Savannah Hulsey Pointer, FISM News
Singer Britney Spears was released from her conservatorship on Friday after 13 years of having almost every aspect of her life controlled by her father Jamie Spears, according to Reuters. The pop star lost control of her business, money, personal and family life and even what medications she took while under the kind of conservatorship typically reserved for the elderly.
The judge ruled in favor of the singer after a drawn-out battle that caused her fans to rally behind her when details of her life became more public.
“Effective today, the conservatorship of the person and the estate of Britney Jean Spears is hereby terminated,” Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny said after a 30-minute hearing in which no one opposed ending the court-sanctioned arrangement.
While the singer was not in court on Friday, she said in her first Instagram post after the monumental victory, “Good God I love my fans so much it’s crazy!!! I think I’m gonna cry the rest of the day !!!!” adding “Best day ever … praise the Lord … can I get an Amen ???? #FreedBritney”
Spears fans were almost as enthusiastic as the singer herself, gathering outside the courthouse by the dozens to hear the judge’s decision. Once word got out about the end of the conservatorship there was singing and dancing and pink confetti in the air in front of the typically austere location.
“It was a monumental day for Britney Spears,” the pop star’s attorney, Mathew Rosengart, said outside the courthouse. He also went on to thank the #FreeBritney movement which he said was essential to ending the legal arrangement due to it garnering massive media attention.
Spears, 39, has been in the court system for months. The battle started with a request to be allowed to have her own attorney in the legal proceedings and later a request to regain control of her $60 million estate. Spears was a massive pop celebrity as a teenager in the 90s but her estate was handed over to family members after she was deemed unfit in 2008.
Since her 2007 hospitalization, due to mental health issues, the singer hasn’t had control over almost any aspect of her life, with decisions being made for her, down to when and how she could get her hair done. This was lauded as helpful at the time, but damaging years later.
Lauriann Wright was entrusted with overseeing Spears’ personal life and told the judge there was “no reason this termination cannot happen and Ms. Spears cannot live a safe, happy and fulfilling life.”
Spears’ so-called “safety net” was meant to assist her in transitioning back to the normal pressures of adulthood, but speculation mounted that control of her massive fortune could have impacted the decision-making of her caretakers and their recommendations as to her capability.
The judge said that while the conservator should work to settle ongoing issues in finances, due to Spears’ unfamiliarity with the situation, she will soon regain complete control over her life.
“I’m shaking,” Leanne Simmons, a fan and one of the organizers of the #FreeBritney movement, said shortly after the decision. “It still hasn’t sunk in to hear those words, ‘The conservatorship has been terminated.’ Britney is a free woman.”