Singer Britney Spears has gotten media attention recently over the controversial conservatorship her father, Jamie Spears, has over her.  

This conservatorship started in February of 2008 following the star’s public breakdown.  The conservatorship has given Jamie Spears control over his daughter’s career and personal life for the last 13 years. She needed permission from Jamie to sign contracts, tour, leave her house or even spend any of her money.  The arrangement was made so that Britney was no longer her own person. 

The conservatorship set-up was framed as a way of helping Britney, but in reality it completely stripped her of her agency and identity. Though the hashtag #FreeBritney has made a resurgence through social media in the last few months, the movement has been around since 2009. 

The website FreeBritney.net was launched in 2009 and tried to shed light about the conditions that the pop star was placed under through the conservatorship.  Unfortunately, however, the #FreeBritney movement did not gain traction until earlier this year through various forms of social media. When Britney created a Tik Tok account her fans were left wondering if she was safe. 

The first troubling video consisted of Britney walking in and out of the frame while holding a bouquet of flowers with a blank expression.  Some claimed that Britney wearing a yellow shirt was a cry for help, as a comment on a previous video asked her to wear yellow if she was in danger. After this went viral, the knowledge of her conservatorship, and what exactly it meant for Britney spread. 

In August of 2021, after pressure from all sides, Jamie Spears gave up his conservatorship rights over Britney to Jodi Montgomery, who now manages Britney’s affairs.  Britney’s lawyers have considered this a win for the pop star. 

Personally, I do believe that Jamie Spears took his power over his daughter too far and was doing her more harm than good.  I am glad to hear that he is no longer her conservator and I hope that this will help Britney in the long run. 

Article by Marissa Mayfield