Britney Spears is an American singer/actress who has faced a lot of trouble from being a famous teen pop artist in the late ‘90s to the early 2000s, leading to her downfall by the paparazzi and drugs that followed all throughout her life. On June 23 of this year, the artist urged a Los Angeles Judge to end her court-appointed conservatorship that has controlled her life and career for the past decade, claiming that she was forced to take hefty drugs after refusing to perform, stopped from taking off a birth control device, and has been allowed with no privacy in her life.
From the age of 13, Britney's life with her major financial, professional, and medical decisions has been controlled by her father, Jamie Spears, through a court-appointed conservatorship initiated after Spears’ three public breakdowns that happened in 2007-2008. The first one was when Britney was spotted driving with Sean, her son, on her lap in the front seat, which few negative media outlets coupled with her messy divorce of her ex-husband Kevin Federline, led to more incidents. After that, She shaved her head in front of paparazzi’s and attacked their car with an umbrella which made her put under a 5150 hold twice in a psychiatric hospital for evaluation of mental health and when she debuted on “The Mickey Mouse Club” show, the legal arrangement underwent severe changes, even though Spears tried to cement her impressive comeback with releasing multiple albums, Judging X Factor USA, touring around the world and performing more than 248 shows.
Since Britney’s sudden cancellation of a second planned residency at Vegas in early 2019, the year where she stayed one month at a mental health facility after her father fell ill, the legal arrangement concealed mystery and a tangle of non-disclosure arrangements has raised several questions on how someone who is so productive and time-keeping can cancel something abruptly and why can’t she make her own decision, raising into the #FreeBritney movement.
The Poster of Britney’s Second Planned Las Vegas Residency 2019 was abruptly canceled and tickets were refunded
The Notability of the issue speared only when Britney sought removal of her father's role in the conservatorship, who until then served as a co-conservator, alongside an outside financial group, Bessemer Trust and her lawyers even ordered her that she would no longer perform as long as her father was in charge.
Before Britney addressed the court about this issue on Wednesday’s court-hearing, Spears’ lawyer in April requested that she would be able to speak with the court, but did not disclose what she had planned to say.
Since then, the legal case has interested many people including the New York Times, which released a documentary last year on Hulu titled “Framing Britney Spears” that explains Britney's rise to fame to her downfall by the media and an hour-long BBC program called “The Battle for Britney: Fans, Cash and a Conservatorship, for which Britney said that she hasn’t watched the documentaries, but was embarrassed by it, saying that she “cried for weeks” after its release and in a post on Instagram, she said those documentaries were hypocritical for criticizing her life previous coverage as fatal with magnifying and highlighting only the most “negative” aspects of her career.
What is Conservatorship?
A conservatorship is legally defined as a court case where a judge appoints a responsible person or an organization called the “conservator”, to care for someone(conservatee), who cannot care for themselves or who cannot care to manage their own finances. Conservatorship laws differ primarily from state to state which makes it hard to ascertain exactly how many ones exist across the country.
Usually, the law supports conservatorships, when the less restrictive options are eliminated, but often, they are understood as “first resort” when someone faces difficulties or experiences that are age-related disabilities. Britney Spears is one among the untold thousand people across the world, who are under guardianship or conservatorship, but this case has become unique because of the artist’s fame.
How did it happen for Britney Spears?
In 2008, Jamie Spears, Britney's father was granted conservatorship after Spears purposely struggled with mental health issues and was hospitalized for it. After she got released from the hospital, a Los Angeles court made the conservatorship permanent, giving her father another co-conservator power over her finances and medical decisions for which Jamie still proclaims that he has been working under order with the legal team declaring that her estate has gone from being in debt to a valuation of more than $60 million.
(On right) Britney shaves her hair off in a barbershop by herself and Britney attacks a paparazzi's car with an umbrella where she was reported to see her kids but as she received no answer even after she rang the bell at Kevin’s gate, she and her friend Alli drive nearby Jiffy Lube where Alli constantly asked photographers to leave them alone before Britney attacked their car (on left).
In November last year, Jamie's legal team said Jamie has worked quite hard to return Britney to better health, join with her children, and restore her career and added that through Jamie service as a conservator, his sole motivation was his unconditional love for his daughter, fierce desire to protect her from those trying to take advantage of her as he wanted Spears to be healthy, thriving and protected and for him, his love for Britney is a material factor in a way that he turned her estate around being in the red to what it is turned now."
Jamie Spears, pictured in 2012, says he saved his daughter from financial ruin. PC: AP
In May 2019, Jamie Spears moved to the court for an appeal of extension of his conservator to three other states which are outside California - Hawaii, Florida, and Louisiana and in September, Kevin Federline, Britney’s ex-husband had accused Jamie of hitting her son Sean, post after which Jamie stepped down as the primary conservator. “The conservatorship is not a jail. It helps Britney make business decisions and manage her life in ways she can’t do right now." Spear’s manager told the Washington Post.
In July 2020, Britney’s Brother Bryan Spears, who is a television and film producer, first among the family, spoke in an episode of As not seen on TV Podcast with Drew Plotkin about the conservatorship as the good and the best thing for Britney that his father has done given the situation he was put in. He also acknowledged that Spears wanted the conservatorship to end as well saying “She has always wanted to get out of it. It’s very frustrating to have. Whether someone is nearing peace to help or coming in with an attitude, having someone constantly tell you to do something has got to be frustrating. Britney always wanted to be out of it for quite some time”.
Britney’s brother, Bryan Spears appears in As not seen on TV Podcast where he talks about Britney's Conservatorship and the #FreeBritney Movement. PC: As not seen on Podcast/Youtube
Why does Britney Spears want her father out of Conservatorship?
In August last year, the pop artist’s court-appointed attorney said that Britney has “Strongly opposed” her father’s position as a sole conservator of her estate and asked to limit his control at court. Britney’s attorney, Samuel D. Ingham III even stated that Spears "strongly prefers to have a qualified corporate fiduciary in the role".
For which, Britney has made several attempts to do so and one of which was that she requested Jodi Montgomery as the temporary replacement for Jamie Spears, who is a professionally licensed conservator, who took over the role in 2019, encapsulating Jamie volunteering stepping down due to some health issues, but, Jodi only handled Britney’s medical decisions, while Jamie still retained for the control of her finances.
Singer Britney Spears, winner of bambi award poses with the trophy at the Bambi Awards 2008 in Offenburg - Germany on November 27th 2008. © Getty Images
Additionally in November last year, a judge granted her wish to appoint an outside financial group, Bessemer Trust, as the co-conservator. But, Britney is still requesting the court to remove her father and allow the Bessemer Trust to be the sole conservator of her estate which is something that Jamie and his legal team are fighting for.
But, later, the same Bessemer Trust filed a petition seeking to resign from its co-conservator role with the Los Angeles superior court, specifying Britney's testimony as evidence of “changed circumstances”.
After a year later Andrew Wallet resigned, Samuel Ingram addressing the court calling Britney a “High-functioning conservatee” who needs to know what her father’s action might be on taking over her estate and added that Spears is actually afraid of Jamie as she had not spoken to him for a long time and would refuse to perform as long as her father is in charge of her affairs.
In February 2021, Counsel of Britney said that it would be highly harmful to Britney to allow Jamie spears, her father as the sole one in charge of her estate, and Brennan-Krohn one of the workers at the ACLU's Disability Rights Program claimed that there would be risks with the appointment, together with "financial, emotional and physical abuse."
Britney’s Childhood
Britney Spears had a struggling childhood and not as glamorous one as every other celebrity does as her father, now fighting for being the conservator, had a drinking problem way back and would often show his rage on his family, particularly on his wife, Lynn Spears. Her aunt also believed that the constant quarrels in her family had reflected on Britney being a quiet child.
Britney pictured with her dad and mom - Jamie and Lynne Spears Image © Instagram/britneyspears
Yet, all of them drastically changed when Britney got on-stage as before she growed up on singing in church choir and her parents paid for her voice lessons with the little money they had, believing that Britney is extremely talented at singing.
Infact, when she first auditioned for the “Mickey Mouse Club” show at the age of 8, she was rejected for the reason of being too young. But, far from being disappointed, Lynn Spears moved Spears into New York City and started signing her for everything, by which Britney appeared on ads and on Star Search (1992) before making it on the Show at the age of 12.
In her early days of Britney’s singing years, she was opening for N’sync, but before long, her first album at age of 17 “Baby one more time” released in 1999 was a huge hit being so viral that everyone was talking about her. That set her image to fame which took a toll in her life. The sudden fame infuriated her so much that sometimes, she had to sneak out just to do regular things where paparazzi covered over by their camera’s all the time just to click photos of her.
Spears was often pictured fleeing from paparazzi’s and tabloid photographers. © Getty Images
Then, her first few breakups happened with Justin Timberlake and Jason Alexander but the break up with Kevin Federline in 2004 when she was 22 was that which shook her up as she had 2 childrens, Sean and Jaden, with him and she didn't know what to do. After that, Britney Spears had several breakdowns and Sam lutfi, claimed as Britney's manager, got a five-year’s restraining order from her which resulted in Jamie Spears, her father, being in charge of being her conservator and her substantial estate.
What’s Britney's state on the matter?
Britney Spears has always remained very tight-lipped throughout the legal battle on the conservatorship, speaking only through her legal team and by doing subtle comments or hints over the years through her songs, live performances, and interviews.
One of which was Britney’s letter to her friend Andrew who toured and spent time with her showed the letter in a tik tok video and said that before he got a letter to be read to viewers, the conservatorship took it and destroyed it, but thankfully he has a copy with some parts being stricken out and read “Britney has been quietened on speaking about anything that’s really happening now and people controlling her life had $3 million this year. If she speaks up, she is threatened. She would like for new eyes to see her current situation. But if she brings it up, she is constantly pressured that the conservators will take her kids away. She has no rights, as long as people are getting paid off. It could go on for a period yet that’ doesn't make it right at all. Everyone is very fast to put a dreary eye on Britney. She has given her brother a $2 million apartment and her mother a $4 million stay in Louisiana and her father has the best job in business. She is a very bestowing person and would desire to get the respect she deserves”.
Handwritten letters surfaced, read by Britney’s friend Andrew in which Britney allegedly claimed that she has been silenced and threatened to speak about Conservatorship.
Another hint was the leaked voicemail to a lawyer in 2009 during the initiation of a temporary Conservatorship for Jamie spears where she said that her father has threatened her several times during the process of the elimination of the conservatorship that he will take her children’s away and thereby she requested the court to take the process carefully that the things will stay as same and far as of her custodial time”.
Even the Times series played a clip from the MTV documentary "Britney: For The Record," where she addressed her limits to personal freedom, ganged up by paparazzi on streets, has no say on things and many ones, which the documentary put together as small clips in between.
One of the statements that Britney said to the interviewer on the documentary is "If I wasn't under the restraints that I'm under right now, you know, with all the lawyers, doctors, people analyzing me every day and all that kind of stuff, if that wasn't there, I'd feel so liberated and feel like myself. I'm kind of stuck in this place, and it's like, how do you deal, but I just cope with it every day," and added "When I reveal them on the way I feel, it's like they hear about it, but they aren’t really listening to it. They're hearing what they want to hear. They're not at all listening to what I'm telling them. It's bad and I am sad."
When she was asked about her life being out of control, she disagreed and said, "It's too in control. There's no excitement. There's no passion. It's like the film Groundhog's Day as every day for me." and in a tweet also she wrote: Everyone has their own story and their take on other people's stories!!!. We have so many diverse bright beautiful lives and remember, no matter what we think that we know about a person's life, it is nothing compared to the actual person’s life behind the lens."
Her Iranian Bodybuilder boyfriend, Sam Asghari who is 26 years old and has been dating her since 2016 also had criticized Jamie Spears in an Instagram story where he wrote that he wants people to understand that he has zero respect for someone trying to control their relationship and constantly throwing obstacles their way and in his opinion he said that Jamie is a total d**k." and added that he won’t go deep on the details of it because he respects privacy but at the same time he states that he has the right to be able to express his own opinions and freedom in the country he lives in and even posted a selfie wearing a T-shirt that says “Free Britney” hours before the hearing.
(On right) Britney Spears and her boyfriend, Sam asghari and his Instagram story where he spoke about the conservatorship of Britney stating that he has no respect for Jamie Spears (On left) PC:Sam asghari/Instagram
Even, few weeks before, Britney answered a few questions on her Instagram videos to her fans and said that she was enjoying herself and wasn't certain about going to take the stage again.
Additionally, a source close to Venture Country that confirmed through the law enforcement of California that Spears has called 911 to report conservatorship abuse one night prior to presenting her testimony in court but the details of the call are sealed off for investigation.
In Wednesday’s court hearing that was audio streamed by the court, Britney opened up so much of all that she had and is going through due to her father’s control over the conservatorship stating that it is abusive and she can’t live a full life because of it. She also felt ganged up on, bullied, and alone and added that "I shouldn't be in a conservatorship if I can work and provide money and work for myself and pay other people. It makes no sense."
On the matter of the Vegas Cancellation, she said that she was forced to perform during her residency in 2018 and after the cancellation of the tour in 2019, she was pushed back for not cooperating and then was put on Lithium, leaving her feeling drunk and unable to take up for herself.
She claimed that she has lied to the whole world that she is okay and happy and her father had full control over her life and choices, leaving her feeling ashamed, in shock, denial, and traumatized, and now she just needs her life back. She also said that she didn’t utter this to the public because they would make fun of her or laugh at her and say, "She's lying, she's got everything, she is Britney Spears".
She alleged that her previous therapist abused his power, that her management forced her to perform for years on end without a break and that she was forced into a $60,000 a month treatment facility by her father.
In addition to it, she requested to hire her own attorney, cut back on therapy sessions at her home as she is not interested to go to Westlake and embarrass herself in front of paparazzi and end the conservatorship without any extensive mental health evaluations, and said that the conservatorship is preventing her from starting a family with her boyfriend "I want to be able to get married and have a baby and I was told I'm not able to get married because I have an IUD inside so not to get pregnant, but this so-called team won't let me go to the doctor to take it out." and added that "This conservatorship is bringing me way more harm than good."
What’s the state of Bessemer Trust on this matter?
As from the result of Britney’s testimony on the hearing of 23rd June, the Trust’s attorney said in a court document, that they are aware of Conservatee objections of the continuance of her Conservatorship and desire to terminate it, and also the Petitioner has heard the Conservatee and respects her wishes.
Pointed out in court filing, the trust said that as there is currently an acting Conservator still for the estate and its resignation as co-conservator does not result in a vacancy in the office of Conservator of the estate and a separate document filed on the same day, Jamie questioned on it, whether Britney approved of a petition to make Montgomery her permanent conservator and with her testimony on June 23 he said that her statements contradict the notion of what she seeks to do about the conservatorship.
But, Montgomery's lawyer defended that she has acted tirelessly in Britney’s best interests with approvals of oversight of the court and her doctors, claimed that she does not have the legal ability to influence Spear’s family planning choices, and even claimed that Jamie has more control over Britney’s personal life than Jodi Montgomery as Montgomery’s lawyer stated that each penny spent for Britney by Montgomery has to be first approved by Jamie Spears as his role of the conservator of the estate and since everything costs something, all of the purchases for Britney needs an approved through and Ms. Spears and Mr. Spears indeed.
What is #FreeBritney Movement about?
The #FreeBritney Movement began way back before it gained much momentum. It began exactly after her mental breakdowns in 2009, where a fan site “FreeBritney.net'' which first questioned the necessity of the conservatorship, and throughout the next 12 years, the site kept fully focused on this particular issue until it got much attention over 2019 becoming a worldwide movement.
Many of her fans had staged protests outside the Los Angeles courthouse where the case’s status hearings were held. Junior Olivas, one of Britney Spears fans, credited the star for helping him through his life’s difficult times and determined to be outside the courthouse and protest for Britney as she has healed her up, who was among the #FreeBritney protesters.
Britney's Gram, a Podcast that is solely dedicated to dissecting the star’s Social media. Fans of Britney are using the hashtag #FreeBritney in order to bring massive attention to her legal battle against her father.
Even Britney's legal team acknowledged her fans following her legal battle in Sept 2020 and those who started the movement have been expressing concerns over her stating that Jamie Spears has abused what was considered to be a temporary arrangement for his own personal gain.
#FreeBritney Supporters protest outside a Los Angeles courthouse on September 16, 2020 PC: Kristin Robinson/Variety
Britney's attorney even acknowledged the support for Britney by her fans and said in opposition to Jamie Spear’s attempts to seal public’s support "At this point in her life when Britney is trying to regain some measure of personal autonomy, she welcomes and appreciates the informed support of her many fans," and added, "Although sealing motion is for her protection supposedly yet, Britney has fiercely opposed her father efforts to keep her legal struggle hidden in the closet away as a family secret and in this case, it is never an exaggeration to state that the whole world is watching."
Over the years, thousands of people have signed the circulating petitions on #FreeBritney on why she couldn’t get her own attorney. Celebrities like Bette Midler, Ruby Rose, Ariel Winter, Rose McGowan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Paris Hilton, Miley Cyrus, and many others also have come out in support for the movement following the release of the Documentary, Instagramming and tweeting about it. One of the change.org petitions, with 1,89,058 signatures and more, claims that Britney’s freedom is being robbed away from her by her father.
The campaigners of #FreeBritney have bloomed on social media with many posts, intending to show that Jamie has claimed Britney had dementia in 2008, and that he and the Spears business manager, Lou Taylor are robbing from her.
When Britney’s ex-boyfriends asked whether she is mentally unstable they said “Absolutely no” and some echoed that her father, Jamie Spears is a weird guy and a control freak but doesn't see him as some sort of criminal mastermind in this case of Conservatorship. Her ex-boyfriend’s also stated that when Britney was near rock bottom, she didn’t appear crazy but was just agitated yet understood the conservatorship concept but didn’t want her father to be the conservator.
Her fans of the #FreeBritney believe that the pop star is seeking help by leaving hidden messages in her videos and commenting on her Social media which is filled with a mix of inspirational quotes, dancing videos & new-age type musing, that every video of her is a cry for help. Even Jamie lynn spears addresses #Free Britney movement, breaking her silence regarding the case in the As not seen on TV Podcast where she talked about it.
#FreeBritney supporters rallied outside the Stanley Mosk Courthouse Wednesday © Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times
“Whatever is or is not wrong with Britney Spears, the movement #FreeBritney is making her relevant and doing her best even at a time when a lot of pop stars from the early 2000s are aging out of the public eye, said” Ed Steinberg, a music producer to The Post.
Jamie Spears view on #FreeBritney Movement:
Jamie Spears called the movement as a conspiracy theory to The Post, saying that he is sick and tired of how the #FreeBritney Movement is claiming his daughter as a prisoner in a gilded cage and inadvertently painting him as a villain and the campaign solely regards him as a cruel and opportunistic father keeping her daughter under his emotional and financial control for almost in a 12-year-long legal conservatorship which is a joke.
He also denied all the long-standing rumors about him and said that all of these conspiracy theorists don’t know anything about and have a clue at all and added that it is up to the court of California to decide what’s best for Britney and it is no one else’s business to interfere.
He duly stated that he has to report every penny spent every year to the court and how would he steal something from it at all. For him, the bothering issue is with the aggressiveness of the #FreeBritney supporters and he said that people are being stalked and targeted with death threats which are horrible and he doesn’t want those types of fans as he loves his daughter and all of his kids but says that this is their family’s business and it should be privatized.
However, the public portion of the proceeding ended abruptly after the judge declared that someone had violated court rules which had to forbid recording, live-tweeting, or broadcasting the hearing for the listeners but Jamie’s Attorney did make a brief statement that Jamie is sorry to see his daughter suffering and in so much pain and the Judge also said that Britney Spears lawyer with her could file a petition to end the conservatorship.
In a shocking report to The New Yorker on Saturday, according to Britney’s close friend, Jacqueline Butcher she was labeled as fat and a terrible mother shortly after conservatorship began and was allegedly heard to scream "I am Britney Spears" because of how much control he had which had left her feeling sick.
Some details about the meetings of Britney’s team every week was revealed in a report where it was written that every Thursday noon, ten people or more are responsible for managing Spear’s legal and business affairs, PR, and Social media’s where they met and discuss on merchandise deals, song-license requests and Spear’s posts to her Social Media and adds that Britney’s does write her own social media posts which are submitted to her team at CrowdSurf and will be further critically examined on the sensitivity of the upload.
Another report from TMZ claimed that her recent boyfriend has not made a move to get engaged and there has been no set restrictions for Britney on marriage or having kids which contradicts what the pop star said in Wednesday's court hearing and stated that conservators have no legal authority to block conservatees from marrying or having a baby, as per the law and orders.
Judge Brenda Penny denied a months-old Britney's request to have her father, Jamie Spears, removed from his position as her co-conservator, but Spears has yet to file a formal petition to remove the conservatorship entirely.
Britney’s Fansite & Other Important happenings
Stream of Consciousness is a Britney Spears fansite that holds archive letters and messages posted by Britney herself to the “Letter to Truth” section of her fan club from 2004-2007 where Britney wrote: “The last few couple of years have been quite a ride for me, the media has criticized every move of mine and printed a distorted perception of who I am as a human being.” and another letter read: everyone I know thinks that I am playing the victim, but I am not and I hate what is happening right now so much. Perhaps this is a reason for this letter…to possibly allow people to look differently at me. It is as when you are a real woman and says what you feel and how you think things are claimed to be, that people just say you are a ‘bitch”.
Also, In one of her letters on her fansite, she apologized about the breakdown incident where she hit a paparazzi's car with an umbrella saying I apologize to that paparazzi for the stunt regarding an umbrella that was done 4 months ago. I was working up for a role of my character in a movie where the husband never plays his part so they accidentally switch places. I take all my roles very seriously and get a little carried away. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the part.
Britney's Apology on the Incident of hitting a Pappazi's Car with an Umbrella on 2006 © Stream of Consciousness
The whole Britney’s Case Timeline is available at a fansite, FreeBritney.army but here is the gist of what Important things that happened leading to her testimony on 23 June.
Britney had hired a lawyer, Adam Streisand to challenge the conservatorship, but Judge Reva Goetz found out that Britney had no capacity to hire Streisand and ordered a 730 report and the evaluation of the 730 resulted in Britney no longer have the right to hire her own lawyer. Yet, In February of 2008 Britney allegedly hired an attorney, Jon Eardley who filed documents in federal court asserting that she is being held by her father in a situation that violates her civil rights.
He claimed that Britney is being deprived of her constitutional and civil rights and the conservatorship is palpably biased as Britney Spears is being verbally abused by her father. He also stated that she should be allowed to retain her own medical professionals to evaluate her condition. Adding to that, Jon’s spokesperson, Michael Sands also claimed Britney was robbed on a grand scale, but a three-judge panel of California’s 2nd District Court of Appeals dismissed Jon’s appeal in March 2008.
In Sept of 2008, in the BOOK - Through the Storm, Lynne details the hard time of her childhood, and her brother and Bryan Spears as well as larry Rudolph admitted that he is allowed to talk about the conservatorship and even Britney’s former manager, Johnny Wright, criticizes Britney’s family for pushing her “comeback”.
In 2009, Britney is said to have allegedly obtained a burner phone and made a call to a lawyer at 12:29 a.m and Jamie reported of attempting to shut down a fansite, BreatheHeavy. Sam Lutfi’s sister's testimony suggested that Britney needs help hiring her own lawyer which resulted in a 3-years restraining order to both Sam & Jon Eardley. And in March 2014, the State Bar of California suspended Jon Eardley.
Britney’s Interview in the Jonathan Ross Show was censored in Sept 2016 where she had spoken about the conservatorship which didn’t air with the rest.
In Jan 2017, Jamie reportedly bought the property back from Britney which she had purchased from him in 2002 and managed by a company but under conservatorship, it was already owned by Jamie and wallet and Jamie reportedly did seek to end the conservatorship but didn’t.
The Ongoing battle between Britney and Kevin over child support happened in July 2018 and Andrew Wallet demanded a raise for Britney's well being and in March 2019, Andrew Wallet resigned immediately. Also, Jamie petitions to extend the conservatorship to all three states of California.
Jodi is reported to continue as temporary conservator through august 22 due to COVID-19 and Britney’s family planning to speak out through interviews that would sway public support to end the conservatorship.
Billy B, Miley Cyrus, and Lancy Bass comment about the #FreeBritney movement. On April 4th, 2021, In an open letter to Ingham, #FreeBritney advocates launch a campaign called Ingham End It Now to terminate Britney’s conservatorship where they wrote that they orderly request to terminate the Conservatorship of Ms. Spears by May 9, 2021, and if fail to do so, we as advocates intend an investigation on the government at all levels into this apparently fraudulent Conservatorship, and all of them who participated in its permanence and creation.
Britney (Ingham) & Lynn Spears petition and nominates Bessemer Trust Company as conservator of Britney’s estate and Tri Star Sports (Lou Taylor’s company) resigns as Britney’s business manager without prior notice to Britney. Judge Penny rules on the request to appoint Bessemer Trust Company. Jodi Montogermy is still the Temporary Conservator of Britney’s estate.
Lynn’s attorneys object to fees requested by Vivian Thoreen’s law firm and #FreeBritney advocates file complaints with the California State bar and that leads to Britney’s testimony in the Los Angeles probate court. Mathew Rosengart appears in court on behalf of Britney and Judge Penny accepts Ingham’s resignation, Loeb & Loeb, and Bessemer Trust Company.
Additionally, Britney decides to press charges against her father and another hearing is scheduled for September 29.
On her Future Endeavours
The President of Oak View Group Media and the parent company of touring-industry publication Pollstar, Ray Waddell said that there is much to uncover as to how big Britney Spears is and can be as a live artist and with the records of the Pollstar’s data, Britney Spears tours in three particular years (2009,2011 & 2018) where she was under the conservatorship grossed more money and sold more tickets for her shows as well.
Even on the streaming services including Spotify, her catalog has remained hugely successful even before the #FreeBritney movement started. Especially her two singles - “Toxic” & “Oops!...I Did It Again” has more than 500 million streams total on the service, and her seven studio albums had gone platinum were her first two went to diamond, selling more than a piece of 10 million copies. And if she decides to release a new music post the conservatorship case, her fan’s devotion could power her album to the top of the chart if the album addresses this issue which was her album “Blackout”.
Comparing the star with Rihanna with her Fashion line, Spears can make a comeback through brand deals and product lines as she was the pioneer of her fragrance brand in the market of early 2000s and launching several brands as well which can renew her fanbase as she knows the market. Andrew Hampp, who runs a consultancy that partners musicians and music companies with brands called 1803 LLC said “Britney was one among the first pop stars of the millennium who redefine what success actually looks like” and added “What Britney has created which has been perfected by Rihanna, and now Rihanna arguably spends extra time on beauty than her music. Britney could absolutely be a beauty tycoon on par with Kylie Jenner once she is able to cut the roots of her conservatorship.”
Hampp said that she can do brands regarding skincare, wellness, and athleisure as they are contemporary markets where her fan's loyalty can make an impact and she need not partner with recognized brands like the Pepsi ads in 2000’s as she can do her own brand something like what Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello are partnering with an app - Calm or Headspace.
But for that fans also should be prepared for a stream where Spears takes a break from music, marketing, or anything to take care of her and her family. Some believe that when she has her own choices, she could make what she desires.
Current Progress with her latest hearing
The recent thing is that Britney Spears has won over the court to choose her own lawyer, last week, to fight to end her conservatorship which she has been fighting for so long. She has hired former federal prosecutor Mathew Rosengart, who stated that they will be moving promptly and aggressively to remove Spear’s father out of conservatorship. She reiterated her demand for her father, Jamie Spears to be charged with conservatorship abuse.
Britney Spears’ newly appointed lawyer Mathew Rosengart leaves the Stanley Mosk Courthouse following a hearing concerning the pop singer's conservatorship on Wednesday of July 14, 2021 in Los Angeles PC: AP
Samantha Stark, the director of the NY Times Documentary “Framing Britney Spears”, acknowledged that she got a new lawyer of her own and still fighting for the removal of her father from the conservatorship which makes her sad as they got nominated for the Emmys nomination for the documentary as of not wanting it to feel exploitative but hopes that the Emmy nomination will signify that people are ready to believe her.
Cade Hudson, a close friend and a longtime agent of Britney Spears has also lend his support behind the #FreeBritney Movement on Social Media saying that he has been silenced for 12-yrs and now it's time for her conservatorship to end. Many others celebrities as well including Billie ellish, Ariana grande, N’sync, Ariel winter, lance bass, Cher and many others have also lend their support for the #FreeBritney moment on their Social media, especially on Twitter.
Even Britney’s ongoing conservatorship battle has led and inspired the Introduction to a new bipartisan bill known as The Freedom And Right To Emancipate From Exploitation Act (Free Act, a nod to #FreeBritney movement) to the US House of Representatives which is a free act that makes it easier for people under conservatorships to seek a different guardian other than their court-appointed one in instances of abuse or fraud. It was introduced by sponsors representatives Charlie Crist and Nancy Mance who want to make sure that they bring transparency and accountability to the conservatorship process.
#FreeBritney: Britney Spears supporters outside a court hearing in Los Angeles this month. PC: Emma McIntyre/Getty
Now that Britney has hired her own lawyer who can represent in her own interest, some legal experts are saying that there are three ways of moving her conservatorship case forward. The first way would be for Spears to entirely end the conservatorship and to do that, she as well as her lawyer has to show Judge Brenda Penny that she doesn’t need any legal mechanism now that has designed to restrict her freedom and allow instead the conservators, Jodi Montgomery for personal decisions and Jamie Spears for financial matters to do prime decisions for her.
The second way is to modify the conservatorship itself. A New conservatorship layout can take several forms, but modifying or changing it would give Britney Spears more control over her life including the ability to make her reproductive decisions, weekly allowance greater and more control over her own career yet it could also lead to ending it in the future.
One of the legal experts, Mayoras said "Conservators may have finite authority, so that some command can be set back to Britney and it can be a slow transition to end it'' and added, "It's not an all or a nothing proposition."
The third way is to get rid of Jamie Spears as Britney’s financial conservator while leaving the conservatorship layout the same which is what Britney said in the Court way back as she wanted Jodi Montgomery, appointed by a penny as Britney’s personal conservator in 2019 to stay in her position for the time being but to remove Jamie from the position, charged with conservatorship abuse.
Legal experts say that all of these ways will take time or more time indeed as Jamie has refused to resign when Rosengart had asked him to do so and according to an estates and trusts attorney at Wilk Auslander LLP, Sabino Biondi, to remove Jamie out of conservatorship, both, Britney and Jamie have to prove that her father has breached his fiduciary duty as a conservator which Britney has accused him of but if it is proved and the Judge agrees on tha account then they will remove him out of it.
“Britney Spears' own attorney, Rosengart has now the ability to urge for a detailed accounting of the whole that Jamie Spears has done with her estate and he also has the ability to inspect those filings and, if he sees hints of malpractice by which he can try to persuade the judge that Spears abused his position”, said Britney Spears’s attorney, Biondi. And following an investigation, he can file a petition to end or modify the conservatorship as well.
Even Britney herself can ask the Judge for small carve outs for the investigation and until then, the conservatorship will likely to drag on in the same format as usual and its 12 years of the conservatorship and it is actually tragic to see that it took this long for the singer to be able to get her own lawyer and express as well as be vocal in public to speak all of her trauma she has been facing through this conservatorship and still trying to end it off.
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