Pop icon Britney Spears’ undying popularity is no mystery to us, yet her life has been subject to scrutiny and control for years.
Since her debut single, Baby One More Time, when she was just 16 years old, her life has been under a constant spotlight.
But when did the #FreeBritney movement start?
In February 2007, Britney made headlines for her eccentric behaviour, followed by her divorce from her then-husband, Kevin Federline.
This caused problems with the custody of their two children, leading to a number of issues for Britney and her sudden decision to shave her head.
Not long after, she was held for multiple psychiatric checks and her father, James Spears, filed for a conservatorship for Britney. In doing so, he made her appear unfit to make her own decisions surrounding her career and parts of her personal life.
This is where the problem began.
To give some background, Tess Barker and Barbara Gray, Britney's fans, were the ones who spearheaded the #FreeBritney movement.
Their podcast, Britney's Gram, started as an idea to analyse her Instagram account.
Little did they know how much of a huge turn this would take.
Many hadn’t even heard the term ‘conservatorship’ before, but educating people helped Britney stand up for her rights and maximise the movement – which had a knock-on effect from the get go.
Supporters of the movement had been fans of Britney since a young age and wanted her to break free from arrangement as it was doing her more harm than good.
Many believe the the movement picked up pace when it was reported Britney was held in a mental health facility against her wishes. This allowed the public to get involved in protests to reinforce the conservatorship was like a prison for Britney and was stopping her from reaching her full potential as an artist.
From Paris Hilton to Felicia Culotta, several celebrities spoke up on the issue and showed up in solidarity with the Free Britney movement.
It was questioned whether Britney was capable of making financial and personal decisions, or if it was just a way for the people involved in the conservatorship to benefit from her earnings.
Britney’s conservatorship finally ended after 13 years, and the fans and celebrities who stood by her couldn't have been more ecstatic for her newly gained freedom.
Edited by Jemma Snowdon
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