In a nearly 30-minute virtual address before a Los Angeles court, the "Toxic" singer told Judge Brenda Penny that she had been traumatized and depressed due to the conservatorship.
It's no secret that Britney Spears' father Jamie has had complete control over her and her estate for 13 years due to a court-ordered conservatorship. The 39-year-old singer has finally opened up publicly about how it has been affecting her. During her conservatorship hearing on Wednesday, Spears spoke out against her father alleging how she had been unable to "get married and have a baby" because of the restrictions placed on her, reports PEOPLE. In a nearly 30-minute virtual address before a Los Angeles court, the Toxic singer told Judge Brenda Penny that she had been traumatized and depressed due to the conservatorship. "It is my wish and dream for all of this to end. I want my life back," she pleaded according to CNN.
Spears' went on to tell the court that she had been forced to take birth control, medication, and even attend therapy sessions against her will. "I cry every day," she said revealing the mental stress that she has been under. "I've lied and told the whole world I'm OK and I'm happy. It's a lie. I've been in denial. I've been in shock. I am traumatized. I'm not happy. I can't sleep. I'm so angry it's insane. And I'm depressed. I cry every day." Having appeared in court after two years, she continued, "I haven't been back to court in a long time because I don't think I was heard on any level when I came to court the last time."
Her father, Jamie, was named the conservator of her estimated $60 million estate back in 2008, until Judge Penny appointed Bessemer Trust in November 2020 to serve as co-conservator. Her attorney Andrew Wallet was a co-conservator as well, but he resigned in 2019. This time, the singer was supported by her attorney Samuel D. Ingham III as she made claims about the conservatorship not permitting her to have more kids. "I would like to progressively move forward and I want to have the real deal. I want to be able to get married and have a baby. I have an [IUD] inside of myself so I don't get pregnant. They don't want me to have children—any more children," she explained, adding that she wants to start a family with her boyfriend, Sam Asghari, but claimed that the conservatorship has prevented her from doing so.
"This conservatorship is doing me way more harm than good. I deserve to have a life! I've worked my whole life. I deserve to have a two to three-year break and do what I want to do," shared his mother of two sons—14-year-old Jayden and 15-year-old Preston. Spears continued condemning the way her father handled her conservatorship and her care. "My family didn't do a goddamn thing. Anything that happened to me had to be approved by my dad. I never had a say in my schedule. They always told me I had to do this," she said accusing Jamie of enjoying having control of her life.
She claimed being put on lithium against her will. "Lithium is a very, very strong [medication] and completely different medication than what I've been on. You can go mentally impaired if you take too much, stay on it longer than five months," said Spears. "I felt drunk. I couldn't even stick up for myself. I couldn't even have a conversation with my mom or dad about anything. I told them I was scared and they had six different nurses come to my home to monitor me while I was on this medication that I didn't want to be on, to begin with." Lithium is commonly used to treat bipolar disorder.
Spears criticized the arrangement saying, "The last time I spoke to you...made me feel like I was dead, like I didn't matter, like nothing had been done to me, like you thought I was lying. I want to be heard. I'm telling you this again so that maybe you understand the depth and degree and the damage...I want and deserve changes going forward." Labeling the conservatorship as abusive, according to VICE, she said, "I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive. My request is to end the conservatorship without being evaluated like before." She added, "I feel ganged up on, I feel bullied, I feel left out and alone. I'm tired of feeling alone. I deserve to have the same rights as anybody. I just want my life back. It's been 13 years and it's enough." Jamie appeared virtually alongside Spears' mother Lynne during the hearing. A statement was also read on Jamie's behalf by his attorney, Vivian Thoreen, who defended him saying, "[Jamie] is sorry to see his daughter in so much pain. [He] loves his daughter and misses her very much." The next hearing is scheduled for July 14.
Britney is not alone in her fight. Apart from her fans continuing the #freebritney movement, a few celebs have lent their support, too. Justin Timberlake, Spears' ex-boyfriend, revealed his concern for her, and CBC reported him as tweeting, "After what we saw today, we should all be supporting Britney at this time. Regardless of our past, good and bad, and no matter how long ago it was... what's happening to her is just not right. No woman should ever be restricted from making decisions about her own body. No one should EVER be held against their will... or ever have to ask permission to access everything they've worked so hard for," he said. "Jess and I send our love, and our absolute support to Britney during this time. We hope the courts, and her family make this right and let her live however she wants to live."
Reference:
https://people.com/music/britney-spears-wants-more-kids-get-married-but-claims-cant-conservatorship/
https://www.vice.com/en/article/jg8dey/britney-spears-conservatorship-abuse-court-hearing
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/justin-timberlake-britney-spears-conservatorship/
Image source: Getty | Photo by Vivien Killilea
