Britney Spears Says She’s “Traumatised” By Conservatorship In Harrowing Court Statement
“I have an IUD in my body right now that won’t let me have a baby, and my conservators won’t let me go to the doctor to take it out."
Britney Spears has finally spoken publicly regarding her conservatorship, appearing virtually in a Los Angeles court to say she’s “traumatised” by the situation and she just wants her life back.
Spears has been under a strict conservatorship since 2008, when her father Jamie Spears was placed in control of her finances and career in a temporary measure due to concerns about the singer’s mental health. But the conservatorship has continued since then and has been described as a “highly controlling” situation. “Her most mundane purchases, from a drink at Starbucks to a song on iTunes, are tracked in court documents as part of the plan to safeguard the great fortune she has earned but does not ultimately control,” the New York Times reported in 2016.
“I have a lot to say, so bear with me,” Spears told the court. “I don’t think I was heard on any level when I came to court last time.”
“I’ve lied and told the whole world I’m OK and I’m happy. It’s a lie,” Spears admitted, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter. “I’ve been in denial. I’ve been in shock. I am traumatised. 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 depressed. I cry every day.”
Spears was reportedly speaking so fast she had to be told by Judge Brenda Penny to slow down, so it could be properly captured by the court reporter.
“I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive,” Spears continued. “My request is to end the conservatorship without being evaluated like before.
“I didn’t know I could petition the conservatorship to end. I honestly didn’t know that. I’ve done more than enough. I don’t owe these people anything. I’ve roofed and clothed and fed people on the road. It’s demoralizing what I’ve been through. I’ve never said it openly — I never thought anyone would believe me. I’m not lying. I just want my life back. It’s been 13 years and it’s been enough. I want to be able to be heard. I’ve kept this in for so long — it’s not good for my heart. I’ve been so angry and I cry every day. For my sanity…I need to get it off my heart. The anger, all of it. The main reason why I’m here today is I want to end the conservatorship without being evaluated.”
Spears told the court that she’s scared of people, and she doesn’t trust people after everything she’s been through. In a particularly shocking revelation, Spears told the court her conservators are interfering with her wish to have children. “I have an IUD in my body right now that won’t let me have a baby, and my conservators won’t let me go to the doctor to take it out, because they don’t want me to have children,” she said.
At one point in proceedings, People reported, conservator Jodi Montgomery’s attorney interjected, requesting that specific transcripts discussing Spears’ medical history be sealed. The singer interrupted: “They’ve done a pretty good job of exploiting my life. I feel like it should be an open court hearing. They should listen and hear what I have to say.”
In another harrowing moment, Spears told the court about a time she’d failed a psych test, which resulted in her father sending her to a rehab program. “I cried on the phone for an hour, and he loved every minute of it,” she said. “The control he had… to hurt his own daughter, 100,000 percent, he loved it.”
Jamie Spears’ attorney read out a short statement to the court: “He is sorry to see his daughter suffering and in so much pain,” attorney Vivian Thoreen stated. “Mr Spears loves his daughter and misses her very much.”
“I deserve privacy. I don’t feel like I can live a full life,” the singer continued. “They’re making me feel like I live in a rehab program. I do need a little therapy. I want to progressively move forward … I want to get married and have a baby. 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 and I feel bullied and I feel left out and alone. I’m tired of feeling alone.
“All I want is to own my money, for this to end, and my boyfriend to drive me in his fucking car.”
Spears has yet to officially file a motion with the court to end her conservatorship — her attorney told the court they would now be discussing that privately.
You can hear audio of the proceedings here, on the Free Britney LA Instagram account.
Photo Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images