Britney Spears seems to acknowledge #FreeBritney movement, wants to make conservatorship battle public, new filing shows
Britney Spears has opposed her father's request to have the legal proceedings related to her conservatorship sealed.
In a court document filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, Britney Spears' attorney argued that the pop star is "vehemently opposed" to keeping her "legal struggle hidden away as a family secret."
Britney Spears, who has been under a legal conservatorship for more than a decade, is currently at odds with her father, James "Jamie" Spears, over who should control her personal affairs and finances.
A campaign, #FreeBritney, has regained momentum since last year, with fans arguing that the singer should have control over her own life -- and it seems she has acknowledged the group.
"Britney's conservatorship has attracted an unprecedented level of scrutiny from mainstream media and social media alike. Far from being a conspiracy theory or a 'joke' as James reportedly told the media, in large part this scrutiny is a reasonable and even predictable result of James' aggressive use of the sealing procedure over the years to minimize the amount of meaningful information made available to the public," the star's latest filing reads. "Transparency is an essential component in order for this Court to earn and retain the public's confidence with respect to protective proceedings like this one. In this case, it is not an exaggeration to say that the whole world is watching."
Last month, a judge extended the current terms of Britney Spears' conservatorship until next year. Jodi Pais Montgomery was appointed to serve as conservator in place of the singer's' father last September, and Britney Spears petitioned for Montgomery to be permanently placed in charge of her personal affairs. Britney Spears' attorney also asked the court to permanently allow a "qualified corporate fiduciary" to preside over the singer's estate instead of her father, who currently serves as her sole financial conservator.
Earlier this week, in a separate court document, Britney Spears' attorney called the conservatorship "voluntary," according to the Los Angeles Times. The newspaper reported that the singer clarified that she'd like Bessemer Trust, a private financial company, to oversee her estate.
However, Jamie Spears, who was named as his daughter's conservator in 2008, has requested that attorney Andrew M. Wallet be reappointed as co-conservator of her person and estate, according to the Los Angeles Times. Wallet, who reportedly consented to serve as co-conservator, worked alongside Jamie Spears in the role from 2009 until last year. The newspaper reported that Wallet had said his resignation was necessary, as Britney Spears would suffer "substantial detriment, irreparable harm and immediate danger" otherwise.
Britney Spears' attorney stated in court documents filed in August that the singer's needs have changed since her conservatorship began. Phase one of the conservatorship was considered "triage," in which her conservators "rescued her from a collapse, exploitation by predatory individuals and financial ruin," according to the filing.
Phase two involved her return to performing, the documents state, noting that over the past several years, the 38-year-old singer was able to "regain her position as a world-class entertainer." However, early last year, she announced she was going on an "indefinite work hiatus."
"The third phase of the conservatorship reflects Britney's stated desire not to perform at this time," the documents state. "The conservatorship must be changed substantially in order to reflect the major changes in her current lifestyle and her stated wishes."
