Photo Courtesy of Rolling Stone
A hashtag, a movement and now a reality, the #FreeBritney campaign on social media, as well as Britney Spears herself, received a massive victory when the courts suspended her father, Jamie Spears, as her conservator on Wednesday, Sept. 29. This decision brings an end to the 13-year period in which Jamie Spears had complete control over both Britney’s person and estate.
Britney Spears has made multiple public announcements and legal attempts at speaking out against the conservatorship and specifically her father’s role in it. Although it was Jamie Spears who initially filed the petition to remove himself this go-round, Britney’s legal team immediately filed to concur.
Not only was Jamie Spears removed from his position as conservator but Britney Spears also stated in court that she plans to press charges against him for the abusive behavior she endured as the conservatee. Britney Spears herself has been psychologically evaluated multiple times by the court and her team, and she now intends to have her father’s behavior investigated as well.
Her legal team is hopeful to hold another hearing within the next two months to make the final decision to end the conservatorship altogether.
In the meantime, Britney Spears’ legal team has appointed John Zabel, a public accountant, to be the temporary conservator of her estate. Zabel will preside over her finances for the time being. Britney Spears stated that she wishes Jodi Montgomery, the current conservator of her person, to remain until further notice.
This is the largest milestone that the case of her conservatorship has ever reached, and fans on social media were celebrating the monumental moment. Britney Spears’ fiancé, Sam Asghari, posted on his Instagram story: “Free Britney! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!” and “She did this. Her fan base is called the army for a reason.”
The news comes just one day after the release of the latest Britney Spears-related documentary, “Britney V. Spears,” on Netflix. The film follows journalist Jenny Eliscu and filmmaker Erin Lee Carr as they investigate legal documents and Britney Spears’ medical records and interview multiple sources that have all been influenced in some way by her conservatorship.
While there have been multiple documentary-style films and series to have been released on the subject, “Britney V. Spears” is arguably the best that has ever been done. Both in its format and content, the documentary submerges audiences into the experience of solving the mystery and tragedy that is Britney Spears’ conservatorship.
Both extremely compelling as well as informational, the documentary follows the chronological progression of the conservatorship and looks to the future of Britney Spears’ life and Jamie Spears’ involvement in it.
Instead of exploiting Britney Spears’ previous struggles with mental illness, the film pulls back the veil surrounding the case and shines a light on the injustice, inconsistency and inhumane aspects of the conservatorship.
One of the creators of the film, Eliscu, was part of a covert attempt at freeing Britney Spears from the conservatorship. While the attempt failed and its existence was swept under the rug by her team, Eliscu has also covered Britney Spears as a journalist before. This personal and professional insight drives the plot of the documentary and lends to conveying the intensely emotional aspects of the case.
For the creators of the show, her fans and herself, the events of yesterday were a long time coming. As Carr and Eliscu show the recent timeline of her conservatorship at the end of “Britney V. Spears,” it will be interesting to keep an eye on the shape the conservatorship takes in the future – and if it exists for much longer.
