Protesters have gathered outside City Hall in West Hollywood to demand the release of pop icon Britney Spears from the mental health facility she entered earlier this month due to emotional distress.
Dozens of fans occupied the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and N. Sweetzer Ave on Monday, 22nd April, chanting “Hands off, Britney” and “Justice for Britney” in response to online rumours that the singer was being held against her will.
The protest not only received mainstream news coverage but a YouTube live stream where attendees can be heard shouting “Hey ho, Larry Rudolph has got to go” – a claim that the decision to put Spears in the facility was that of her longtime manager.
Monday’s protest was covered extensively on social media. Check out some of the posts below.
The #FreeBritney protest is happening right now outside West Hollywood City Hall pic.twitter.com/S60ZQIEYmf
— Greg W (@gregw_dj) April 22, 2019
#HELPBRITNEY pic.twitter.com/Qnp2eABwQU
— FREE BRITNEY (@peternewturkey) April 23, 2019
#FREEBRITNEY @britneyspears we love you pic.twitter.com/JiILhJPFMO
— Daniel_B (@Daniel_B6) April 23, 2019
#FreeBritney protest live now watch the livestream and join this movement ????????#BritneyArmy
End slavery
Free her! pic.twitter.com/Ct6st7fbtf— kristen h (@kristenhinkson) April 23, 2019
She looks like she’s been through hell, not “resting” in some luxury treatment center like her team suggested. And this is suspect they had the paps photograph her the same day there was supposed to be a Free Britney protest in LA pic.twitter.com/NaGL5b3Vub
— la bella vita (@drugproblem) April 22, 2019
TMZ reported that the 37-year-old star was admitted to a psychiatric facility at the start of this month, and is expected to remain in care for a month.
The 37-year-old singer hinted at the break via a positive quota via an Instagram post on Wednesday (3rd April): “Fall in love with taking care of yourself, mind, body, spirit”, alongside the caption: “We all need to take time for a little ‘me time.’ :)”
In January, Spears announced a hiatus from music due to her concern over her father’s ongoing health crisis over the past year, who recently underwent a second surgery to fix a ruptured colon.
It came just two months after Spears halted her famous Las Vegas residency to care for her father, explaining her position to fans on Instagram: “A couple of months ago, my father was hospitalized and almost died. We’re all so grateful that he came out of it alive, but he still has a long road ahead of him. I had to make the difficult decision to put my full focus and energy on my family at this time.”
Spears’ mental health issues date back to 2007 when the pop star experienced a public break down which saw her shave her head and attack paparazzi with an umbrella.
The singer was later checked into UCLA Medical Center’s psych ward – a move that was eventually launched Britney superfan Chris Crocker to fame after he posted his infamous video pleading with the world to “Leave Britney alone.”
Photo via Free Britney protest livestream (YouTube)
