When it comes to Instagram, Britney Spears' posts tend to be on the lighthearted side. She frequently shares her sons' artwork, as well as cute animal photos. But on Monday afternoon, she wrote a much more poignant message. Spears responded to Sunday's tragic shooting in Orlando, where 49 people died and more than 50 were injured at Pulse, a gay nightclub. Her entire message is worth a read. Along with an image of a rainbow heart, the "Oops! I Did It Again" singer wrote,
I have not been able to find words to express how I feel about what happened in Orlando. Music and dance take me to a wonderful, happy, safe place... and for this to happen in a place where people enjoy those things makes me so sad. This has to stop. We need to accept and love people for who they are. This is truly an attack against all of us, and I'm praying that we can join together and find a solution.
There's no denying how devastating the Orlando shooting was. After all, it has been deemed the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. But the fact that it took place at a gay nightclub — somewhere that's supposed to be a safe space for LGBTQ individuals and their allies — makes it all the more heartbreaking. That's what Spears seems to be getting at in her message, and I couldn't agree more. From the rainbow heart to the sentiment itself, she's showing she stands strong with the LGBTQ community. People shouldn't be attacked for being themselves.
In the post, Spears doesn't hesitate to comment on the gravity of the situation, especially the notion that LGBTQ people were the target of the attack. Her message about the need to "accept and love people for who they are" is so, so important. Really, it can't be repeated enough. Although her post doesn't explicitly get political or call for stronger gun control, her message does declare a need for change and desire to find a solution to these mass shootings. I also interpret her message to mean discrimination has to stop, which is an equally valuable takeaway.
Although Spears begins her message by saying she "can't find words" to express her feelings, I think she chose the perfect ones. Her message really does resonate and is worth a read.
If you want to get involved, here's a list of ways to help the Orlando victims. You can also take action to fight for stricter gun control.
