Two weeks ago, Britney Spears testified in court.
As reported in a New York Times investigation published the day before Spears addressed the court, it wasn’t the first time she had made allegations about her treatment or expressed the wish that the conservatorship come to an end.
If the 2019 launch of the #FreeBritney movement constituted the first spark of public outcry against the conservatorship and the February release of the FX documentary Framing Britney Spears fanned it to a healthy flame, the “Toxic” singer’s disturbing account of her treatment as a conservatee ignited an all-consuming blaze.
A few central players in the conservatorship have submitted their resignations in the aftermath of the bombshell testimony as well, giving the impression that the apparatus is beginning to crumble under the heightened media scrutiny.
This past weekend, a lengthy story by New Yorker writers Ronan Farrow and Jia Tolentino illuminated the history of the conservatorship, all the way back to the series of public scenes that precipitated it and its actual inception in 2008 — an event described in the piece as a 10-minute process during which Spears herself was never consulted.
Another notable resignation is that of Spears’ court-appointed attorney Sam Ingham, who has represented her since the conservatorship began in 2008.
The filing cites Spears’ testimony that she “objects to the continuance of her Conservatorship” as the reason for stepping down, noting that the company “has heard the Conservatee and respects her wishes.” The request was approved the following day.
Around the same time, Jamie Spears underwent emergency surgery and temporarily stepped down as sole conservator of Britney’s person; the singer’s care manager Jodi Montgomery assumed the role in the interim.
Montgomery’s lawyer replied with a lengthy statement refuting Jamie’s assertions about his own lack of involvement — “practically speaking, since everything costs money, no expenditures can happen without going through Mr. Spears and Mr. Spears approving them” — and describing Montgomery as a “tireless advocate” for Britney.
She continues to collect celebrity support — including from former collaborators Iggy Azalea and Miley Cyrus as well as longtime friend Paris Hilton, whom she mentioned in her testimony — and the #FreeBritney advocates, many of whom rallied outside the courthouse last month, remain committed to her cause.
There’s a lot that we still don’t know about the case, but more is coming to light each week.