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.”
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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