Pop superstar Britney Spears has gone to the courts to fight her battle with her allegedly overprotective father, asking the courts to remove her father James Spears from her conservatorship. The conservatorship over the singer’s estate was set in 2008 after Spears’ erratic public behavior following her divorce from Kevin Federline and subsequent custody loss of her two children.
Who is in charge
James Spears, 68, has been in charge of the singer’s financial and daily affairs from 2008 due to concerns over Spears’ mental health. However, last September, he temporarily stepped down due to health issues. Although sources have said that Spears wants to end the conservatorship, she has asked for Jodi Montgomery, her temporary care manager in the interim, to continue permanently as her conservator. The conservatorship has been extended until February 2021.
Britney Spears’ sister Jamie Lynn Spears was revealed as being the trustee of the Britney Spears estate ever since 2018. The SJB Revocable Trust was created by Spears in 2004 to protect her assets for her children’s future. Jamie Lynn has asked for the trust assets to be moved into accounts with Fidelity Brokerage Services, of which she is a custodian.
For the past 12 years, the conservatorship has allowed her father and appointed attorneys full control over her assets and personal life – allegedly including the ability to restrict her visitors, who she can talk to and how much communication she is allowed with her doctors.
The #FreeBritney campaign takes off
Fans of the 38-year-old artist have taken to social media and the streets to protest the circumstances surrounding her conservatorship. The hashtag #FreeBritney went viral after allegations that Spears was being held against her will after she checked into a health facility in April. To add to the swirling rumors, Spears’ mother, Lynne Spears, began liking fan comments on Instagram regarding the allegations – stirring up even more speculation from fans that Spears did not go willingly.
Much of the gossip kicked off on the podcast “Britney’s Gram,” hosted by comedians Tess Barker and Barbara Gray. This podcast is dedicated to an analysis and dissection of Spears’ Instagram posts. They began digging for more information when Spears’ Instagram account went strangely silent earlier this year.
Britney’s father said that her conservatorship is a private family matter and that the #FreeBritney movement “is a joke.”
“All these conspiracy theorists don’t know anything,” James Spears stated. “The world don’t have a clue. It’s up to the court of California to decide what’s best for my daughter. It’s no one else’s business.”
As the rumors fly, celebrities and fans are outspoken in their “support” of Spears, often siding on the assertion that ending her conservatorship is in her best interest. Singer Cher recently took to Twitter to express her thoughts to her 3.8 million followers.
Other celebrities, including Bella Thorne, Paris Hilton, Courtney Love and more have posted their own support of the movement on their social media accounts. Singer Miley Cyrus shouted “Free Britney” during a concert performance last year.
Britney Spears herself has not confirmed any of the allegations surrounding the #FreeBritney trend, however she has repeatedly reassured her fans on social media that she is doing well and to not believe everything you read or hear.”
A hearing is scheduled in October to determine further actions regarding Spears’ conservatorship. Spears’ has publicly asked for privacy as she deals with many of these personal matters, but it’s very clear that the world is watching as the drama unfolds.
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