The “Free Britney” movement has apparently failed after a Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Wednesday struck down Britney Spears’ request to remove her father, Jamie Spears, from the financial aspects of her conservatorship.
The singer had stated in sworn testimony that she is being held as a “prisoner” by her father James P. Spears who controls all aspects of her life. The case was closely watched by patients’ rights and groups that serve at-risk individuals who work to prevent abuse.
“The conservatee’s request to suspend immediately upon the appointment of Bessemer Trust Company of California as sole conservator of estate is denied without prejudice,” court filings read.
The pop singer’s attorney, Samuel Ingham, first filed the request to remove the father from his role overseeing Britney’s conservatorship in November last year, saying that she refused to perform if he remained in control of her career. Judge Brenda Penny “denied with prejudice” the request.
At that time, the judge declined to suspend her father from the conservatorship, though she did not rule out future petitions for his removal or suspension. Also, at that time, the judge appointed financial company Bessemer Trust as a co-conservator.
The latest paperwork was solely intended for the judge to approve Bessemer Trust as the co-conservator but also reiterates the judge’s decision to not remove the elder Spears from the pop star’s conservatorship.
It comes after the 39-year-old singer last week gave testimony in which she claimed the conservatorship was so “abusive,” she wanted to “sue her family.” In her statement, Spears claimed she was being “bullied” and exploited by the conservatorship and by her father.
Spears, in her remarks to court last week, called her father controlling. “He loved every minute of it, the control he had. He loved it,” she said.
“I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive,” Spears said. “I don’t feel like I can live a full life.”
Spears’ father has been her co-conservator since 2008, when the singer suffered a breakdown. He became sole conservator in 2019 after attorney Andrew Wallet resigned from co-conservatorship.
A movement has grown to include millions of individuals around the world who want Britney “liberated” and who claim that the performer’s abuse is clearly evident by comments she makes in cryptic video statements.
–Wire services
