After Britney Spears spent the past several months on social media saying that she had voluntarily checked herself into a mental health facility, she has now told a judge that her father committed her and forced her to take medication against her will.
Britney Seeks to Adjust or End Her Father’s Conservatorship
Britney Spears is trying to end the 11-year conservatorship that has given her father, Jamie Spears, control over her medical, financial, and career affairs. She is asking the judge to adjust the conservatorship so that she will have more freedom.
Jamie Spears has had held this conservatorship since 2008, when Britney was hospitalized in 2008 and deemed legally incapable of taking care of herself.
The conservatorship does not grant Jamie Spears the power to put his daughter in rehab against her will, according to the terms. Any facility that did so would be breaking the law.
No Ruling on the Conservatorship Has Been Made
The judge has declined to make any ruling on the conservatorship but has ordered an expert evaluation of the singer’s situation, according to TMZ. The hearing ended in a bizarre fashion, with Britney walking out of the courthouse barefoot.
Her condition remains unstable, reportedly. Fans were outside the courthouse chanting and holding up signs that said “Free Britney.”
Lynne Spears is Getting Involved
Britney’s mother, Lynne, is apparently echoing some of Britney’s concerns about the conservatorship and her treatment. Lynne and Britney have been estranged for nearly 15 years, but Lynne is apparently trying to reestablish a relationship with her daughter and has been staying at her home.
Lynne attended the hearing after filing legal documents trying to gain access to Britney’s medical information from Jamie. Britney was seen holding hands with her mother on their way into the courthouse.
Lynne reportedly does not want to become her daughter’s co-conservator, but Britney is hoping that her mother will “ease the restrictions.”
How the Public Battle Began
This very public battle over Britney’s physical and mental health began after she suddenly took a break from her Vegas show, and then checked herself into a mental health facility in April.
It was supposedly to deal with stress over her father’s health. Jamie underwent two emergency surgeries for a ruptured colon. According to some reports, though, Britney’s stay in the facility was really because the cocktail of medications that she has been taking had become ineffective and left her unstable.
