Words: Issy Aldridge

Images: Left: Twitter/Vogue Centre: Ron Wolfson/WireImage/Getty Images Right: Canva

The Fangirl Times is our new segment where we give you a concise round-up of the news you might have missed this week. Every Sunday, we share the biggest fandom events, ensuring that you stay up to date and in the loop with everything you need to know (incase you weren’t already!) Read last week’s entry here.

Britney Spears Gives Testimony In Court As Part of Her Conservatorship Case

Following the public breakdown she experienced in 2008, Britney’s business and personal affairs were placed under the control of a conservator. Her Father Jamie has been controlling Britney’s affairs since that episode in 2008, where questions were raised on her state of mind following rows with ex-husband Kevin Federline. This legal arrangement is traditionally only implemented if the conservetee is incapacitated due to mental illness or declining physical health. But fans have noticed Britney acting unusually online across social media and at public appearances. This then sparked the beginnings of the Free Britney movement. They have campaigned tirelessly to see Britney freed from the conservatorship, and her testimony this week shows that she is of a similar view.

She stated that there has been an abuse of power under the conservatorship arrangement, with unfair restrictions placed on her freedom. She has accused her father of unduly controlling all aspects of her life, from her personal relationships to her working hours and appearances. “I’ve been in denial. I’ve been in shock. I am traumatised.” she said in her speech on Wednesday. You can read the full court transcript here.

After speaking in court, Spears took to social media to address her fans. “I’m bringing this to people’s attention because I don’t want people to think my life is perfect because it’s definitely not at all, and if you have read anything about me in the news this week… you obviously really know now it’s not,” she said.

Britney’s next hearing is set for July 14th. To learn more about the conservatorship and what the Free Britney movement is all about, read this article.

Latitude Festival To Return At Maximum Capacity

Festival organisers addressed fans on social media to share the news.

As part of the UK government’s Events Research Programme, Latitude Festival will return to Henham Park between the 22nd and 25th July. The ERP, which has seen the country host several pilot events in Liverpool as well as the scaled-back Download festival last week, is investigating the safety of these events on the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in crowds. The news comes after the government decided to postpone ‘Freedom Day’ on June 21st, due to worries of the new Delta Variant.

Melvin Benn, Latitude’s festival director said: “We have been working extremely hard to make sure that Latitude Festival can go ahead safely at full capacity. Becoming an ERP event gives us the security of going ahead. Crucially the additional research collected at Latitude will benefit all festivals and live events moving forward. Everyone will be welcome to attend as long as they have a negative lateral flow test or proof of two vaccinations.”

“After many months without live music and arts, we are ecstatic to return with a full capacity festival. Restarting festivals is crucially important to the wellbeing of everyone in society and we hope that Latitude will be the first of many festivals to take place this summer!”

35,000 music fans will gather to watch a roster of huge artists including Bombay Bicycle Club, Bastille, and Wolf Alice.

Eurovision 2021 Winners Måneskin Hit The UK Charts

The Italian Band have ridden the Tik Tok wave to secure UK chart success.

The viral group who are best known for singles I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE, and winning Eurovision hit, ZITTI E BUONI have climbed to the dizzying heights of the Top 10 this week. Thanks to trend-driven Tik Tok, I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE has risen one place this week to Number 6, only charting behind the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, and KSI. Their 2017 single Beggin’ has also risen to enter the Top 10 this week, climbing staggering 60 places.

Speaking to NME following their Eurovision win, she said that the band are hoping to build upon their early success. “We really want to do our best to keep the attention by writing new music and trying to do some gigs in Europe and beyond,” she said. “We’re working hard and we just want to play everywhere. We’re just figuring out how to manage everything.”