Britney Spears has suffered a setback in her battle to be freed from her conservatorship after a judge denied her request to have her father Jamie removed from the arrangement.
Last week, Britney spoke out about her 13-year-old conservatorship during a hearing on June 23, telling Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny it had left her “traumatised” and living in a state of “denial”.
Following the court appearance, her lawyer Samuel D. Ingham III filed a request for her father to be suspended as co-conservator, but on Wednesday, June 30 that big was rejected.
A court order obtained by E! News states: “The conservator’s request to suspend James P. Spears immediately upon the appointment of Bessemer Trust Company of California, N.A. as sole conservator of estate is denied without prejudice.”
In November 2020, Judge Brenda Penny denied a request for Jamie to be removed from the conservatorship, but appointed wealth-management firm Bessemer Trust Company as co-conservator.
During the hearing, Britney insisted: “I’ve lied and told the whole world ‘I’m okay. And I’m happy.’ It’s a lie,” she said. “I thought [if] just maybe I said that enough… Because I’ve been in denial. I’ve been in shock. I am traumatised.
“You know, fake it till you make it. But now I’m telling you the truth. Okay? I’m not happy,” insisted the Stronger hitmaker. “I can’t sleep. I’m so angry. It’s insane. And I’m depressed. I cry every day.”
Following Britney’s shocking claims surrounding her treatment in the conservatorship, fans supporting the #FreeBritney movement and stars took to social media to lend their support.
And after speaking out, Britney issued a statement to fans, apologising for hiding her true feelings for so long.
She penned: “I don’t want people to think my life is perfect because IT’S DEFINITELY NOT AT ALL… and if you have read anything about me in the news this week… you obviously really know now it’s not!!!!
“I apologize for pretending like I’ve been ok the past two years… I did it because of my pride and I was embarrassed to share what happened to me.”
Fellow pop star and Britney’s former Disney co-star Christina Aguilera is among those who have advocated for the singer’s freedom from the conservatorship, insisting: “To be silenced, ignored, bullied or denied support by those ‘close’ to you is the most depleting, devastating and demeaning thing imaginable.
“My heart goes out to Britney. She deserves all the TRUE love and support in the world.”
