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Free Britney movement

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The correct title of this article is #FreeBritney movement. The omission of the # is due to technical restrictions.

Spears performing at the 2016 Apple Music Festival

The Free Britney (or #FreeBritney) movement is an online social movement to grant American singer Britney Spears autonomy from her ongoing conservatorship, which began in 2008.[1] The movement became popular in 2019, after the emergence of allegations involving Spears's time in a psychiatric facility early in the year.

Background

In 2008, American singer Britney Spears was placed on a three-day psychiatric hold two separate times.[2] At the time, she had been experiencing conflicts in her personal life, including her divorce from Kevin Federline, shaving her head, attacking paparazzi, and losing custody of her two sons with Federline.[3] Following the second hold, Spears's father, James "Jamie", filed a petition to institute a temporary conservatorship of Spears, which was made permanent that same year.[2] Jamie acted as the conservator of Spears's personal affairs as well as co-conservator of her finances alongside Andrew Wallet, who held the position starting in 2009.[2][4]

Under the conservatorship, Spears has released four studio albums, with two–Circus (2008) and Femme Fatale (2011)–earning platinum certification.[5] She was also a judge on the second season of the reality competition series The X Factor in 2012.[6] From 2013 to 2017, Spears performed in a concert residency, called Britney: Piece of Me, in Las Vegas.[7] The residency grossed over $137 million.[8] In 2018, Spears's sister, Jamie Lynn, became the trustee of her estate.[4] Jamie suffered a colon rupture that same year.[9] While Spears was originally scheduled to begin her second Las Vegas residency in 2019, the singer announced a hiatus that included the cancellation of the residency in January 2019 due to Jamie's health problems.[7] In March, Wallet resigned from his position as co-conservator after 11 years.[10] Due to stress from Jamie's afflictions, Spears went in to a mental health facility that same month.[11]

Inception and outcome

In April 2019, a Spears-centered podcast titled Britney's Gram released a voicemail from an anonymous source claiming to be a former member of Spears's legal team; the source alleged that the planned second residency had been canceled by Jamie due to Spears refusing to take her medication, that Spears had been involuntarily held in the facility since January after violating a rule that banned her from driving, and that the conservatorship was originally supposed to end in 2009.[12][13] Following the podcast episode, a movement to cease the conservatorship, dubbed #FreeBritney, began.[14] Fans held a protest in front of the West Hollywood City Hall and called for Spears's release from the psychiatric facility on April 22.[11] Spears reassured her fans of her well-being days later and departed the facility later in the month.[15][16] In May, Brenda Penny, the presiding judge over the case, ordered an "expert evaluation" of the conservatorship during a hearing.[17] In September, Federline was granted a restraining order against Jamie following an alleged physical dispute between Jamie and one of his and Spears's sons.[18] Spears's care manager, Jodi Montgomery, replaced Jamie as her conservator on a temporary basis that same month.[19]

On August 17, 2020, Samuel D. Ingham III, Spears's court-appointed lawyer, communicated Spears's desire to alter the conservatorship to reflect her wishes and lifestyle to the court, which included permanently instating Montgomery as her conservator and replacing Jamie with a fiduciary as her business affairs' conservator.[20] Penny extended the ongoing arrangement until February 2021 later that month.[21] In November 2020, Penny approved the family office Bessemer Trust to oversee Spears's estate alongside Jamie.[22] A documentary that chronicled Spears's conservatorship as part of her career, titled Framing Britney Spears, premiered in February 2021.[23] Spears later said she "cried for two weeks" and that she was humiliated by her depiction after seeing parts of the documentary.[24] The New York Times published an article in June 2021 that stated that the singer had privately striven to end the conservatorship for years.[25]

Spears addressed the court on June 23, 2021, speaking about experiencing trauma and describing the conservatorship as "abusive".[26] She also expressed her wishes to choose her own legal counsel as well as to marry and have a child while asking Penny to terminate the conservatorship without evaluation.[27][28] Later that month, Jamie asked the court to investigate Spears's claims of abuse.[29] In the same week, Bessemer Trust, which had not acted as Spears's estate's co-conservator after the court's approval, requested to withdraw from the role due to her objection to the conservatorship.[30]

Public response

From 2019 to 2020, the #FreeBritney movement garnered support from several celebrities, including singers Cher and Miley Cyrus and media personality Paris Hilton.[31][32][33] The nonprofit organization American Civil Liberties Union pledged to aid Spears in terminating the conservatorship should she request to do so.[34] In July 2020, Spears's brother, Bryan, said the conservatorship had been beneficial for their family.[35] The following month, Jamie labeled the movement "a joke" and its coordinators "conspiracy theorists".[36]

After Spears's court address in June 2021, more public figures, including singers Mariah Carey and Brandy Norwood and actress Rose McGowan, publicly supported Spears's call to end the conservatorship.[37] Singers Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera, the former of whom is Spears's former boyfriend, also voiced their support.[38][39] Jamie Lynn later stated that she had stood behind Spears privately and that she was "very proud" that Spears had called for the conservatorship's termination.[40] Rapper Iggy Azalea, who collaborated with Spears in 2015, wrote she had "personally witnessed the same behavior" from Jamie that Spears said she had received.[41]

The following month, US Representatives Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Burgess Owens, and Andy Biggs invited Spears to testify about her conservatorship in front of the US Congress.[42] Citing Spears's case, US Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bob Casey Jr. called for the US Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Justice to provide them data on conservatorships so they could make policy-related recommendations for the system.[43]

References

  1. ^ "Britney Spears: Singer's conservatorship case explained". BBC News. June 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Newberry, Laura (September 18, 2019). "Free Britney: Britney Spears' conservatorship explained". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  3. ^ Serjean, Jill (February 1, 2008). "Britney Spears on psychiatric hold in hospital". Reuters. Archived from the original on August 25, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Winton, Richard (August 25, 2020). "Britney Spears' sister makes move to control pop star's assets". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  5. ^ Tsioulcas, Anastasia (June 23, 2021). "Britney Spears Is Headed To Court To Address Her Conservatorship. Here's What To Know". NPR. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  6. ^ Blay, Zeba (December 18, 2012). "The 'X Factor' USA finale duet partners revealed". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Michallon, Clémence (January 4, 2019). "Britney Spears cancels Domination Las Vegas residency and goes on 'indefinite work hiatus'". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  8. ^ Allen, Bob (January 23, 2018). "Britney Spears' Piece of Me Vegas Residency Final Figures: 248 Shows, 916,184 Tickets Sold, $137.7M Earned". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  9. ^ Savage, Mark (September 10, 2019). "Britney Spears' father steps down as conservator". BBC News. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  10. ^ Chung, Gabrielle (August 20, 2020). "Britney Spears' Father Jamie Calls on Court to Reappoint Co-Conservator Who Resigned in 2019". People. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Britney Spears' Fans Demand Release of Pop Star from Psychiatric Facility". Variety. April 22, 2019. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  12. ^ Gutowitz, Jill (April 24, 2019). "All Your Questions About Britney Spears's Latest Mental-Health Crisis, Answered". Vulture. Archived from the original on April 25, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  13. ^ Martinelli, Marissa (April 24, 2019). "Why Did Britney Spears Have to Confirm She's Not Being Held Hostage?". Slate. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  14. ^ Jacobs, Julia (May 17, 2019). "What Is Actually Happening With Britney Spears?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  15. ^ "Britney Spears tells fans 'all is well' after #FreeBritney campaign". BBC News. April 24, 2019. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  16. ^ Gonzalez, Sandra (April 26, 2019). "Britney Spears leaves treatment facility". CNN. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  17. ^ "Britney Spears appears in court over conservatorship, judge orders evaluation". USA Today. May 10, 2019. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  18. ^ Dasrath, Diana (September 5, 2019). "Kevin Federline files complaint alleging altercation between his son and Britney Spears' father". NBC News. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  19. ^ D'Zurilla, Christie (September 10, 2019). "Britney Spears' dad, Jamie Spears, is out as her conservator — at least for now". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 4, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  20. ^ Coscarelli, Joe (August 18, 2020). "Britney Spears Seeking Substantial Changes to Conservatorship". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 23, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  21. ^ Coscarelli, Joe (August 21, 2020). "Britney Spears Conservatorship to Remain As Is Until 2021". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 4, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  22. ^ Dalton, Andrew (November 10, 2020). "Lawyer: Britney Spears fears father, wants him out of career". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  23. ^ Grisafi, Patricia (February 5, 2021). "'Framing Britney Spears' on FX shows how the singer gets used for everyone else's purposes". NBC News. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  24. ^ "Britney Spears 'cried for two weeks' over Framing documentary". BBC News. March 31, 2021. Archived from the original on March 31, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  25. ^ Day, Liz; Stark, Samantha; Coscarelli, Joe (June 22, 2021). "Britney Spears Quietly Pushed for Years to End Her Conservatorship". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  26. ^ Melas, Chloe; Rocha, Veronica; Wagner, Meg; Alfonso III, Fernando; Hayes, Mike (June 23, 2021). "Britney Spears asks court to end her conservatorship". CNN. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  27. ^ Baer, Stephanie K. (June 23, 2021). "Britney Spears Asked A Judge To End The Conservatorship That Sparked The #FreeBritney Movement". BuzzFeed News. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  28. ^ Maddaus, Gene (June 23, 2021). "Britney Spears Demands an End to 'Abusive' Conservatorship". Variety. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  29. ^ Levin, Sam (June 30, 2021). "Britney Spears's father asks court to investigate forced labor and treatment allegations". The Guardian. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  30. ^ Day, Liz; Stark, Samantha; Coscarelli, Joe (July 1, 2021). "Company Set to Manage Britney Spears's Estate Asks to Withdraw". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  31. ^ Milton, Josh (September 1, 2020). "Cher sides with Britney Spears as she weighs in on conservatorship". PinkNews. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  32. ^ White, Adam (August 25, 2020). "Paris Hilton 'heartbroken' over Britney Spears conservatorship battle: 'It's not fair to be treated like a child'". The Independent. Archived from the original on October 10, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  33. ^ Willman, Chris (May 6, 2019). "Miley Cyrus Calls to 'Free Britney!' Spears at Memphis Concert". Variety. Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  34. ^ Kirkpatrick, Emily (August 24, 2020). "The ACLU Is Ready to Help Free Britney". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  35. ^ Mizoguchi, Karen (July 23, 2020). "Britney Spears' Brother Speaks Out About Conservatorship: 'She's Always Wanted to Get Out of It'". People. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  36. ^ Kaufman, Amy (August 1, 2020). "Britney Spears' father calls #FreeBritney followers 'conspiracy theorists'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  37. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (June 23, 2021). "Celebrities Support #FreeBritney After Britney Spears Delivers Speech". Variety. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  38. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (June 23, 2021). "Justin Timberlake Voices Support for Britney Spears After She Pleads in Court to End Conservatorship". Variety. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  39. ^ Kilkenny, Katie (June 28, 2021). "Christina Aguilera Supports Britney Spears in Conservatorship Battle". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  40. ^ Madani, Doha (June 29, 2021). "Jamie Lynn Spears says she supports sister Britney Spears amid conservatorship accusations". NBC News. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; June 28, 2021 suggested (help)
  41. ^ Shafer, Ellise (June 30, 2021). "Iggy Azalea Alleges Britney Spears' Father Made Her Sign NDA Before BBMAs Performance". Variety. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  42. ^ Gibson, Brittany (July 1, 2021). "Gaetz invites Britney Spears to testify before Congress". Politico. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  43. ^ Abrams, Abigail (July 1, 2021). "Warren And Casey Want Conservatorship Data Amid Spears Case". Time. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
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