By: Whitney Derman

Many child-stars have sued their parents for using them for money, stealing it for themselves, and using their minor status against them. However, what happens when an adult is stripped of their earnings and denied any personal freedoms? This is precisely what has been happening to Britney Spears for the past 13 years. Deeming her mentally insane and unable to make her own choices, Spears was under a permanent conservatorship controlled by her father in late 2008 following a public mental breakdown (Picheta, 2021).

Under the conservatorship, she is required to perform and tour without her consent and be under the watchful eye of doctors without any privacy. The singer is on birth control, is not allowed to have more children, and is denied simple luxuries like social media or spending time with her boyfriend (Britney Online, 2021). Spears father, Jamie Spears, and sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, control her money and assets and use it to pay the doctors and lawyers to keep her under conservatorship (Britney Online, 2021).

Britney kept quiet on the issue for over a decade but was encouraged by the #freebritney movement to speak out — the last time she mentioned the conservatorship was in 2008, only several months after it began (Picheta, 2021). Confidential reports have shown Britney complaining about the conservatorship. Since these haven’t been leaked, she was likely under strict orders not to talk about it (BBC, 2021).

A video from her recent hearing surfaced where the singer spoke about her conservatorship (Britney Online, 2021). Many people commented that they could hear fear and anxiety in her voice. They said she is clearly of sound mind because she understands what is happening to her and knows exactly what she wants once the conservatorship ends (Britney Online, 2021). In the leaked hearing, Britney claims she wants to enjoy the simple pleasure of spending time with her boyfriend, would like more children, and wants to retire from performing (Picheta, 2021).

Some commenters have expressed doubt that she will quit performing as it provides considerable pay. Others have commented things such as, “Why should I care about a celebrity?” Such remarks are a concern as they normalize abuse and fail to address social issues of society. No matter how rich and famous someone is, it is not worth sacrificing their freedoms.

Britney has been forced to perform for many years despite wanting to leave the limelight and no longer sees stardom as glamorous. The exact wealth she accumulates from being a successful singer and performer is the very thing that keeps her a prisoner in her own home. She’s not a young girl with stars in her eyes; she has seen the real and sinister side of fame and fortune.
We don’t know if she will eventually want to perform or make music again (she has hinted that she may want to after the conservatorship ends).

Conservatorship is a way to protect people with Alzheimer’s and Dementia or others who can’t make their own decisions. However, if the conservator abuses or takes advantage, it can be perilous.

Britney’s case is an example of a person with mental illnesses being taken advantage of, and she is not the only one. It is common to hear non-celebrities being taken advantage of under conservatorships at the “Free Britney” protest. (Limbong, 2021). This case differs from people who aren’t as well off because her father and sister wanted access and control of her exuberant wealth and used tons of cash at their disposal. Imagine, if she wasn’t a celebrity, it would have been a different scenario. Conservators wouldn’t have been desperate to keep her under conservatorship for this long.

Permanent conservatorships open the discussion to the public. It is not just a celebrity issue, but rather about human rights. Britney Spears has just been the catalyst to bring this issue to our attention (Limbong, 2021). When you speak up for the #FreeBritney movement, you are speaking up for her freedom as well as the freedoms of everyone being taken advantage of under this guise.

In the leaked audio, Britney Spears is admitting she needs therapy and treatments for her mental health. Her self-awareness clearly shows she can make her own decisions (Britney Online, 2021). The full leaked hearing can be found here.

Learn more about overcoming different types of abuse at GoARO.org, and please consider donating to help support ARO’s mission of helping the abused.

Sources

BBC. “Britney Spears: Singer’s Conservatorship case explained.” BBC News. July 15, 2021. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53494405.

Britney Online. “Britney Spears — 42-MINUTE conservatorship Hearing #BritneySpeaks #FreeBritney [Audio Leak].” YouTube. June 23, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhw4BlhaGlg.

Limbong, A. “They were laughed at for their #freebritney activism. not anymore.” NPR. July 26, 2021. https://www.npr.org/2021/07/26/1018877604/free-britney-movement-activists.

Picheta, R. “#FreeBritney sparked pop culture’s biggest mystery. Will she give fans the answers in court?” CNN. June 22, 2021. https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/22/entertainment/free-britney-spears-conservatorship-hearing-fanbase-cmd-scli-intl/index.html.