For the first time since 2008, the infamous Britney Spears can now make her own personal and business decisions. Previously under a conservatorship controlled by her father, Jamie Spears, she lacked numerous freedoms most people take for granted. Fans created the #FreeBritney movement, which played a major role in motivating the singer to take control of her life and take her conservators to court. On November 12, the Los Angeles County Supreme Court terminated the conservatorship but an investigation will still undergo to examine the alleged abuse she may have endured. 

After suffering from a mental breakdown over a decade ago, which resulted in hospitalization and rehab, Spears lost control of her life. While the stigma of her mental health easily followed her over the years, her singing career stood strong. Spears made a sizable fortune from her popular music, yet much of her money went towards her conservators managing her life. 

Documents recently revealed Spears paid even the people who acted against her wishes on countless occasions. Laws in California allow conservators to pay themselves for their work, and during more than a decade of the conservatorship Spears’ father received a monthly salary and countless other funds. While required to file the accounting records of the conservatee’s assets each year, much of the information remains redacted from public forms, numerous sources claim the pop star’s family lived off the conservatorship. According to documents reviewed by Forbes, Jamie collected $16,000 each month from his daughter. In addition, he received a portion of her revenue from performing and touring. This explains why Spears claimed her conservators made her perform despite feeling unwell and not wanting to.

“I don’t know much about conservatorships, but I thought that it was odd for Birtney to be under her father’s control for so long when her mental health seems to be much better. I’ve seen posts about fans rooting for this to end for a long time and I’m happy she can finally be independent,” magnet senior Jadyn Payne said.

Fans launched the #FreeBritney movement, under the impression that Spears herself wanted control of her life. With the use of social media, fans brought discrepancies of the conservatorship into light, revealing any issues or possible signs of abuse. Fans also created the website FreeBritney.net in 2009, which explains the star does not require a conservatorship at this point in her life (based on her mental health and career). 

“The #FreeBritney movement — you guys rock. Honestly, my voice was muted and threatened for so long, and I wasn’t able to speak up or say anything. I honestly think you guys saved my life, in a way. 100 percent,” Spears said. 

Spear’s lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, now hopes to further investigate whether or not the singer received any abuse while under her father’s reign. Allegations surfaced that he ran a surveillance operation, so that he could monitor his daughter constantly, completely violating her privacy. This happened through secret audio recordings in her bedroom and conversations with family. 

Despite the critics, Spears’ family claims to have tried to do as much as possible to help her with mental health issues. They provided her with professional help and constant support, however, numerous fans remain unconvinced that Spears willingly entered the conservatorship.

“If you deal with mental illness or care for someone dealing with mental illness, then you know how important it is to respect the situation with privacy for the person, and the family trying to protect their loved ones, no matter how it may appear to the public, and as the public, we must learn to do the same. [People] have no right to assume anything about my sister, and I have no right to speak about her health and personal matters. She is a strong, badass, unstoppable woman, and that’s the only thing that is obvious,” Jamie Lynn, Spears’ sister, said.