Paris Hilton Has Some Thoughts About Britney Spears' Conservatorship
Paris Hilton is speaking out in support of her old friend, Britney Spears, as the #FreeBritney movement once again makes major headlines after the release of the documentary The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears on Hulu (via E!)
The documentary details Spears' path to stardom and showed some truly cringeworthy media moments as she was repeatedly questioned during interviews about her virginity and calmly told by Diane Sawyer that Kendel Ehrlich, the then-first lady of Maryland, had stated that she would "shoot" the pop star if given the opportunity (via Baltimore CBS Local).
Spears was constantly followed by the paparazzi and her mental health deteriorated, leading her to seek psychiatric treatment in 2008. At that point, she was put under the conservatorship of her father, Jamie Spears, which, controversially, has lasted to this day (via USA Today).
Hilton tweeted her support for the #FreeBritney movement last July, and this week she reiterated her support for Spears on her podcast, This Is Paris.
"I heard it's just a really sad movie. It makes me really feel for her, because she's such a sweet girl and has such a big heart, and I just can't imagine being controlled like that," Hilton said on her podcast (via E!). "You know, when you're an adult and you've worked your whole life for building this empire and then just to be treated like a child, it's just not fair."
Framing Britney Spears has led to conversations about how famous young women are treated by the media
The documentary has resulted in conversations about how Britney Spears and other famous teens and young women have been treated by the media. For example, a clip of David Letterman questioning Lindsay Lohan about her upcoming rehab stint after she repeatedly made clear she was uncomfortable has circulated widely on social media. It concludes with Lohan in tears (via YouTube).
Back in 2003, Ashley Olsen raised the issue when she told Rolling Stone she was angry that Connie Chung had asked her and her sister about their virginity — a question that was frequently posed to young women (including Spears), but not their equally famous male peers. "I got really angry and defensive," Ashley told the outlet. "I was like, 'That's personal. Why would you be asking a 16-year-old that question in the first place?'"
Hilton reflected on the topic during her podcast. "I've been reading all of these articles coming out where they were just saying, like, Britney, Paris, and just like, a group of us were just treated so unfairly and just like, this really misogynistic view and just being very cruel and mean and making fun of us," she said (via E!). "It made me think a lot this week, reading all these new things that are coming out after the Britney film."