Days after LA County Superior Court judge Brenda Penny terminated the conservatorship Britney Spears has been under for the past 13 years, the singer wasted no time in taking to social media to share her plans for the future.
Clearly relieved and excited to no longer be under the control of her father Jamie Spears, the extent of whose entrenchment in his daughter's life shocked her fans when details began emerging this summer, the singer aged 39 indicated she would like to become an advocate for people in a similar situation to her.
The Grammy Award-winner shied away from announcing any new music projects in favour of focusing on the “little things” she can now do day-to-day without requiring permission from her father or other conservators.
“It’s really a long time to be in a situation you don’t want to be in,” Spears explained in an Instagram video. “So, I’m just grateful, honestly, for each day and being able to have the keys to my car, being able to be independent and feel like a woman, and owning an ATM card, seeing cash for the first time, being able to buy candles. It’s the little things for us women but it makes a huge difference.”
A sit down tell-all with Oprah Winfrey
Following in the footsteps of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and Adele, Spears announced that she wanted to sit down with Oprah Winfrey for what would surely be an explosive interview.
“I might as well do a hint of my thoughts on the gram before I go and set things square on @Oprah! I mean who knows,” she captioned her Instagram video. She added: “Honestly it still blows my mind every day I wake up how my family and the conservatorship were able to do what they did to me… it was demoralising and degrading!”
While the interview has yet to be confirmed, it’s unlikely the former chat show host would turn down the chance to talk to the singer about what her life has been like for the past 13 years.
Advocating changes in conservatorship law
Spears has been publicly sharing her experience of being under the strict control of her father. She has also accused her mother, Lynne and her former business manager, Lou Taylor of being instrumental in having “ruined my life”.
In a since deleted post, Spears wrote: “My dad may have started the conservatorship 13 years ago… but what people don’t know is that my mom is the one who gave him the idea!”
The Baby One More Time singer has also spoken about how she hopes her story will “make an impact and make some changes” in current conservatorship law.
Insisting she was “not here to be a victim”, Spears said she hoped some good would come of her lived experience.
“I’m here to be an advocate for people with real disabilities and real illnesses,” she said. “I’m a very strong woman, so I can only imagine what the system has done to those people. So hopefully my story will make an impact and make some changes in the corrupt system.”
'I want to be able to get married and have a baby'
One of the most controversial aspects of the conservatorship was the alleged removal of Spears’s agency over her own body.
In her testimony in September, Spears told the court that those whose control she was under would not allow her to remove her IUD implant which prevents pregnancy.
“I want to be able to get married and have a baby,” she said. “I was told right now in the conservatorship I am not able to get married or have a baby.” About why she wanted her birth control removed, she said: “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.
"I feel ganged up, I felt left out and I feel alone,” she said. “I deserve to have the same rights as anyone does by having a child and a family. Any of those things."
Now engaged to her fitness trainer-turned-actor fiance Sam Asghari, Spears, who shares two sons, Sean Preston, 16, and Jayden James, 15, with ex-husband Kevin Federline, took to Instagram to share her family plans.
“I’m thinking about having another baby!” she captioned a black-and-white image of a pair of adult and child’s feet “I wonder if this one is a girl. She’s on her toes reaching for something … that’s for sure."
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Supporters of singer Britney Spears celebrate outside the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles as Spears's conservatorship is terminated. Reuters -
Britney Spears supporter Phoebe Price and her dog Henry take pictures next to a 'Free Britney' Christmas tree set by fans outside the courthouse. AP -
For the first time in 13 years, Britney Spears will be able to choose how she spends her fortune, estimated to be worth more than $60 million. AP -
Confetti falls on Britney Spears supporters outside the courthouse. AP -
Spears supporters march on Grand Avenue during the hearing. AP -
Under the conservatorship imposed since 2008, Spears had no control over her how she spent her money, when she performed, who had access to her house and even what medications she should take. AP -
Spears herself posted an Instagram with the #FreedBritney hashtag shortly after the court decision. 'Good God, I love my fans so much it's crazy,' she said. AP -
New Jersey performer and Britney Spears supporter Brennyboombox cheers Matthew Rosengart, Britney Spears's lawyer, as they celebrate outside the courthouse. AP -
Matthew Rosengart, Britney Spears's lawyer,, talks to the media after the hearing. AP -
'Effective today, the conservatorship of the person and the estate of Britney Jean Spears is hereby terminated,' Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny said after a 30-minute hearing in which no one opposed ending the court-sanctioned arrangement. AP -
Britney Spears supporter Felipe Servat, from Brazil, reacts with the the crowd as they celebrate. AP -
The conservatorship was set up and overseen by Britney's father, Jamie Spears, after she had a public breakdown in 2007 and was hospitalised for undisclosed mental health issues. AP -
Lauriann Wright, the lawyer for Jodi Montgomery, who had been entrusted with overseeing Spears's personal life, told the judge there was 'no reason this termination cannot happen and Ms Spears cannot live a safe, happy and fulfilling life'. AP -
Spears's case helped prompt hearings in the US Congress and a new law in California aimed at preventing abusive conservatorships, which are normally set up to protect disabled people, the elderly or those suffering from dementia. AP -
In June, Spears told the court she had been humiliated and traumatised and that she wanted her life back. EPA -
Spears's lawyer Rosengart said a 'safety net' had been put in place to help Spears transition back to regular life. AP -
Since revealing years of private anguish in tearful testimony in June, Spears hired Rosengart, who moved aggressively to end the restrictions. AP -
Filipe Servat and Lindsey Fairchild embrace upon hearing the news that Britney Spears's conservatorship has been terminated. EPA -
Spears's lawyer Rosengart is pushing for Jamie Spears to be investigated for possible financial mismanagement of his daughter's affairs, but he said on Friday it would be up to Britney Spears to decide how to proceed on that matter. EPA -
Spears had said she had been forced to work and take medication against her will and was prevented from marrying or even getting her hair done. AFP -
A Britney Spears doll sits atop a 'Free Britney' Christmas tree during a rally outside the courthouse. EPA -
Lexi Tonniges and Lauren Grundmann are joined by other dancers as they perform on a stage outside the LA courthouse. EPA -
Jamie Spears has said through lawyers that he helped his daughter rehabilitate her career and always acted in her best interest. AFP -
Jubilation erupted outside the courthouse, with fans cheering and shouting after the decision was announced. The crowd chanted 'Britney! Britney! Britney!' and fans sang and danced to Spears’ song 'Stronger'. Reuters -
The judge’s move was widely expected, with little support left for prolonging the legal arrangement. No new arguments were offered at the 30-minute hearing. Spears did not attend. Reuters -
Spears’s lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, told fans and reporters that the case 'helped shine a light on conservatorships and guardianships from coast to coast, from California to New York. And that took a tremendous amount of insight, courage and grace'. Reuters -
Supporters decorate a pink Christmas tree outside the courthouse. Reuters -
Alexandra Foertschbeck holds a 'Free Britney' flag during at the rally. EPA -
Twins Edward and John Grimes of Dublin, Ireland, with a 'Free Britney' flag outside the courthouse. AP -
Supporter Rafael Lopez, of Tijuana, Mexico, waves a 'Free Britney' flag. AP
