On 5 February, the New York Times documentary Framing Britney Spears premiered in the US. Charting the singer’s rise to fame and the controversy over her welfare, the documentary centres on the #FreeBritney movement, a fan-led campaign to re-evaluate or possibly end Britney Spears’ conservatorship – a legal guardianship designed for those who can’t take care of themselves or manage their own finances. Britney’s father Jamie was given authority over her estate and many aspects of her personal life in 2008 due to concerns about her mental health.
Thanks to the documentary, the conversation around Spears’ ability to control her own life has reached a new level. It’s not just fan accounts anymore; many celebrities are now tweeting “#FreeBritney.” Bette Middler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Tamron Hall, rapper Rico Nasty, and Meghan McCain all tweeted #FreeBritney within the past week, and Miley Cyrus gave Brit a shout-out during her Super Bowl performance.
Singers Kacey Musgraves and Cher have also voiced their thoughts as has Khloé Kardashian who wrote on Instagram, “I am praying for queen Britney! So so so sad.”
There is currently no news about whether the documentary will be aired in the UK.