Why Britney Spears’ Recent TikToks Have Left Many People Concerned For Her Health
Memes of the singer quickly turned into messages of concern after people learned about #FreeBritney.
Earlier this week, a TikTok of Britney Spears wearing low-rise shorts darting in and out of frame to The Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Lights’ went viral.
The baffling TikTok quickly became a meme, with people laughing at how ridiculous the video seemed and by mocking the troubled artist with their own recreations.
But quickly, the conversation about Spears’ funny video started to shift, turning into messages of concern over the singer’s conservatorship and mental state, with #FreeBritney once again trending online — and artists like Tinashe and Missy Elliot even tweeting out their support.
So Why Is Everyone So Concerned For Britney?
On July 3, Britney Spears posted a TikTok to her account with the caption: “HOLY HOLY CRAP!!! My florist surprised me today by making the flower arrangement all different colours… just had to SHARE!!!!”
Despite her excitement over the flower arrangement, the video in question only featured the flowers for the first few seconds. The rest of the video was just Spears walking in and out of frame smiling into the camera. The strange and somewhat eerie video garnered over 10 million views and 90,000 comments in its first four days.
The sentiment of these comments, however, were full of confusion and comedy before TikTok user Mars Monroe (@moonwalkmars) posted a response.
The top comments quickly shifted from “Is this a cry for help?” and “Britney, please tell us what’s going on” to “SAVE BRITNEY 2020” and “don’t laugh or make fun of her, please take time to go watch @moonwalkmars”.
In Mars’ TikTok, which itself gained 7.2 million views in two days, he claimed that Spears has “no rights”, has been fed too many anti-psychotic meds to make her “submissive to her handlers” and cannot do anything without permission because of her conservatorship.
wait … holy shit pic.twitter.com/3XOLnIM1oV
— ryan (@CHEETAHDEMA) July 5, 2020
There is simply no evidence to support most of Mars’ claims, either concerning medication or handlers. Though these rumours have circulated for years, they have never been substantiated by anyone close to Spears.
However, it is true that Britney Spears has been under conservatorship for the last twelve years. In 2008, Spears was placed on temporary conservatorship after losing custody of her children, getting hospitalised for allegedly being on a substance and having a number of public meltdowns — including smashing a paparazzi’s car windows and shaving her own head.
At the time, her father, Jamie Spears, and her lawyer, Andrew M. Wallet, gained power to approve all health-related and financial decisions regarding Britney’s life. While conservatorships are normally reserved for the seriously ill, elderly or mentally disabled, Britney Spears has been under her fathers guardianship for more than a decade.
Back when the conservatorship was first put in place, Britney likened it to being “worse than jail” as she shared that she no longer felt excitement or passion. Fast forward 12 years, despite numerous attempts to lift the conservatorship, Spears is still under her fathers control.
As a result, people are now demanding that Britney Spears be freed from the conservatorship that has controlled her for a large chunk of her life. Supportive messages are flooding the internet alongside requests for Britney to get her own lawyer, and a number of petitions are circulating online.
What’s Going To Happen With #FreeBritney?
While Britney’s father temporarily shifted conservatorship control over to Jodi Montgomery, Britney’s longtime care manager — as a result of his own personal health issues — the artist is still under control until at least August 22, 2020, according to Entertainment Tonight.
While Britney fans are keen for the singer to be given control over her life, it also must be understood that there are some genuine concerns with Britney’s mental state. In 2019, Britney allegedly checked herself into a mental health facility to cope with her father’s illness. A year later, the singer shared during an Instagram live that she accidentally burned down her home gym with candles.
“Her family worries because they know Britney can get distracted and forget,” an anonymous source close to the family told Entertainment Tonight. “These are all things she works on in therapy.”
But people don’t believe that this is enough to warrant complete control over someone’s life.
Others believe that the ‘Ashley O’ episode of Black Mirror, where Miley Cyrus played a pop star who was drugged and controlled by her guardian, was based on Britney Spears life and conservatorship. Some even think that Britney wearing a yellow shirt in her viral TikTok itself, was a sign that she was calling out for help.
Wait a damn minute… #FREEBRITNEY pic.twitter.com/uSUYjFA8ay
— #FreeBritney (@streamblackout) July 5, 2020
#FreeBritney : pic.twitter.com/2q9GZypqFq
— cutopsy (@cutopsy) July 5, 2020
Of course, there is so much in this situation that is undoubtedly hidden from the public eye. Regardless, Britney Spears deserves freedom, her own lawyer, and access to her hard earned fortune — which is exactly what the #FreeBritney movement is trying to achieve.