Outside a downtown Los Angeles courthouse Wednesday, demonstrators donned pink-accented “Free Britney†T-shirts and held signs calling for investigations of the singer’s management and security personnel, who have come under immense scrutiny following the buzzy release of FX/Hulu’s “Controlling Britney Spears†documentary.
More than an hour before the hearing began, protesters chanted: “What do we want? Free Britney! When do we want it? Now!†and “Britney’s body, Britney’s choice,†among other rallying cries.
One person wielded a sign bearing the words, “Britney doesn’t need a conservatorship. It needs her.â€
A parade of camera crews and news trucks lined the sidewalks and streets as demonstrators called on the media to “Leave Britney alone!†By late morning, the #FreeBritney crowd had shut down Grand Avenue.
Below, a few of the fans speak out.
“I am a lifelong fan of Britney’s. She inspired me to be a musician. I am bipolar, so I care about her health. I want her to be happy and I want her to be healthy and free.†— Nefertara Ozella
“I am here because I have been a Britney fan since Day One. She has always made me really happy throughout the years, so I think it’s important that she is happy now.†— Brian Noland
“I moved here from New York to revolutionize the music industry, free Britney Spears and end explosion of Hollywood.†— Melanie Veronica
“I have been a Britney fan since I was a kid. I just want to see her happy.†— Chris Clear
“I am here because I feel passionately we should stop finally abusing women.†— Elizabeth Reay
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