The #FreeBritney hashtag had been circulating social media for years, but just recently it has become an even bigger deal. Britney Spears became popular in 1998 when her hit song “Baby One More Time” came out. She continued to come out with songs like “Toxic” (2003), “Oops I did it Again” (2004),  “Womanizer” (2008), and many more. 

Throughout 2007 and 2008, she had multiple breakdowns. She shaved her head, attacked photographers with an umbrella, and according to Rolling Stone, she stayed up for 48 hours because she was worried that her phone charger was taping her thoughts. Some think that she had these breakdowns because of her 2008 divorce from Kevin Federline, others think it is because of the pressure of fame. After multiple failed rehab visits, she lost custody of her children. 

Because of these breakdowns, the court placed her under a conservatorship, which is putting a guardian or a protector in charge to manage the financial affairs or daily life of someone due to mental or physical limitations, or old age. This conservatorship was under her dad and attorney Andrew Wallet. #FreeBritney really took off in 2019 whenever an anonymous voicemail was sent into the podcast Britney’s Gram that claimed she was being forced into mental hospitals by her father against her will. 

Britney’s fandom is going after her father. Even celebrities like Paris Hilton, Christina Milian, Miley Cyrus, Cher, and many others have posted about the hashtag. Paris Hilton said, “I just love her so much. I feel like if you are an adult you should be able to live your life and not be controlled,” while on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohan Life in September of 2020. 

In early August, according to court documents, Britney asked for her father to be removed as the sole conservator of her estate. However, After the hearing on August 19th, the judge decided to extend the conservatorship through February 1, 2021. According to BBC News, Samuel Ingham III, Britney’s lawyer, said that she is “Vehemently opposed to this effort by her father to keep her legal struggle hidden away in the closet as a family secret.” Her team also seemed to support the #FreeBritney movement. Not only has her team supported it, but there have been multiple people, including her lawyer, that the movement is “far from being a conspiracy theory.”

She has also posted TikToks that have made millions of people question whether she is alright or not. On July 3, she posted a TikTok with the caption “HOLY HOLY CRAP!!! My florist surprised me today by making the flower arrangement all different colours… just to SHARE!!!” Even though she was very excited over the flowers, they were only in the video for a few seconds. The rest of the video was her walking in and out of frame and smiling at the camera. There are many questionable videos like this where she just spins smiles at the camera and spins in circles or dances. Thousands of people have commented about how thin she is looking and how she keeps looking off to the side, as if someone is standing there. 

Although a few people on her team and fellow celebrities have said it is not a conspiracy, there is no proof. In the meantime, Britney’s most loyal fans should continue to provide her the support she needs during these rough times.