Dua Lipa, others stand with Britney Spears in her statement against ‘abusive’ conservatorship. Here’s everything you need to know

Hollywood singer Britney Spears broke her silence in a court hearing on Wednesday and called out her court-ordered conservatorship that has been in place for nearly 13 years.

What is a conservatorship?

Under U.S. law, a conservatorship is the appointment of a guardian or a protector by a judge to manage the financial affairs and/or daily life of another person due to old age, physical, or mental limitations.

Britney Spears against her Conservatorship

In a virtual hearing, Britney Spears addressed Judge Brenda Penny and said:

A lot has happened since two years ago – the last time I was in court. I haven’t been back to court in a long time because I don’t think I was heard on any level when I came to court the last time. I feel that I have been forced to perform, am given no privacy, and am made to use birth control, take medication and attend therapy sessions against my will.

Criticizing her family, including her father Jamie Spears, the singer said:

My family didn’t do a goddam thing. Anything that happened to me had to be approved by my dad. I expressed my frustration about my medical care and management of my career to my dad but I felt like he “loved” the control he had over me. I never had a say in my schedule. They always told me I had to do this.

Britney Spears also addressed why she has not brought up these issues on social media:

I thought I might become happy because I’ve been in denial. I’ve been in shock. I am traumatized. You know, fake it til’ you make it. But now I’m telling you the truth, OK. I’m not happy. I can’t sleep. I’m so angry it’s insane and I’m depressed. I want to hire an attorney of my choosing, since my current counsel, Samuel Ingham III was court-appointed in 2008.

Pleading the judge to take her concerns seriously, Britney Spears further stated:

The last time I spoke to you, you made me feel like I was dead like I didn’t matter like nothing had been done to me like you thought I was lying. I want to be heard. I’m telling you this again so that maybe you understand the depth and degree and the damage … I want and deserve changes going forward. I just want my life back. It’s been 13 years and it’s enough.

Britney Spears concluded her statement by saying:

I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive. This conservatorship is doing me way more harm than good. I deserve to have a life. I’ve worked my whole life. I feel ganged up on, I feel bullied, I feel left out and alone. I’m tired of feeling alone. I deserve to have the same rights as anybody.

Following the singer’s remarks, the court took a recess and then stopped the public audio feed of the hearing. The next hearing of the matter is set for the 14th of July.

Hollywood Celebrities Stand in Solidarity with Britney Spears