IT HAPPENED!!!! Britney is free!!!! Well, at least free-er. On Sep 29, 2021, the Los Angeles Superior Court immediately suspended Jamie Spears from the conservatorship of Britney’s person and estate after 13 years of apparent control and abuse of power.
It is so tough for me to write lightly about this. I am a major Britney fan, but I also have a loooong and extensive background in social justice. So, as you read this, please keep in mind that I could go on forever about conservatorships and the intersectionality of ableism, race, class, and gender. If The Walrus magazine calls me maybe I’ll write that article for them. In the meantime I’m trying to entertain here, baby, so I’m gonna (mostly) keep it light.
Who do we have to thank for the removal of Jamie Spears? The #FreeBritney Army, a pink-tie-wearing lawyer, and a judge who knows her Britney lyrics.
The #FreeBritney movement began in 2019 after the hosts of the podcast Britney’s Gram received an anonymous tip that the conservatorship was exerting an unacceptable level of control over the pop star. The podcast aired an episode outlining these concerns, and the hashtag #FreeBritney was born. Over the past few years, the movement has grown into an established advocacy group called The Free Britney Army.
“The #FreeBritney movement seeks to end the conservatorship of Britney Spears, raise awareness about conservatorship abuse, and advocate reform of the probate court system.”
The #FreeBritney Army was present at all court hearings about the conservatorship, and the group eventually garnered serious media attention. In addition, the movement has grown to include advocacy groups that aim to reform or abolish conservatorships. Fans and advocates were out in full force on Sep 29 and they exalted in celebration when the decision to remove Jamie Spears from the conservatorship was announced.
An unbelievable outcome that reads like a Hollywood movie script accompanies this seemingly singular decision. On Sep 30, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1194 (aka the #FreeBritney bill) to increase the rights of people under conservatorship and implement penalties and consequences for conservators who abuse power.
We also have Mathew Rosengart, Britney’s self-appointed lawyer, to thank for his assertive legal advocacy. In June 2021, Britney pleaded to the court to have Sam Ingham, the court-appointed lawyer assigned to her case in 2008, removed and replaced. Britney won that request, and Rosengart has represented her since. Rosengart has taken an aggressive stance against Jamie Spears and other stakeholders in the conservatorship, and he has been clear about his intentions to have Britney gain more autonomy. Shortly after the latest hearing, Rosengart delivered a speech to the press and fans while donning a bright pink tie. Rosenhart’s appeal to Britney’s fan base has earned him the nickname “Rosengod.”
And then there is Judge Brenda Penny. She has been presiding over the conservatorship case since 2016. Many fans have been highly critical of Judge Penny’s reluctance to remove Jamie Spears as the conservator - so critical that Judge Penny received death threats in the form of Tweets. But the anger and hostility turned to celebration when Judge Penny announced her decision to immediately suspend Jamie Spears as the conservator.
Her long-awaited decision reads:
“The current situation is not tenable. The situation is toxic. I believe suspension is in the best interest of the conservator.”
Did you scream when you read the word “toxic”?!?!? A Britney lyric reference included in a legal response?!?! Unbelievable!!!! Well played, Judge Penny. Well played!!!
What is Britney Saying?
Britney has been using social media to share her thoughts and feelings about the changes to her conservatorship.
Britney and her fiancée, Sam Asghari, were vacationing in French Polynesia on the day of the hearing. Britney went to Instagram hours after the news broke to let fans know she was “on cloud 9”. She was also flying a plane!!! Nothing like flying right into relative freedom!!! She continues to post daily. For many months it was clear that Britney’s social media accounts were being managed by someone else. Now it is clear that it is her - emojis, long rants, nudity and all!!!
I’ve included a few of her best posts here:
I hope that Britney continues to have this opportunity for freedom of expression and more as things move forward.
Celebrations and Reactions
Celebrities posted celebratory tweets! Tweets from legends Dionne Warwick and Cher were especially impactful because these two women have SEEN some things in their lifetimes.
Is anyone surprised that I have several Britney fans in my circle? I did a quick scan, and here are some of their reactions:
“I feel cautiously optimistic about Britney’s father stepping down. It’s a step in the right direction, but it’s not over yet.”
“Jamie Spears is an abusive monster who used his daughter like a money-making puppet. He’s more ruthless than Stromboli with Pinocchio and slimier than Jim Bob Duggar. Good fucking riddance!”
“Good for her!”
“This is a large issue. I feel sorry for Britney; however, this needs to be addressed on a larger scale. We need to look at the system and really think about those who do not have a fan base and live in much worse conditions. I’m grateful to Britney’s fans for advocating for her, but we need to look at regular people who also may need a fan base to support them.”
“Fuck Jamie Spears!”
****************************************************
I LOVE MY FIERCE FRIENDS!!!! xoxo
You Better Dance, Bitch!
The Britney celebration continued with a happenstance Britney Night on Dancing With The Stars. Jojo Siwa and her dancing partner, Jenna Johnson, performed the Argentine Tango to …Baby One More Time. In a pre-recorded segment, Jojo voiced her love and admiration for Britney, “I love Britney. Britney is a legend. An icon. A ball of talent and glitter and energy. She is a genius. She just has a way of being herself, almost like nobody else does.”
The two dancing queens went on to give a performance that would make the Princess of Pop very proud.
Well, friends, let’s hope that we have more reasons to celebrate in the weeks and months and years to come. Here’s to Britney and her health and happiness!!!
CHEERS!
xoxo Bex