Britney Spears Makes Rare Public Statement in Court, Is Met With Love and Support
Britney Spears publicly addressed judge Brenda Penny in a Los Angeles court on June 23, asking for an end to her 13-year conservatorship. During this time, Spears was living under the financial control of her father, Jamie Spears. In a 24-minute statement to the court, the 39-year-old pop star shared her story with the world.
Been saying it for years. FREE BRITNEY. I can’t believe this legal hostage situation. Poor kid was just talented. Two decades of punishment from tabloids and her own team, are not survivable. She’s so strong for withstanding this. We love you Britney! https://t.co/s2i9Q666kC
— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) June 24, 2021
For years, the world watched as Spears stayed silent, posting cryptic videos and concerning messages over social media. Finally, the documentary Framing Britney shed light on her traumatizing conservatorship while activists and fans spread #FreeBritney across the internet. This was all speculation – until Spears’s testimony.
“I’ve lied and told the whole world, “I’m OK, and I’m happy.” It’s a lie. I am traumatized,” Spears said in her statement, according to Variety. “But now I’m telling you the truth, OK? I’m not happy. I can’t sleep. I’m so angry it’s insane. And I’m depressed. I cry every day.”
LET’S MAKE HER VOICE BE HEARD THIS TIME! LET’S GET THEM TO DO SOMETHING! #FreeBritney
— venus 🌹 #FreeBritney (@aceofspears) June 24, 2021
According to the testimony, Spears has an IUD in place to prevent her from having more children. Under the conservatorship, she is unable to have it removed. The contract left her with a loss of medical control, and she was put on lithium without her consent – and her father was “all for it.” Additionally, she shared about being forced to work on tour. If she refused, her own team could sue.
“[My manager] handed me a sheet of paper as I got off the stage in Vegas and said I had to sign it. It was very threatening and scary. And with the conservatorship, I couldn’t even get my own attorney. So out of fear, I went ahead and I did the tour,” Spears said in her statement, according to Variety.
Sending Britney Spears all the love in the world 💕#FreeBritney pic.twitter.com/3pZh2LJRYM
— MEFeater Magazine (@mefeater) June 24, 2021
After being silenced for many years, Spears’s voice is finally being heard. According to Billboard, nearly one million tweets related to ‘Britney Spears‘ were shared in the last 24 hours and over 500,000 messages were sent using #FreeBritney. Fans and fellow celebrities such as Mariah Carey and Justin Timberlake are commending Spears for speaking.
After what we saw today, we should all be supporting Britney at this time.
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 24, 2021
Regardless of our past, good and bad, and no matter how long ago it was… what’s happening to her is just not right.
No woman should ever be restricted from making decisions about her own body.
We love you Britney!!! Stay strong ❤️❤️❤️
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) June 23, 2021
Bless Britney and I hope with my whole heart she is awarded freedom from this abusive system. She deserves it more than anything. I admire her courage speaking up for herself today.
— h (@halsey) June 23, 2021
“I deserve to have the same rights as anybody does, by having a child, a family, any of those things, and more so,” Spears said in her closing statement.
You can find a full transcript from the hearing at Variety.
Writer | @IlanaDavis24
