‘Comrade’ Britney Spears rallies for wealth redistribution and for general strike
Britney Spears making a rare red carpet appearance.(Getty/Valerie Macon)
Britney Spears stans of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains!
The history of all hitherto existing society has been the history of struggling to get tickets to a Britney concert, but philosophy students with Che Guevara posters ironically hanging up in their overpriced dorm rooms might have to add the “Toxic” singer’s catalogue to their Marxist reading groups from now on.
As the coronavirus pandemic pelts the global economy, it has spurred some countries to introduce universal basic incomes and suspend rent and many other household bill payments.
While in other countries, mortgage holidays have been introduced for landlords with little to no support for renters, homeless shelters closed down and workers expected to have months of savings prepared for layoffs or weeks without pay.
But workers have found a supporter in the form of millionaire Spears who shared a lengthy quote on Instagram from writer Mimi Zhu which called for mutual aid, wealth redistribution and a general strike.
Welcome to 2020.
Britney Spears: ‘Communion moves beyond walls.’
“During this time of isolation, we need connection now more than ever,” the post began.
“Call your loved ones, write virtual love letters.
“Technologies like virtual communication, streaming and broadcasting are part of our community collaboration.
“We will learn to kiss and hold each other through the waves of the web.”
The post continued: “We will feed each other, re-distribute wealth, strike.
“We will understand our own importance from the places we must stay.
“Communion moves beyond walls. We can still be together.”
Spears, 38, captioned the post, “Communion goes beyond walls” along with three red rose emojis, which has long been used as a symbol for many left-wing political groups. From the British Labour Party to the Democratic Socialists of America.
‘You better unionise and seize the means of production.’
Since Spears’ post, there has been a spectre haunting Twitter and Instagram, the spectre of communism.
Spears, who once sung a song “Work B***h” which espouses Marx’s theory of labour, was welcomed as “Comrade Britney” as countless users did what was legally obligated of them and made memes out of this surreal situation.
Quote writer: ‘Comrade Britney is an icon.’
With her words ricocheting across timelines and Instagram grids, Zhu, an artist, said on both outlets she is “grateful” that the superstar shared her work.
She stressed the crediting of creators when sharing their work in an Instagram story shared Tuesday.
“I think it’s really cute and sweet that Britney Spears reposted my work!” she wrote.
“Especially because it said stuff about strike and redistribution of wealth. Like, that’s out communist queen!”
“It’s just been a little strange seeing my work floating around the internet now and people not knowing where to look for the original source and I feel so much gets lost in the sauce like that.
“So, tagging means a lot and I’m grateful! What a quarantine moment!”
She added on Twitter: “Comrade Britney is an icon and I’m glad we are connected on this wavelength.”
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