship, her battle for custody, and struggles with mental health.  In the early 2000s, she hit a breaking point.  We’re all familiar with the gas station, umbrella wielding, bald Britney photos, but what that string of events led to has only recently come to light.

 

Many other celebrities and nearly all of her fans have noticed Britney’s strange behavior and seemingly subliminal messages all over social media.  From Instagram posts made with captions about trying to escape, to unsettling videos of her dancing and singing about similar matters, it’s been clear for years that Britney is in need of intervention.  With her mental/emotional state on a steadfast decline, she agreed to enter a conservatorship.

 

A conservatorship is formed when an individual is deemed unable to manage their personal and/or financial proceedings.  A conservator steps in to help the conservatee, taking full, contractual control over them and their assets.  In the case of Britney Spears, the conservatorship was shared between two men-- and was supposed to have ended before the turn of 2010.  Britney’s father, Jamie Spears, is in control of her money and earnings, despite overt objection from Britney herself.

 

The legal proceedings and main case are open to the public for review, and a dedicated podcast has exposed the flaws in the conservatorship as well as many threats to Britney herself.  With growing concern and anticipation of the worst, the movement known as #FreeBritney was born.  Protestors are camping outside courthouses, infographics are being shared around social media, interviews are being conducted, and the wheels are beginning to turn.  With the release of the documentary “Framing Britney Spears,” audiences have learned that Jamie Spears, Britney’s father and conservator, is indubitably just in it for the money, much less the sake of his own daughter.  Her conservatorship and personal being is constantly referred to as “the business of Britney Spears,” and while her performances were back on track in the early 2010s, a suspicious hiatus was announced in 2019.

 

Ultimately, these circumstances not only expose the flaws in the legal system (specifically that surrounding government conservatorships), but the oppression that women are subjected to in the music industry.  Britney Spears was stifled, harassed, and driven to a breakdown, yet the powers that be are still benefiting from her suffering.  The supporters of #FreeBritney are unwavering in their commitment to her liberation, and this ongoing engagement will prove to be just as revolutionary as Britney’s musical career.