Britney Spears Speaks Out at Conservatorship Hearing: Mariah Carey, Halsey and More Rally Behind Her

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Britney Spears Speaks Out at Conservatorship Hearing: Mariah Carey, Halsey and More Rally Behind Her

Showing support. As Britney Spears spoke about her conservatorship publicly for the first time, celebrities reacted on social media. Mariah Carey was among the first to show the "Circus" singer, 39, some love. "We love you Britney!!! Stay strong," the Glitter star, 51, wrote on Wednesday, June 23, shortly after Spears' spoke out. Dan Levy, star and creator of Schitt's Creek, retweeted Carey's message and added a red heart. Halsey also spoke out, adding that she hopes the conservatorship is removed. "Bless Britney and I hope with my whole heart she is awarded freedom from this abusive system," the "Graveyard" singer, 26, wrote on Twitter. "She deserves it more than anything. I admire her courage speaking up for herself today." The Louisiana-raised pop star, 39, called into court to discuss her conservatorship, which started in 2008. "I just want my life back," Spears said on Wednesday, speaking out against her father, Jamie Spears, for the first time. "It’s been 13 years and it’s enough. It’s enough and it makes no sense at all … I’m done. I want to sue my family, to be totally honest with you." She made it clear that she's ready for the adult guardianship to be over. "I told the whole world I’m happy — it’s a lie,” she added. “I’ve been in denial. I am traumatized. I’m not happy. I can’t sleep.” [jwplayer 0JVoOuEJ-l3ahXupL] Since 2008, the Crossroads star has not been in control of her financial or personal decisions. Her father has been a coconservator since the beginning, but he stepped down as coconservator of her person in 2019. Jodi Montgomery stepped in to make personal decisions for the performer, but her father remains in charge of her estate along with Bessemer Trust. "I would like to progressively move forward, and I would like to have the real deal. I want to be to get married and have a baby. I was told right now under the conservatorship I'm not able to get married or have a baby. I have a IUD inside of myself right now so I don't get pregnant," Britney said, adding that she was not allowed to go to the doctor to have it removed. Hulu’s The New York Times Presents “Framing Britney Spears,” released in February, brought renewed public interest to Spears’ legal situation, and many celebrities came forward to say they supported ending the conservatorship. After Britney’s 30-minute statement on Wednesday, the stars came out again to rally around the “Womanizer” singer. Scroll through to see more celebs who are supporting the singer after her courtroom address. [podcast_block]

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Madonna

"Give this woman her life back!" the "Vogue" singer wrote in an Instagram Story weeks after the hearing made headlines. "Slavery was abolished so long ago! Death to the greedy patriarchy that has been doing this to women for centuries. This is a violation of human rights! Britney we coming to get you out of jail!"

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Paris Hilton

"It just broke my heart," Hilton said during a July episode of her "This Is Paris" podcast. "Dealing with it as a teenager was hard, but I can't imagine, still, as an adult, after working your entire life. ... She's built a huge empire. She's a legend, she's an icon, she's a mother. She's amazing and she has these people controlling her money, her life."

She also responded to Spears' comment that she didn't believe the abuse claims in Hilton's doc, explaining, "I know that she didn't mean it in that way. She meant when she saw it, she couldn't even believe it. What she said was, people hear that, 'It's Britney Spears' [or] 'It's Paris Hilton. They have these perfect lives. Who is gonna believe [it]? I didn't even believe Paris, who's gonna believe me?'"

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AJ McLean

"When I met Britney, Britney was living in the same apartment complex as me when she was doing The Mickey Mouse Club. She was the sweetest, sweetest girl,” the Backstreet Boys singer said during the June 27 episode of his “Pretty Messed Up” podcast. “I can speak for myself: I was 14 when Backstreet Boys started. As a young person, boy or girl, thrust into this business, it makes your head spin. I would compare the level of insanity with Britney to what happened to Princess Diana. It’s sad to see what has transpired over the last 13 years.”

The boy bander continued: “Me personally, I don’t agree with it. I don’t agree with the conservatorship lasting as long as it has. I only know one side. I don’t know what is going through the parents’ minds. In my opinion, I think it should have ended a while ago or at least dumbed down a bit. It doesn’t seem fair. I do hope that the resolute is that this poor girl gets her life back. Just to be able to go to the grocery store by yourself. Be able to go get a physical if you’re feeling sick.”

He concluded: “At the end of the day, the truth will come out. I am 100 million percent on the #FreeBritney train because I completely agree with it. All of us should just pray for Britney and also pray for her family, because, again, I can’t even imagine as a parent what is going through her mom and her dad’s mind. I want to put out a prayer for all of them."

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Iggy Azalea

The rapper was called out on social media for not addressing the testimony right away, but Azalea pointed out that she addressed the treatment of Britney when their collaboration, “Pretty Girls,” was released in 2015. “I said her team wouldn’t let her do promo and that they went through my house etc and y’all said I was a hater,” Azalea tweeted on June 26.

She added that she signed non-disclosure agreements that prevented her from speaking out much. “Iam [sic] actually here to support someone in a way that’s helpful and also mindful. Britney has said in her own words, she’s embarrassed to even share this with the world,” she wrote. “If she needed me to speak on her behalf, That message has been delivered to her. Other than that - I’m good.”

The Australian continued, “I’ve done what I’m supposed to do, I’ve reached out. I’m not supposed to be mindlessly telling you all whatever was happening because half of these people are just here for entertainment not to help. I actually care & she can use me if she needs my voice. Leave me alone PLEASE.”

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Amber Tamblyn

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants actress shared her support for Spears in a New York Times essay about fame published on June 26. "Having seen some of the complications and consequences that come with finding fame and financial success at a young age, I can attest to how challenging this combination of factors can be to navigate, even for those with the best of intentions," she wrote. "I also know how much potential they have to turn toxic, and how vulnerable they can make a young woman."

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Chris Crocker

Years after their “Leave Britney Alone” video went viral in 2007, Crocker spoke to NPR about why their then-radical words still ring true. “To hear all these lists of just the different things she's having to endure made me so angry on one hand, and then on the other end, my heart was just so happy that she's able to say all of this, and with such conviction," Crocker said in an interview published June 27. "I really think most people are weary of any statements on social media or anything because we don't know if she can control that or not. You know, hearing her say, 'No, I want the public to be able to hear this,' and then go on and be so empowered ... I was just so happy for her. But I did get emotional. I think, like a lot of people, it was just really hard to hear."

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Missy Elliott

"I pray that you get CONTROL over your life again and find PEACE and regain STRENGTH," the rapper wrote in a message posted to her Instagram Stories. "With all that you have endured Britney just know that YOU ARE LOVED. Prayers up."

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Kaitlyn Bristowe

"#FreeBritney!!!" the former Bachelorette wrote via Instagram, alongside a photo of herself wearing a Britney shirt. "My heart BROKE hearing what she said in court today."

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Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi

"F—KING FREE BRITNEY!" tweeted the Jersey Shore star. "We are all here for you queen!"

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Heidi Montag

"It’s disturbing what’s happened and is happening to @britneyspears," the Hills: New Beginnings star wrote via Twitter. "#FreeBritney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

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Heather Gay

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star tweeted a photo of herself in a Britney shirt with the hashtag, "#FreeBritney."

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Caroline Manzo

"This is a tragedy and she should be heard," tweeted the Real Housewives of New Jersey alum, alongside a graphic displaying some of Britney's quotes from the hearing.

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Nathalie Emmanuel

"Honestly if Britney’s situation isn’t f—ked up enough ... the fact they force an IUD inside her when she wants more children ... What’s next?" tweeted the former Game of Thrones star. "Permanently sterilize her? It’s as shocking as that."

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Khloé Kardashian

"No one should be treated like this," the Good American founder wrote via Twitter. "Stay strong Queen!! You deserve better."

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Derrick Barry

"Today is the day that our Queen was FINALLY heard!" the RuPaul's Drag Race alum and Britney impersonator tweeted. "June 23, 2021 is a historic day that shined a much needed light on conservatorship & guardianship abuse."

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Eiza Gonzalez

"Speechless," tweeted the Baby Driver actress. "This is complete bulls—t of a corrupt dated system. I’m heartbroken for Britney. I grew up looking up to her so much and finding out that she’s been completely deprived of her own life for this long is gut wrenching. Justice for Britney."

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Rosie O'Donnell

"Listen to the woman," the comedian tweeted alongside screenshots from some of Britney's appearances on The Rosie O'Donnell Show.

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Chrishell Stause

"I will 1000% RIOT if Britney is not freed," the Selling Sunset star wrote via Twitter. "We are SO PROUD of you @britneyspears! Listening to her call is equal parts heartbreaking and infuriating. #freebritneyNOW and then change the laws."

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Meghan McCain

"I feel physically sick about this Britney Spears news — I think because it's about so much more," tweeted the View cohost. "Women not being heard, not being trusted, accused of being crazy at any slight deviation from a perfect veneer. We as a society have utterly failed her and her dad should be in jail."

She continued: "This goes beyond any normal courts, there should be human rights violations investigations. Britney Spears was held captive, out in the open and we gawked at her and didn't listen. This is how we treat famous women. Thank God she didn't kill herself. There is a rot in our culture."

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Andy Cohen

The Bravo exec tweeted, "#FreeBritney."

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Jesse Tyler Ferguson

"Britney deserves freedom," the Modern Family alum wrote via Twitter. "She deserves to reap the rewards of her years of hard work. Britney deserves to be happy."

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Liz Phair

"Oldest trick in the playbook of the patriarchy: declare a woman mad and gain control of her assets/property. Been happening for centuries," tweeted the singer-songwriter. "Anyone saying she ‘seems unbalanced,’ please show me the equivalent conservatorships for male entertainers/athletes exhibiting erratic behavior. Where are all the MOMS controlling their grown sons' millions for a decade."

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Rina Sawayama

"No words," the f"So f—king shocked and sad at the full extent and facets of the abuse. We love u SO much Britney 💔💔💔 I hope the people who did this to u get what they deserve," tweeted the "XS" singer. "I can’t imagine the pain of what it’s like to not have anyone u can trust for 13 years, being gaslighted, drugged, forced to work, lied to over and over again. We r so lucky to still have her."

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Vera Wang

"No words," the fashion designer wrote via Twitter. "#FreeBritney."

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Jonathan Van Ness

The Queer Eye star tweeted, "My heart 💔 #FreeBritney."

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Lisa Rinna

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star tweeted the hashtag, "#FreeBritney."

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Keke Palmer

"All of them need to go to jail!!!!!" the Scream Queens alum wrote via Instagram, alongside a video of herself listening to "Stronger" by Britney. "My girl was finally able to speak up against her conservatorship after they tried to make her fear damaging her 'image' just to keep her quiet! How cruel to do that to someone that has only known performing their whole life. Then to contort the very thing she loved by making her do it on YOUR time. For the love of money is the root of all evil! But the light will always win, I’m so happy that Britney was able to tell the truth today and I’m ready to raise hell! FREEEEEE BRITNEYYYYY. And to add, she is VERY strong and brave. To hear her speak the way she did even after all of this I’m just so glad. They could not break her!!! That’s a testimony."

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Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel

The "Cry Me a River" singer, who dated Britney from 1999 to 2002, reacted after hearing his “What It’s Like to Be Me” collaborator’s statement. “After what we saw today, we should all be supporting Britney at this time. Regardless of our past, good and bad, and no matter how long ago it was… what’s happening to her is just not right. No woman should ever be restricted from making decisions about her own body,” Timberlake tweeted on Wednesday night.

He continued in a second tweet, “No one should EVER be held against their will… or ever have to ask permission to access everything they’ve worked so hard for.”

In a third post, he shared that both he and wife Jessica Biel, whom he married in 2012, support the pop star’s fight for freedom, writing, “Jess and I send our love, and our absolute support to Britney during this time. We hope the courts, and her family make this right and let her live however she wants to live.”

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Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino

The Jersey Shore star tweeted the hashtag, "#FreeBritney." His castmate Jenni "JWoww" Farley also retweeted his message along with Timberlake's and Polizzi's.

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Mariah Carey

"We love you Britney!!! Stay strong," the "Butterfly" singer wrote.

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Dan Levy

The Emmy winner retweeted Carey's statement with a red heart emoji.

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Rose McGowan

"Britney Spears has every right to be angry," the Charmed alum tweeted. "How would you feel if your life was stolen, dissected, mocked? I pray she gets to live your life on her terms. STOP CONTROLLING WOMEN. #FreeBritney"

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Halsey

"Bless Britney and I hope with my whole heart she is awarded freedom from this abusive system," the pregnant star said. "She deserves it more than anything. I admire her courage speaking up for herself today."

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Tinashe

"We love you SO MUCH @britneyspears," the singer, who was featured on Spears' single "Slumber Party," tweeted with a heart emoji.

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Brandy Norwood

"Sending all my love and support to Britney Spears and her fans," the Moesha alum tweeted with a heart emoji.

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Devon Sawa

"Y’all letting the girl talk finally?" the Canadian actor wrote alongside a selfie in which he is wearing a shirt with Spears' face.