Free Britney Spears rally unites drag queens and die-hard fans to demand an end to ‘toxic’ conservatorship
Fans dressed up as Britney Spears to protest the singer’s ongoing conservatorship. (Brit Sisters)
A gaggle of Britney Spears drag queens performed at a Free Britney rally as the star fought to prise control of her life away from her father.
The rally was one of 10 to take place worldwide on Tuesday (10 November) as a court heard Britney’s lawyer claim she is “afraid” of her father, Jamie Spears, and “will not perform again” while he is in charge of her career.
Los Angeles superior court judge Brenda Penny declined Britney’s request to remove Jamie from her conservatorship, the legal arrangement which has seen him control her life and career for more than a decade, but agreed to her request to install a co-conservator.
It was a bittersweet day for fans of the pop legend, who gathered at a San Antonio bar holding with placards reading “Free Britney, b***h” and “This conservatorship is toxic” to watch more than 20 drag queens perform Britney numbers.
Britney fans gathered in a San Diego bar. (Brit Sisters)
Organisers the Brit Sisters (John Anthony and Auggie Spears) told PinkNews the rally was designed to “bring light and awareness” to Britney’s situation.
The team have been holding Brit Sis awards shows to celebrate both the pop legend and San Antonio’s queer community for the past years.
“Britney has given us a voice when we didn’t have one,” they said. “Now it’s time we do the same for her.
“If Britney has the capability to tours, music videos, put out albums, produce multiple fragrances and hold on to a four-year residency in Las Vegas, then she’s more than capable of making decisions for herself.”
Another rally has been set for December 16, when Britney’s attorney will return to court to fight her case.
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Britney Spears won’t perform again while her father is in charge.
In an explosive courtroom showdown Tuesday (November 10), Britney Spears’ attorney Samuel D Ingham III confirmed the star hasn’t spoken to her father in a very long time.
“My client has informed me that she is afraid of her father,” Ingham told the judge.
“She will not perform again if her father is in charge of her career.”
Jamie Spears’ lawyer Vivian Lee Thoreen argued that Britney has not spoken to her father because Ingham has blocked her from doing so.
“I don’t believe there is a shred of evidence to support my client’s suspension,” she said, noting that under Jamie’s control Britney has gone from being in debt to having more than $60 million in the bank.
Followers of the Free Britney movement have accused Jamie of using Britney as a cash cow.
Ingham has stated at a previous hearing that she wants to retire from performing, but her father is insistent that she continue her career.
Britney has not performed since wrapping her 2018 Piece of Me tour, a continuation of her incredibly successful Las Vegas revue.
A second residency, Domination, was cancelled in January 2019, with a statement citing Jamie’s health issues as the reason. Britney’s career has been on indefinite hiatus since then.
