Bad News Revealed For Britney Spears In Her Conservatorship Fight
Since 2008, Britney Spears has been under a conservatorship in which her father, Jamie Spears, has the legal right to oversee decisions about the singer's estate, health, business deals, and even who she is permitted to see. Over the years, the pair have appeared in court to argue about the terms of the conservatorship. Earlier this year, fans and celebrities began to take to social media and beyond to voice their disapproval for the conservatorship. The release of the documentary, "Framing Britney Spears," in February 2021 only heightened the mistrust of Jamie and the conservatorship, according to Women's Health Magazine.
Britney appeared virtually in a Los Angeles court in June 2021 to deliver a powerful testimony and detail her quality of life under the conservatorship. In her testimony, Britney claimed that, under the conservatorship, she was forced to take birth control, strong medications, and attend therapy sessions. "I want to be heard. I'm telling you this again so that maybe you understand the depth and degree and the damage," Britney stated, according to CNN. "I want and deserve changes going forward. I just want my life back. It's been 13 years and it's enough."
One week later, the court just handed down a decision that is sure to greatly impact Britney and the #FreeBritney movement.
Britney faces another setback on her quest for freedom
After listening to his daughter's claims in her powerful court testimony, Jamie Spears filed a petition to investigate the claims and expressed concern over Jodi Montgomery, who was appointed to be Britney Spears' temporary Conservator of Person in September 2019, according to NBC News. So, in plain terms, Montgomery has been in control of the decisions Britney makes in her day-to-day life, while Jamie is in charge of Britney's estate through Bessemer Trust, per Entertainment Tonight.
It seems as though the court did not have any concerns over Britney's treatment under the conservatorship, as it was announced on Wednesday that Judge Brenda J. Penny had denied Britney's request to remove her father as the conservator.
According to Variety, Jamie and Bessemer Trust will remain in charge of the singer's finances and Montgomery will remain in charge of other personal decisions. This was the second time that Judge Penny had rejected Britney's request to remove her father from the conservatorship. "The conservator's request to suspend James P. Spears immediately upon the appointment of Bessemer Trust Company of California as sole conservator of estate is denied without prejudice," documents filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court stated, per Variety. The court also stated that Britney appeared to be unable to manage her own finances and to "resist fraud or undue influence."
Though Britney can still file to terminate her conservatorship, she has yet to make this move, according to Newsweek.