By Britney Spears made headlines yesterday when she appeared before the court and asked the judge to remove her father from her conservatorship, which she referred to as “abusive.” The situation prevents the famed pop star from taking control of her personal life and finances, despite having accumulated a massive fortune after years of performing around the world.
The case has received renewed interest and attention in recent months. Spears was once the butt of jokes for her seemingly unhinged behavior, but a new documentary and media coverage paints her as a victim of an abusive system.
During yesterday’s hearing, the most shocking moment came when Spears alleged that she has been forced to wear an IUD that prevents her from having a baby. It’s just one of the ways she’s lost control of her life. Here’s what we know so far:
Forced Contraception
Spears, 39, hasn’t spoken publicly about her conservatorship – until now. According to the California legal system, a person is placed in a conservatorship if they are deemed unfit to look after themselves. In this case, Spears’ conservatorship was created in 2008 and is supervised by her father, Jamie Spears. The pop star asked the court to dissolve the conservatorship last year, but the request was denied. Instead, the judge assigned a financial group known as Bessemer Trust Co. to oversee the conservatorship, along with Spears’ father.
In court yesterday, Spears made it clear that she no longer wants her father – or anyone else – in control of her finances and personal life, or her own body.
“I want to be able to get married and have a baby. I was told I’m not able to get married,” Spears said in court. “I have an IUD inside me, so I won’t get pregnant, but this so-called team won’t let me go to the doctor to take it out.”
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) must be placed or removed by a qualified healthcare provider.
Spears told the court that she wants the birth control device removed, so “I could start trying to have another baby, but this so-called team won’t let me go to the doctor to take it out because they don’t want me to have children, any more children.”
She is currently dating model Sam Ashgari. He admitted that he can’t even drive Spears around due to the rules imposed by the conservatorship. “I have zero respect for someone trying to control our relationship and constantly throwing obstacles our way,” he commented to a reporter.
Records show her father was in control of her medical care up until 2019 when he voluntarily stepped down from the position. He was replaced by a licensed care manager named Jodi Montgomery. Her father admits that he’s not “the perfect dad” but that everything he’s done was in his daughter’s “best interest.” He believes the conservatorship should continue to protect his daughter’s $50 million fortune from fraud and manipulation.
Spears also alleged that her conservators forced her to take lithium in 2019, which is often prescribed to patients with bi-polar disorder. The singer said the drug made her feel “drunk.”
“I couldn’t even have a conversation with my mom or dad really about anything,” she said. “There were six different nurses in my home, and they wouldn’t let me get in my car to go anywhere for a month.”
Spears admitted to being depressed and crying every day. “They have me going to therapy three times a week and to a psychiatrist. This conservatorship is doing me way more harm than good,” Spears added. “I deserve to have a life.”
Standing Up for Spears
The performer has always had a loyal legion of followers, but yesterday’s hearing propelled Spears to new heights in the public eye. Millions of supporters and healthcare providers rallied to her cause after hearing what she had to say about her experiences in court.
After the hearing, Alexis McGill, president of Planned Parenthood, tweeted, “We stand in solidarity with Britney and all women who face reproductive coercion. Your reproductive health is your own — and no one should make decisions about it for you,” with the hashtag #FreeBritney.
Towards the end of the hearing, the judge told Spears that if she wants the conservatorship to end, her legal team will need to petition the court. She will also need to prove mental competency.
