Britney Spears: Judge denies request to remove father

Britney
(CREDIT: A.PAES / Shutterstock.com)

In a 24-minute statement against the conservatorship she’s lived under for 13 years, Britney Spears revealed her struggle before Los Angeles probate judge Brenda Penny on Wednesday, saying that she wants to sue her family, that she was abused by a previous therapist, that she is unable to remove her IUD, forced to tour, and been made to take lithium against her will.

Spears pleaded with the court to gain back control of her life and put an end to the arrangement that has allowed her father Jamie Spears to live off her career and her $60 million fortune.  The question raised was if a woman has the capacity to generate a multi-million dollar fortune, headline tours, orchestrate her own choreography, and perform in 248 shows at her 2018 Vegas Residency earning  $137.7 million dollars,  does she not also possess the capacity to have control over her own life, finances and her own body?  

In the words of Ms. Spears, “I shouldn’t be in a conservatorship if I can work and provide money and work for myself and pay other people.” 


REELated: June 30 was a bad day for women


Spears has compared her “abusive” conservatorship to sex trafficking as she spoke out in court for the first time since her public breakdown in 2007. “In California , the only similar thing to this is called sex trafficking, making anyone work against their will,” she said. “And taking all their possessions away, credit card, cash, phone, passport.”

The singer addressed a court room by video and argued her father should no longer have control over her life. Confidential court records obtained by The Times reveal that the singer has quietly urged changes to the arrangement that controls her life, and her father’s role in leading it for years.

It wasn’t until November 2020, when her attorney Samuel Ingham III filed this request to end her conservatorship, stating that she was “afraid of her father” & would refuse to perform again if he continued to be in charge of her career.

#FreeBritney

While her father and the court continue to deem her unable to protect and care for herself despite the fact that she is still a performing, working pop star, the outrage and backlash of the #FreeBritney Movement is uprising. 

Cher, Bete Midler, Jon Bon Jovi, Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, John Oliver, Andy Cohen, and Cardi B are just a few of the public figures that have come to Britney’s defense.

Britney
Supporters of Britney Spears take part in protest “#FreeBritney” outside Stanley Mosk Courthouse on Nov. 10, 2020 in Los Angeles.

Rallies and protests filled with the support of the pop star’s fans in advocacy for the #FreeBritney Movement, dating back to 2019, have been a voice for her before she could be a voice for herself.

After her shocking testimony, she may not have gained freedom, but the truth has been exposed. After Ms. Spears informatively explosive testimony the wealth management firm Bessemer Trust that had planned to act as co-conservator of Britney Spears’s financial dealings has to leave the arrangement. 

In her filing, Bessemer stated: “As a result of the conservatee’s testimony at the June 23 hearing, however, Petitioner [Bessemer Trust] has become aware that the conservatee objects to the continuance of her conservatorship and desires to terminate the conservatorship. Petitioner has heard the conservatee and respects her wishes.”

While Britney may be bound by the law that confines her within her conservatorship, her words “I am traumatized” are at the beginning of being heard.

#FreeBritney

Britney
(CREDIT: A.PAES / Shutterstock.com)

In a 24-minute statement against the conservatorship she’s lived under for 13 years, Britney Spears revealed her struggle before Los Angeles probate judge Brenda Penny on Wednesday, saying that she wants to sue her family, that she was abused by a previous therapist, that she is unable to remove her IUD, forced to tour, and been made to take lithium against her will.

Spears pleaded with the court to gain back control of her life and put an end to the arrangement that has allowed her father Jamie Spears to live off her career and her $60 million fortune.  The question raised was if a woman has the capacity to generate a multi-million dollar fortune, headline tours, orchestrate her own choreography, and perform in 248 shows at her 2018 Vegas Residency earning  $137.7 million dollars,  does she not also possess the capacity to have control over her own life, finances and her own body?  

In the words of Ms. Spears, “I shouldn’t be in a conservatorship if I can work and provide money and work for myself and pay other people.” 


REELated: June 30 was a bad day for women


Spears has compared her “abusive” conservatorship to sex trafficking as she spoke out in court for the first time since her public breakdown in 2007. “In California , the only similar thing to this is called sex trafficking, making anyone work against their will,” she said. “And taking all their possessions away, credit card, cash, phone, passport.”

The singer addressed a court room by video and argued her father should no longer have control over her life. Confidential court records obtained by The Times reveal that the singer has quietly urged changes to the arrangement that controls her life, and her father’s role in leading it for years.

It wasn’t until November 2020, when her attorney Samuel Ingham III filed this request to end her conservatorship, stating that she was “afraid of her father” & would refuse to perform again if he continued to be in charge of her career.

#FreeBritney

While her father and the court continue to deem her unable to protect and care for herself despite the fact that she is still a performing, working pop star, the outrage and backlash of the #FreeBritney Movement is uprising. 

Cher, Bete Midler, Jon Bon Jovi, Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, John Oliver, Andy Cohen, and Cardi B are just a few of the public figures that have come to Britney’s defense.

Britney
Supporters of Britney Spears take part in protest “#FreeBritney” outside Stanley Mosk Courthouse on Nov. 10, 2020 in Los Angeles.

Rallies and protests filled with the support of the pop star’s fans in advocacy for the #FreeBritney Movement, dating back to 2019, have been a voice for her before she could be a voice for herself.

After her shocking testimony, she may not have gained freedom, but the truth has been exposed. After Ms. Spears informatively explosive testimony the wealth management firm Bessemer Trust that had planned to act as co-conservator of Britney Spears’s financial dealings has to leave the arrangement. 

In her filing, Bessemer stated: “As a result of the conservatee’s testimony at the June 23 hearing, however, Petitioner [Bessemer Trust] has become aware that the conservatee objects to the continuance of her conservatorship and desires to terminate the conservatorship. Petitioner has heard the conservatee and respects her wishes.”

While Britney may be bound by the law that confines her within her conservatorship, her words “I am traumatized” are at the beginning of being heard.

#FreeBritney