Britney Spears will be appearing in court today to contest a hearing that could free her from the conservatorship that has prevented her from performing and living independently for over a decade. The latest episode in the long-running battle against the 2008 legal agreement that gave others control over her financial, health and personal decisions is Britney Spears’ virtual appearance before Los Angeles Superior Court.
Spears’ right to decide everything, from where and when she will perform to how she decorates her home, is at stake. She also has the $60 million she has amassed over the years after being one of the most successful musicians in the world. According to Billboard, Spears has sold over 150 million records around the world and has arranged 10 major tours. She also has a four-year residency in Las Vegas that grossed $137.7million.
Also Read: Vin Diesel explains how beef was made with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Her endorsements for 19 fragrances and licensing deals make her millions of dollars. About $56.5 million of her fortune is held in business investments, real estate and investment accounts. The rest is cash. Her fortune is still far below that of her peers Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Lopez who rose to prominence at the same moment and built fortunes Forbes valued at over $100 million.
After a string of public breakdowns that were caught on camera by paparazzi, Jamie Spears was appointed conservator in 2008. He receives a $16,000 monthly salary from his daughter’s estate, $2,000 per month for office space, and a percentage her business deals. This includes a cut of the Las Vegas residency. Britney was also responsible for paying her father’s legal fees, which have reached into the hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars.
Vivian Lee Thoreen was Jamie Spears’ lawyer and stated that “I don’t believe there is any evidence to support his suspension.” made this statement in November.
Also Read: Brooke Shields swimsuit photo on Instagram with her daughters sends American Eagle stock flying
Although the star has not commented on the matter in public, it is believed she has been fighting the situation behind the scenes since 2014, when she, through her lawyer, questioned if her father was a good match. The latest revelations were made public in a Tuesday New York Times article. The Times cited an August court filing in which Spears stated that her father tried to keep her legal battle “hidden away in the closet as family secrets.”
The Times also cited a 2016 filing where she described the conservatorship as “an oppressive control tool against her” and prevented her from having her own credit card and re-staining of her kitchen cabinets. She claims that she was forced to perform once with a fever of 104 degrees and sent to a mental facility against her will.
She will be facing a new judge today. In November, she assigned a wealth management company to act as co-conservator. However, she said she would also consider permanent removal of Jamie Spears — the villain in a fan-driven campaign #FreeBritney was nicknamed on social media — from her position as conservator.
Also Read: Billie Eilish is’appalled and Humiliated’ over old Movie of her a racial slur
According to the Associated Press, “My client informed me that she was afraid of her dad,” Samuel D. Ingham III Ingham, Spears’ lawyer, stated at the time. “She won’t perform again if her dad is in charge her career.”