Life of Daniel
Written by Daniel Meyers Published April 5, 2021
Singer Britney Spears, 39, has been under the control of a conservatorship for more than 12 years now. As a result of Spears’ highly publicized personal struggles, the conservatorship was put in place at the end of 2008, with in father in control. However, where is the concern for Spears’ health when it comes to producing albums, and consequently making money for those who oversee her finances?
A conservator, in the context of Spears’ situation, is defined as “a person, official, or institution designed to protect the interests of an incompetent.” Since being placed in the conservatorship, Spears has released four albums: Circus (2008) shortly after being placed in the conservatorship, Femme Fatale (2011), Britney Jean (2013), and her most recent record to date, Glory (2016).
In a court hearing that took place on Wednesday, Mar. 17, Spears’ lawyer, Sam Ingham, said he would file a petition to name Jordi Montgomery Spears’ permanent conservator of person. Montgomery holds the role now in a temporary position, due to her father having to step down from the role due to health reasons in early 2019.
Spears’ father, Jamie Spears, remains the conservator of her estate. However, after a court ruling in February, he will now share the responsibility with an independent financial institution.
Jamie Spears filed for the conservatorship in late January 2008. Spears’ fans and others close to her have been advocating for her release from the conservatorship.
The Free Britney Movement has impacted students at Suffolk County Community College, which is telling of Spears’ impact on youth. For 23-year-old SCCC student Allison Yvette Asimbaya, a Journalism major, Free Britney signifies “freedom.”
Free Britney connects to Asimbaya on a personal level, also. “I grew up in a rather strict household. I can relate with her about the ambition to obtain freedom and independence. I am glad this movement is gaining traction and I hope that she is granted her freedom,” Assimbaya said.
Another SCCC student, 37-year-old physical education major Amanda Picone, who is in her last year at SCCC and graduating in May, feels passionately about the Free Britney Movement.
“I’ve been a fan of Britney since the days of the Mickey Mouse Club. She’s been through a lot, and it seems that she’s truly unhappy in present situation. After watching the infamous documentary, I believe Britney is surrounded by controlling, narcissistic men, and she’s clearly trying to escape that by repeatedly requesting her father be removed as conservator,” Picone said.
“To me, it’s about helping her escape the control she’s been forced under, which is clearly not helping her mental illness. It’s also about showing support for victims of narcissistic and psychological abuse,” Picone said.
“I just truly believe that everyone deserves a chance to be happy. She’s brought joy to so many people through her music, and currently feels trapped and unable to express herself as she desires,” Picone said.
Felicia Culotta, Spears’ friend and former assistant, said in the documentary, “I will say, the one reason that I agreed to do the interview, is so we could remind people of why they fell in love with her in the first place.”
Cullotta was later interviewed about changes that took place after the conservatorship, stating that her role changed. Instead of being Spears’ assistant, she became the backstage manager during her circus tour, hired by the touring company instead of Spears’ management, which her father was now involved in.
Cullotta also noticed Spears had less control with her new management. “I just don’t know if they knew her well enough to know her capability in making decisions,” Cullotta said.
Despite Spears’ current situation, Cullotta has hope that Spears will be free one day. “I know at some point, she will tell her story. I know she will. And I am so grateful for when that point comes. That she is able to sit down and, you know. Everything will fall into place,” Cullotta said.
Former Senior Director of Marketing at Jive Records from 1998-2004, Kim Kaiman, recalled Spears’ family supporting her during the beginning of her career.
“Her mother would do whatever it took personally and for the family’s sake for Britney to be a star. Lynne supported Britney. I want to say Lynne because I never talked to her father. The only thing Jamie ever said to me was “My daughter’s gonna be so rich, she’s gonna buy me a boat.”
Kaiman concluded, “That’s all I’m gonna say about Jamie.”
Lynne Spears, Spears’ Mother, could not be reached for the Framing Britney Spears documentary. However, footage from a 2007 interview where Spears’ talks about her daughter’s troubles was included in the documentary.
“It was so crazy at the time, I don’t think anybody was even trying to sit and think “what was going on” we were just trying to think what we could do at that moment at that time, and we were praying very hard because it seemed like we had no control over anything that was happening.”
Unsurprisingly, Spears’ father, Jamie Spears, could not be reached for comment in Framing Britney Spears. Even less surprising, what little information The New York Times was able to find of him talking about the movement made his position crystal clear: “All these conspiracy theorists don’t know anything.”
An Insider’s Perspective
Spears’ Impact on Youth
Family Perspective
From other Celebrities
Entertainer Paris Hilton can relate to what Spears is going through more than anyone. “I love her so much, and I just, I feel if you’re an adult you should be able to live your life, and not be controlled. And I think maybe that stems from me being controlled so much so I can understand how that would feel.”
Leanne Simmons, a Free Britney activist, agreed to be interviewed for Framing Britney Spears. Simmons was asked about what she thinks about people who are close to Spears, who say that the movement is bogus, and Spears is fine.
“Yeah, you hear enough of that and you do start to question, 'Maybe I’m delusional, maybe I don’t know, I should just listen to the people who know her.” But then when you, you start to connect the dots, and you start to talk to other people who have the exact same thoughts, that this isn’t right.”
Babs Gray, one of the hosts of the podcast Britney’s Gram, gave a quite compelling interview for Framing Britney Spears. Gray read a petition about Spears’ co-conservator, Andrew Wallet, asking for a raise.
“The Conservatee’s business activities have greatly accelerated due to her increased well-being and her capability to be more engaged in furthering her career activities. The next several years promise to be very lucrative for the conservatorship estate,” Wallet wrote.
“This conservatorship should be viewed more as a hybrid business model,” Gray said. “Which, I think that is probably the first time that has ever been said, about a conservatorship,” Gray continued.
Kevin Wu, another Free Britney activist, highlighted the qualities of Spears that make her so relatable to her fans.
“The image of Britney we were sold when she first hit the scene was this perfect, all American girl next door, but a lot of fans, are, you know, not that. They were people, like myself, who felt like they didn’t fit in, and I think there was some wanting to aspire to that image.”
Wu concluded: “We know now, that, Britney wasn’t perfect. Britney had to navigate being told who she could be and what she could do. I think that story of control and identity really resonates.”
From the Fans
