Britney Spears’ father, Jamie Spears, has agreed to step down from his role as her conservator and “intends to work with the court and his daughter's new attorney to prepare for an orderly transition to a new conservator” according to court papers filed 12 August. Britney Spears’ lawyer states that this is a “major victory” and “another step towards justice”.
However, this change to a new legal arrangement has no set timeline, with Jamie Spears’ lawyer stating the transition will occur “when the time is right”, also claiming that there are “no actual grounds” for his resignation. Supporters of the #FreeBritney campaign are concerned that even his eventual exit will not effectively aid Ms Spears’ fight for justice as the conservatorship structure will remain in place.
The conservatorship was imposed in 2008 in an attempt to control Spears’ career amid concerns about her mental wellbeing. However, many see the conservatorship as contributing to her worsening mental health, as it gave her father control over both her career and her personal life. Spears herself has accused her father of “conservatorship abuse”, stating that she has been forced to commit to gruelling tours and performances whilst having restricted access to her own fortune.
Other aspects of Spears’ life that have been controlled through the conservatorship range from the colour of her kitchen cabinets to her own health and bodily autonomy. Disturbingly, Spears has alleged that she was made to take Lithium, a mood-stabilising drug, after the cancellation of her Las Vegas residency in 2018, and that she is currently restricted from having more children due to the enforced insertion of an IUD.
The effect of her father’s resignation and the likelihood of Spears’ conservatorship ending remains to be seen. However, the popularity of the #FreeBritney campaign and the fact that Spears has been able to hire her own attorney rather than a court-appointed one for the first time in 13 years will likely have Britney and her supporters feeling optimistic for her future and her freedom.
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