Britney Spears finally gets her day in court
We bet she has a lot to get off her chest
‘Britney wants to address the court directly’
Since it hit the headlines again last year, many people have expressed their thoughts and feelings about Britney Spears’ infamous conservatorship – and it seems everyone has an opinion. But there is one person who’s remained deafeningly silent: the singer herself. Over the past 13 years, Britney hasn’t had any control whatsoever over her personal and professional life, following her highly publicised breakdown in 2008. And along the way, she’s also lost her voice, instead having her wishes and requests expressed by her legal team, while fans have tried to decipher “hidden” messages in her Instagram posts. But last week, the 39 year old took a mighty step towards reclaiming some independence, after her lawyer Samuel Ingham told a court, “Britney wants to address the court directly.” Judge Brenda Penny then scheduled a hearing for 23 June, which will allow the singer to finally speak about the status of her conservatorship.
As heat has told you, Britney has recently been more hopeful than ever that she’ll finally gain some more freedom, following the recent renewed wave of interest into her life. Earlier this year, the explosive documentary Framing Britney Spears contained some eye-opening revelations about the legal arrangement. Her father Jamie has been in charge of her estate since 2008, despite Britney repeatedly asking a court to appoint someone else, and even refusing to work until her dad relinquished control over her career. In December, a judge appointed a financial company as coconservators, and also put Britney’s preferred choice – care professional Jodi Montgomery – in charge of her daily activities.
But Jamie still has a hand in her finances and insiders say Britney wants him fully cut out.
The powerful documentary sparked worldwide frenzy, with celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Bette Midler posting the #Freebritney hashtag – as fans raised their voices and called for her “release”. At the same time, Sam Asghari, Brit’s boyfriend of five years, slammed Jamie, calling him a “total dick” who was trying to control their relationship.
This week sees another shocking documentary. The Britney Battle: Searching For Truth (airing Wednesday 5 May on BBC2) is again putting the spotlight on her complicated situation, with reporter Mobeen Ashar looking into the conservatorship and #Freebritney movement.
But despite all the vocal interest in Britney’s situation, she’s never had the chance to comment on it herself – the closest she got was an Instagram post in February, when she told fans, “Remember, no matter what we think we know about a person’s life, it is nothing compared to the actual person living behind the lens.” Now, the world is anxiously waiting for 23 June, when Britney will at last have the chance to speak her truth.