Britney Spears. (VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo credit should read VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)
Britney Spears stans of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains!
The history of all previous societies has been the history of struggling to get tickets to a Spears concert, but philosophy students with Che Guevara posters ironically hanging up in their overpriced dorm rooms may add the “Toxic” singer’s catalogue to their Marxist reading groups from now on.
As the coronavirus pandemic pelts the global economy, it has spurred some countries to introduce universal basic incomes and the suspend rent and many other household bill payments.
While in other countries, mortgage holidays have been introduced for landlords, homeless shelters closed down and workers expected to have months of savings prepared for layoffs or weeks without pay while corporations with billionaire CEOs cannot sustain even a week of lost profits.
But workers have found a supporter in the form of millionaire Spears who shared a lengthy quote on Instagram from writer Mimi Zhu which called for mutual aid, wealth redistribution and a general strike.
Welcome to 2020.
Britney Spears: ‘Communion moves beyond walls.’
“During this time of isolation, we need connection now more than ever,” the post began.
“Call your loved ones, write virtual love letters.
“Technologies like virtual communication, streaming and broadcasting are part of our community collaboration.
“We will learn to kiss and hold each other through the waves of the web.”
The post continued: “We will feed each other, re-distribute wealth, strike.
“We will understand our own importance from the places we must stay.
“Communion moves beyond walls. We can still be together.”
Spears, 38, captioned the post, “Communion goes beyond walls” along with three red rose emojis, which has long been used as a symbol for many left-wing political groups. From the British Labour Party to the Democratic Socialists of America.
‘You better unionise and seize the means of production.’
Since Spears’ post, there has been a spectre haunting Twitter and Instagram, the spectre of communism.
Spears, who once sung a song “Work B***h” which espouses Marx’s theory of labour, was welcomed as “Comrade Britney” as countless users did what was legally obligated of them and made memes out of this surreal situation.
A lot of people are shocked by Britney Spears’ hard-left turn but just look at her songs.
Toxic? Clearly a critique of late-stage capitalism.
Gimme More? About demanding higher wages through collective bargaining.
I’m A Slave 4 U? The plight of being a wage slave.
— jordan (@JordanUhl) March 24, 2020
Fellow comrades, Britney Spears has seen the Marxist light.
Queen of the proletariat, has spoken on IG.
Me must strike and demand wealth redistribution.
It’s heartening to see so many class traitors waking up from our capitalist nightmare.
Peep the Red Roses🌹🌹🌹 pic.twitter.com/ebzWax02Ub
— Johnny Zeff🌹 (@jonnyzeff) March 24, 2020
Britney Spears’ evolution from “you better work, bitch” to “strike, and redistribute the wealth” symbolizes a rejection of false consciousness and a refusal to participate in capitalism’s fraudulent “hustle” culture. In this essay I will
— Carlos Maza 🌹 (@gaywonk) March 24, 2020
When Comrade Britney said “You betta work bitch” she meant you better unionize and seize the means of production from the bourgeoisie in this treatise i will https://t.co/3uvJeb40mW
— ☕️🌿 (@mmkaybi) March 24, 2020
Hey Britney Spears is now Comrade Britney! Welcome to the socialist and leftist family! 🌹🌹🌹🌺🌺 pic.twitter.com/hOtOaJ7zMx
— 🌺☭ Shivam Mishra 🇮🇳🌹 #BernieBro (@shivam_china) March 24, 2020
Quote writer: ‘Comrade Britney is an icon.’
With her words ricocheting across timelines and Instagram grids, Zhu said on both outlets she is “grateful” that the superstar shared he work.
She stressed the crediting of creators when sharing their work in an Instagram post shared Tuesday.
hi ~ so @britneyspears reposted my work yesterday and i’m rly grateful ! she didn’t tag me and i’ve seen the image floating around. i am the artist and wanna remind to credit artists and put them on 🧡 i love her and hope she sees this and my original post on ig: @mimizhuxiyuan❕ pic.twitter.com/4Q0DAhs3Pp
— MIMI ZHU ☁️ (@mimizhuxiyuan) March 24, 2020
“I think it’s really cute and sweet that Britney Spears reposted my work!” she wrote.
“Especially because it said stuff about strike and redistribution of wealth. Like, that’s out communist queen!”
“It’s just been a little strange seeing my work floating around the internet now and people not knowing where to look for the original source and I feel so much gets lost in the sauce like that.
“So, tagging means a lot and I’m grateful! What a quarantine moment!”
She added on Twitter: “Comrade Britney is an icon and I’m glad we are connected on this wavelength.”