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Britney Spears appeared in court on Wednesday, June 23 to passionately plead the end of her court-ordered guardianship.
Spears, 39, made a 23-minute statement to Judge Brendy Penny in a Los Angeles courtroom pleading for her freedom. During his remarks, Spears alleged abuse and trauma from his curator, his father, Jamie Spears. Trade newspaper Variety released Spears’ full statement, the audio of which was later leaked on the internet.
In summary, Spears alleges that his father, in essence, was forced to go on tour in 2018 on his own reservations. She claims that her management, at her father’s request, force-fed her medication and lied to the court about her condition in order to maintain guardianship. She also claims that her family, doctors and nurses have held her in her home.
Related: Britney Spears Says She Was ‘Embarrassed’ By Recent Documentary, Cried For Weeks
“Not only did my family do nothing, but my dad absolutely agreed,” Spears said. “Everything that happened to me had to be approved by my father. And my dad acted like he didn’t know I was told I had to get tested over Christmas vacation before I was sent away, when my kids returned home to Louisiana. He was the one who approved everything. My whole family did nothing.
Spears also accused her father of reveling in her predicament, particularly when he sent her to a drug rehab program in Beverly Hills.
“The control he had over someone as powerful as me – he loved the control of hurting his own daughter 100,000%. He loved it,” she said.
Then Spears came to the emotional crux of his argument.
“That’s why I say it again to you two years later, after lying and telling the whole world, ‘I’m fine and I’m happy.’ It’s a lie. I thought if I said this enough, can “To be that I could become happy, because I’ve been in denial. I was in shock. I’m traumatized. You know, pretend until you get there. But now I’m telling you.” “Truth, okay? I’m not happy. I can’t sleep. I’m so angry it’s crazy. And I’m depressed. I cry every day.”
And the reason I’m telling you this is because I don’t think the State of California can have this all written down in court documents from the time I showed up and do absolutely nothing – just hire someone else with my money and keep my dad on board. Madam, my father and anyone involved in this tutelage and my leadership who played a huge role in punishing me when I said no – madam they should be in jail. Their cruel tactics work for Miley Cyrus as she smokes joints on stage at VMAs – nothing is ever done to this generation for doing bad things.
But my precious body, which has worked for my father for 13 years, tries to be so beautiful and beautiful. So perfect. When he works me so hard. When I do whatever I’m told and the state of California allowed my father – an ignorant father – to take his own daughter, who only has a role with me if I work with him, they delayed the whole class and allowed him to do this to me. It gave these people I worked for far too much control. They also threatened me and said: If I don’t go, then I have to go to court. And it will be more embarrassing for me if the judge publicly releases the evidence we have. “
Spears concluded his remarks by pleading for more freedom and apologizing for ignoring the rules of his guardianship in the past and lying to the public about his state of mind. She also expressed a wish to sue her family for years of abuse. Ultimately, Judge Penny thanked Spears for his remarks, although it’s not clear how or even if Spears’ plea will affect his guardianship.
Britney Spears’ guardianship began as a temporary measure in 2008 following involuntary psychiatric detention, which is believed to be linked to drug addiction. Courts continued to expand the measure thereafter, although Spears continued to record new music and perform a residency in Las Vegas. In 2019, Spears canceled a new residence in Las Vegas after an audio leak sparked rumors that she was, in essence, a prisoner in her own home. These rumors sparked the #FreeBritney “movement”, a fan-driven support campaign aimed at ending her tutelage.
