Fans and advocates of the #FreeBritney movement will be devastated to hear that, recently, there was a major set back. Last week, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny did not approve Britney’s request to remove her father from her conservatorship. According to the singer’s lawyer, In retaliation to her denied request, she will no longer be performing or working until her father agrees to step down.
“My client has informed me that she is afraid of her father,” Samuel Ingham, Britney’s attorney said. “She will not perform again if her father is in charge of her career.”
Ingham also stated that the father-daughter relationship isn’t a good one, claiming there is “no viable working relationship” and they are no longer on speaking terms.
According to Entertainment Tonight, Britney was granted permission to expand her legal team in her conservatorship due to a petition. This was despite her father’s disapproval, as he said it would cost her too much money.
Although Judge Penny refused to remove Britney’s father as the conservator she has ‘left the door open’ for future petitions. Along with this, Britney and her fans will need to wait until at least February of 2021 for any future requests to be officially altered or approved.
Britney’s father, Jamie Spears, has been responsible for Britney’s finances along with her personal life since her infamous breakdown in 2008 that left her hospitalized. Since early 2020, the Toxic singer has been trying to get her father either removed or replaced as her conservator following the resignation of her former co-conservator, Andrew Wallet.
People Magazine obtained court documents that revealed how Britney was “strongly opposed” to her father continuing his role of the conservatory. She also stated that she “strongly prefers” Jodi Montgomery, who ran her conservatorship when her father shortly stepped down due to health issues in 2019.
Britney has expressed to her lawyers how she eventually wants control over her own life again and to have “power and authorization to pursue opportunities related to professional commitments and activities including but not limited to performing, recording, videos, tours, TV shows, and other similar activities as long as they are approved by the conservator of the person and the Conservatee’s medical team.”
Britney took a two-week break from social media amidst court battles which greatly worried her fans. On November 4th, Britney took to Instagram addressing her absence and assuring her fans that she was alright.
“Hi, so I know that there have been a lot of comments and a lot of people saying a lot of different things about me,” Britney continued, “ but I just want to let you guys know that I am fine. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. And I’m sending all of you guys a lot of prayers, wishes, and a lot of love.”
Britney’s fans have been concerned about the 38-year-old for a while due to her bizarre social media posts but it wasn’t until one of Britney’s former lawyers for her conservatorship anonymously expressed concerns over the way Britney’s father runs her life on an episode of the Britney’s Gram Podcat.
Many people have been wondering why Britney’s conservatorship is only recently gaining traction since she has been under it for 12 years. However, Britney fans have been advocating for her for a while under the radar. FreeBritney.net was launched back in 2009 as a way to champion the blonde beauty by informing people of the reasons why she doesn’t need a conservatorship this far into not only her career but her life.
“During the twelve years of Spears’ conservatorship she has repeatedly toured the world, released multiple albums, and worked on a variety of television shows,” the writers of the site wrote. “ Her conservators decide whether or not she works, as she cannot enter into contracts for herself because she is legally not her own person. Britney Spears needs permission from her conservators to leave her house or spend any of her own money.”
Along with social media campaigns, petitions, and websites, Britney’s fans have gone out on the street with signs advocating for Britney and protesting her conservatorship.
