Britney Spears has finally addressed a courtroom in Los Angeles regarding the conservatorship she has been under since 2008, calling it “abusive” and saying she wishes for it to be terminated without evaluation.
Details of Spears’ testimony have begun to emerge, with the pop star saying she has not been permitted to choose her own attorney in the battle to end her conservatorship.
“I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive. There are thousands of abusive conservatorships,” Spears told the court remotely in a passionate 20-minute speech. “I want to end the conservatorship without being evaluated. I want to petition to end the conservatorship.”
Spears addressed her recent social media posts during her address, saying they were untrue. “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 traumatised,” Spears told the court, People reports. “I’m not happy. I can’t sleep. I’m depressed. I cry every day.”
Spears also claimed her conservators will not permit her to go to a doctor to get an IUD removed, preventing her from having a baby. “I want to be able to get married and have a baby. I was told with the conservatorship I was not able to get married and have a baby,” Spears said. The Free Britney LA Instagram account has a video which contains audio of the proceedings.
Spears’ father Jamie has had control over the singer’s finances and career since 2008, stepping away temporarily in 2019 due to health reasons. Britney last attempted to have him removed permanently in August last year. Back in March, Ingham filed a petition on Spears’ behalf to have her father permanently removed as her conservator.
Spears’ longstanding conservatorship received renewed attention earlier this year with the release of the documentary Framing Britney Spears, which, along with the conservatorship, focused on her career and intense media scrutiny, reigniting interest in her case and the #FreeBritney movement.
Earlier this week, confidential court documents obtained by the New York Times suggested Britney has been pushing for an end to her conservatorship from as early as 2014.
Many of Spears’ peers have voiced their support for the singer today, including Mariah Carey, who tweeted, “We love you Britney!!! Stay strong.”
