The ‘Free Britney’ movement has been a thing for several years now. Fans, podcasters, journalists, and other celebrities have used the hashtag time and time again when Britney Spears and her conservatorship were the topics of conversation.
From documentaries to news channels, this is been one of the biggest and longest-running stories to come out of Hollywood. And now the pop star herself is speaking out.
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For years, die-hard Britney fans and supporters would attempt to dissect her various Instagram points in an attempt to find answers. But time and time again, Spears would make very direct statements on Instagram telling her fans that she’s happy, she’s doing good, and that nothing was wrong.
All of that changed on June 23, when she spoke to a judge personally about her conservatorship for the first time.
In a very eye-opening and passionate speech, Spears called the conservatorship she’s been under since 2008 abusive, noted that she’s been “in denial. I’ve been in shock. I am traumatized.” And that she just simply “wants my life back.”
As Mamas Uncut previously reported, Spears’ conservatorship began after her public 2007 breakdown which resulted in the pop star shaving her head. She was 26 years old and already a mother of two.
In her statement, Spears asked the judge to end her conservatorship. “I shouldn’t be in a conservatorship if I can work. The laws need to change. I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive. I don’t feel like I can live a full life.”
According to The New York Times, Britney’s day in court has been highly anticipated since her court-appointed lawyer requested that she be given the option to speak to the judge directly. The Times also discovered that Spears had begun to voice her issues with her conservatorship as early as 2014.
“It’s embarrassing and demoralizing what I’ve been through, and that’s the main reason I didn’t say it openly,” Spears told the judge. “I didn’t think anybody would believe me.” She went on to admit that she didn’t know until recently that she could petition to end the arrangement. “I’m sorry for my ignorance, but I didn’t know that.”
Spears went on to speak honestly, telling that judge that “I’m not happy. I can’t sleep. I’m so angry, it’s insane.”
From 2008 to 2019, Spears’ father, Jamie has been the one in charge of the conservatorship which regulates the singer’s $60 million fortune and also her body. In 2019, Jamie was removed as conservator and a professional took his place.
From forced involuntary medical evaluations, rehab stints, and medication, Spears also revealed that while she’s always wanted another child, her conservatorship makes that an impossible feat. According to the singer, Britney alleges that she’s even been banned from going to the doctor to have her IUD method of birth control removed.
“This so-called team won’t let me go to the doctor to take it out because they don’t want me to have children,” Spears admitted. “I want to be able to get married and have a baby. I was told right now in the conservatorship I am not able to get married and have a baby.” As previously reported, Spears is a 39-year-old woman.
She went on to say that she hopes to one day get her hair and nails done freely and that she hopes to be able to visit her friends whenever she wants. Especially the ones who only live “8 minutes away.”
“I’m great at what I do,” she said. “And I allow these people to control what I do, ma’am, and it’s enough. It makes no sense at all.” Later, Britney quipped, “I actually do know I need a little therapy.” However, she also said that the conservatorship was “doing me way more harm than good. I deserve to have a life.”
In the end, Britney said in her statement that she is “done.” “All I want is to own my money, for this to end and my boyfriend to drive me in his car.”
Following the end of her statement and a brief recess, representation for Jamie Spears read a statement on his behalf. The lawyer told the courtroom that Jaime “is sorry to see his daughter suffering and in so much pain. Mr. Spears loves his daughter, and he misses her very much.”
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