'This is state sanctioned human trafficking': Britney Spears supporters call for justice, slam Justin Timberlake's statements
After 13 years of silence, Britney Spears spoke out in a passionate 24-minute statement unlike any fans have heard from her before. The star called out her conservatorship, controlled by her father, which she described as abusive and traumatizing.
"I’ve lied and told the whole world 'I’m OK and I’m happy.' It’s a lie. I thought just maybe if I said that enough maybe I might become happy, because I’ve been in denial. I’ve been in shock. I am traumatized," Spears said in court on Thursday.
Honestly if Britney’s situation isn’t f***ed up enough… the fact they force an IUD inside her when she wants more children… What’s next? Permanently sterilise her? It’s as shocking as that. #FreeBritney
— Nathalie Emmanuel (@missnemmanuel) June 24, 2021
She went on to outline how she was forced to take lithium after she expressed that she wanted to end her Vegas residency and has been given birth control against her will because the "team" controlling her life through the conservatorship do not want her to have anymore children.
"All I want is to own my money, for this to end, and my boyfriend to drive me in his f—kng car," Spears said.
Ma'am, I’ve worked since I was 17 years old. You have to understand how thin that is for me. Every morning I get up to know, I can't go on somewhere unless I meet people I don't know every week in an office identical to the one where the therapist was very abusive to me. I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive. And now we can sit here all day and say, "Oh, conservatorships are here to help people." But ma'am, there's a thousand conservatorships that are abusive as well. I don't feel like I can live a full life.Britney Spears
In 2008, Spears' father, Jamie Spears, was given control of of his daughter's life after her public struggles with her mental health, this includes all her finances, relationships with her two sons and music/performance work. While her father is still the main conservator, a wealth management company was assigned as co-conservator last year.
The New York Times reports that Jamie Spears receives US$16,000 per month as the conservator, plus US$2,000 a month for office space rent, in addition to a percentage of his daughter's business deals.
Dear @britneyspears ….I feel like we owe you an apology. We bought into the whole hype of BRITNEY the performer, without much consideration for how Britney Jean Spears, the person, was coping through each day. Looking back now, I remember you saying this in front of me… pic.twitter.com/I80ODPKPvq
— Zachary Gordon (@ZacharyGordon95) June 22, 2021
Following her remarks, a clip started being share online of Spears performing in 2018, where she reveals to the audience that she has a fever and feels like she's going to "pass out."
This clip resurfaced after the New York Times published a story on Tuesday, stating that confidential court records from 2019 obtained by the publication reveal that Spears identified that being forced to perform with a fever was "one of the scariest moments of her life."
Several people have taken to social media as part of the #FreeBritney movement, specifically referencing this forced performance in particular.
Making Britney perform with 104° fever and forcing her to do things threatening taking her kids away by her own father is clearly human trafficking. She's been fighting for her rights for a long time and the corrupted judiciary is turning their face away. #FreeBritney
— #FreeBritney (@VysagMurali) June 23, 2021
Evidence that this #conservatorship was never about Britney's health or well-being.
Forced to work under hot lights, doing incredibly physical routines and stunts for hours while sick and reportedly running a 104°F fever.
This is beyond inhumane.#FreeBritney 🌹 https://t.co/KmmyCmBDMd— 🌞🌈PSB ⛱🌻 (@GoGreenGirl5) June 23, 2021
Britney Spears was forced to rehearse with a 104 fever. This conservatorship never had anything to do with her health or wellness. This is state sanctioned human trafficking. #FreeBritney
— Yasmeen 🌹 (@Yasmeenmessrie) June 22, 2021
Britney told the judge in 2019 she was forced to perform with a 104 fever. And still nothing happened. THIS IS GROSS. #FreeBritney pic.twitter.com/VBAsKkFVmq
— Solomon Ray (@solomonraymusic) June 22, 2021
So allegedly they put Britney under a conservatorship because she had "dementia", and couldn't take care of her own health... but they forced her to perform while sick with a fever? This just doesn't add up. #FreeBritney pic.twitter.com/Uyq3P8iNHj
— yuli⁷ 💛 | Still With You (@yuliphoria) June 22, 2021
Spears' ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake took to social media to make a statement about the conservatorship situation.
"Regardless of our past, good and bad, and no matter how long ago it was… what’s happening to her is just not right," Timberlake said.
No woman should ever be restricted from making decisions about her own body.Justin Timberlake
Several Spears supporters responded to the "Cry Me a River" singer's comments, calling out his lack of support for the Spears in the past.
Some of us have been supporting Britney the entire time, not slut shaming her, dragging her in your music for clout and only speaking up once you realised your frat boy behaviour is no longer “cute”.
We see you. We don’t forget how your behaviour is also to blame.— Leigh Van Bryan (@LeighBryan) June 24, 2021
you kinda owe her.
you two together made you both household names, then you did her dirty and contributed to what happened to her.
don’t know if I would speak on this if I were in your shoes....— Brandon Hilton (@BRANDONHILTON) June 24, 2021
You knew what she was going through when you were with her, you chose abandoned her like you abandoned *NSYNC. You wanted to get ahead in the industry. Don’t think we forgot…
— Laqueta L Taylor (@LQuetataylor) June 24, 2021
Do we start listing all the trash you talked about her unprompted over the years or that's supposed to be conveniently forgotten now?
— Leonardo La Terza 🏳️🌈 (@leonardolaterza) June 24, 2021
As Spears continues to seek an end to the conservatorship, the pop star continues to see extensive support online.
She was still a kid when we/ the press hunted her like an animal. When temporarily she crumbled under that pressure (who wouldn’t) her father, for 13 years now, has had control of her freedom, all decisions personal & professional, her money & even her body.⬇️ #FreeBritney . https://t.co/pmHwL5uD7m
— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) June 24, 2021
#FreeBritney :( this is fucking disgusting & sick. to literally out your abusers & then have to go back home with them... i cannot imagine. my heart breaks for her.
— chrissy chlapecka (@chrissychlapp) June 24, 2021
This is why me must be louder than ever. 📣 #FreeBritney https://t.co/viXaMvuHQm
— Britney Law Army (@BritneyLawArmy) June 24, 2021
Britney Spears IS being trafficked. And the people who have been trying to tell everyone that have been called conspiracy theorists. And she exposed the abuse to the WORLD and the judge calmly asked about revising the care plan and the date for the next hearing. #freebritney
— That Surprise Witness, Esq. (@SurpriseWitnes) June 24, 2021
It's crazy that everything that Britney said we already heard rumors about or read in tabloids? So people KNEW what was going on. Everyone knew. It was an open secret. But noone dared to speak up. Because they simply didn't care about Britney. It's heartbreaking. #FreeBritney
— ✨ (@partylikebrit) June 24, 2021
#FreeBritney the tape from her in court is so sad.
Her own family made her a slave.
Forced her to work.
Drugged her up so she wouldn’t know what’s happening.
Took her money.
Said she isn’t mentally well enough to take care of herself but IS well enough to headline Vegas.— Nicole Arbour (@NicoleArbour) June 24, 2021
#FreeBritney is a disability rights issue. So many people are stuck under conservatorships. And Britney is just one. I hope this story let’s everyone know that this is happening to so many people.
— Quinn 🦻🏽✨ (@Quinns_quirks) June 24, 2021