Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, there’s been a fair share of social media posts from celebrities that feel pretty hollow and out of touch with what the reality of the situation is like for most ordinary people.
It’s heartening to see, then, artists who are using their platform to spread messages that go beyond tone-deaf proclamations of positivity. In this case, it’s none other than Britney Spears.
Spears re-shared a post on Instagram yesterday by writer and artist Mimi Zhu. In it, Zhu points out that connection is more important than ever in these times of mass social isolation, encouraging folks to call their loved ones, connect over video, and find other methods of digital communication in lieu of IRL, face to face contact.
“We will learn to kiss and hold each other through the waves of the web,” it reads. “We will feed each other, re-distribute wealth, strike. We will understand our own importance from the places we must stay.”
“Communion goes beyond walls,” quoted the singer in the post’s caption, along with three red rose emojis (which has grown popular online as a symbol for the Democratic Socialists of America and socialist ideals in general.)
While obviously sharing an Instagram post is far from the be all and end all of radical action, the sentiment is still one that most pop stars – most celebrities in general, really – would probably shy away from promoting. Last week, Spears shared a video on her Instagram encouraging fans to reach out if they needed assistance, saying “Whether it’s food or getting your child diapers of whatever it is, DM me and I will help you out.”
Welcome to the resistance, comrade Spears.
