Free Britney Spears movement dealt a crushing blow as her dad wins judge’s approval in court hearing
Britney Spears. (Lester Cohen/BBMA2016/Getty)
Britney Spears failed to attend a virtual court hearing Wednesday (July 23) over her conservatorship, all the while her father secured the judge’s approval to lock her guardianship up from public view – a crushing blow to the Free Britney Spears movement.
Fans of the 38-year-old packed the outside of the Los Angeles County Court, chanting “Free Britney!” – a movement to end what fans believe is a toxic legal arrangement with many claiming that she is being controlled to the point where she is not allowed to have children with boyfriend Sam Asghari.
But Spears was nowhere to be seen on the digital stream, according to court documents seen by The Blast, with her father Jamie and mother Lynne in attendance. The hearing was called to examine the singer’s finances, mental health, personal life and psychological outlook in detail.
Courts grant Britney Spears’ father wish to make singer’s conservatorship strictly a private matter in a blow to the Free Britney Spears movement.
Since 2008, Spears became entangled in a conservatorship following her public breakdown – serving as a flashpoint for her loved ones to intervene and have Jamie be in control of the musician’s finances.
Over the years, the “#FreeBritney” movement has often raised pointed concerns over the pop star’s well-being. The movement reached a fever pitch last year when Spears’ Las Vegas residency was put on indefinite hold, causing many to object to the continued restrictions on her life.
The saga has vastly happened behind closed doors, and it appears that Jamie is seeking to keep it that way. He originally lodged the request March 12 to make the matter strictly private and had it granted by the courts during Wednesday’s proceedings.
Courts granted “the motion to seal the transcript, conditionally seal the Status Report filed pending a further motion, and the motion to clear and close the courtroom”, court documents said.
Outside court doors, and about a dozen “Free Britney” supporters, some even travelling out of state, buttressed signs and placards calling for the singer’s conservatorship to be ended or to “Jail Jamie”. All wore face masks, many painted with the tagline.
(Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Some have called for Spears to have her own legal representation, with a Change.org petition tallying nearly 230,000 signatures at the time of writing.
Why is the star under a conservatorship?
Spears’ career saw a dramatic shift around 2007 and 2008 as she became roiled by alcohol, drugs and a rash of erratic behaviour – psychiatric evaluations ensued.
This ultimately led to courts handing down a conservatorship order, known as a guardianship in some states, which is usually done for those courts deem unable to take care of themselves. As a result, Spears’ father was placed as primary conservator.
(Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Jamie has been in charge of Spears’ finances and overall physical and mental health since then. He was, until recently, joined by lawyer Andrew Wallet in being co-conservators.
While Spears requested for judges to consider ending her conservatorship in 2019, her petition to end the conservatorship was dealt a blow last week as the court authorised Jodi Montgomery, her manager, to remain as conservator until August 22.
Montgomery handles Spears’ personal affairs, acting as her care manager.
