Pop star Britney Spears (UPDATE: maybe?) endorsed Hillary Clinton on social media early Friday morning, tweeting two pictures of herself with the candidate in Las Vegas with the hashtag #ImWithHer. The hashtag is used by Clinton supporters. Nevada's Democratic caucus is this Saturday, which explains why Clinton was in the area.
However, Spears deleted the tweet shortly after posting it, and then edited both Facebook and Instagram posts to remove the hashtag that indicated her support. She eventually re-posted the original tweet, also sans hashtag.
This was the tweet I linked to. Confused why @britneyspears deleted it but kept her insta post up. pic.twitter.com/hcYietSWGX
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) February 19, 2016
weird, it looks like @britneyspears has removed the “#ImWithHer” from her posts. Compare: https://t.co/hxg3xDNGyY pic.twitter.com/nIr8v3gLOj
— Christine Rousselle (@crousselle) February 19, 2016
also: pic.twitter.com/xDpl9rBOOt
— Christine Rousselle (@crousselle) February 19, 2016
Some of Spears' Bernie Sanders-supporting fans were less-than-thrilled with her decision to tweet her support of Clinton, whereas others were saying that Spears' tweet had tipped their vote:
Doesnt that face just scream 'I'm being paid for endorsing her but deep inside i feel the bern' https://t.co/v1k2dgwuqL
— vera (@televisionsets) February 19, 2016
@britneyspears Vote Bernie Britney don't be fooled by Hillary clinton #FeelTheBern
— Logan Kraken (@Logans_Domain) February 19, 2016
If Britney Spears is voting for Hilary Clinton, so am I
— Queen B (@Bren_Kat) February 19, 2016
YAS!!! @britneyspears is voting for @hillaryclinton! #ImWithHer
— Gina C. Cliqué (@Gaga4BritBrit) February 19, 2016
While there have been longtime, completely unsubstantiated rumors that Spears is conservative-leaning or a Republican (probably rooted in the fact that she was raised in Louisiana), she has largely avoided anything to do with politics up until now. She had never publicly endorsed a candidate, and her stealth edits and deleted tweets could be a sign that while she's okay with meeting politicians, she doesn't want to publicly endorse anyone or influence her fans' votes.