- Title: Fans shed tears, celebrating suspension of Spears' father's conservatorship
- Date: 30th September 2021
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 29, 2021) (REUTERS) FANS OF BRITNEY SPEARS SINGING OUTSIDE COURT FANS JUMPING AND THEN CHANTING "FREE BRITNEY NOW" MORE FANS OUTSIDE FANS EMBRACING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SAM DELEON, 25, LOS ANGELES RESIDENT, SAYING: "I think there's a lot of tension earlier and uncertainty about what was going to happen and I think this is the right first step in the right direction, the suspension. But we still want an end of the conservatorship and just for her to be completely in control of her life again." (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMY WESSELMAN, 26, LONG BEACH RESIDENT, SAYING: "It's just creating such a good path for her to be on her own and for them to stop extorting her, manipulating her, and for her to have her say in her own body, her own person, and we just couldn't be happier. I broke down crying and just hugged my friends here because we're, it's been 13 years and it just couldn't have come... we're just very excited for her." VARIOUS OF FANS CHEERING AND CHANTING IN CROWD CHILD HOLDING SIGN THAT READS "FREE BRITNEY" (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARTHUR AVITIA, 30, LOS ANELES RESIDENT, SAYING: "We're excited but it's not over. We have to go after all those people in the team who helped her father put her in a conservatorship. A lot of people, business managers, a lot of people. And they'll have their day in court. Britney's coming after them." VARIOUS OF BRITNEY SUPPORTERS MARCHING BEFORE JUDGE'S DECISION WAS ANNOUNCED (SOUNDBITE) (English) KATIE WELLS, 23, ARKANSAS RESIDENT, SAYING: "It's deeper than just a Britney Spears thing. And if it wasn't deeper than that, I would still be just as supportive and passionate about the movement, but the fact that it encompases a whole world - like it just scratches the surface - of conservator abuse, and the plague that is power in this country and money around insecure men and women who lead us. It says a lot about American values and things like that." VARIOUS OF RALLY AGAINST CONSERVATORSHIP CLOSE-UP OF HAT THAT READS "MAKE BRITNEY FREE AGAIN"
- Embargoed: 14th October 2021 01:04
- Keywords: Britney Britney Spears FreeBritney Jamie Spears Spears conservatorship arts court court cases entertainment law law
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- City: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Celebrities,Arts/Culture/Entertainment,United States
- Reuters ID: LVA001EWRXXS7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Fans of pop star Britney Spears celebrated on Wednesday (September 29) after a judge in Los Angeles suspended the singer's father as her conservator, ending his role controlling the singer's $60 million estate.
"The current situation is not tenable. It reflects a toxic environment which requires the suspension of Jamie Spears, effective today," Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny said during a court hearing.
Spears will be replaced with an accountant, John Zabel, on a temporary basis, Penny said.
#FreeBritney fans who were gathered outside the court in Los Angeles erupted in cheers as the judge's ruling was conveyed. Pop singer Cher tweeted, "I'm more than thrilled 4 her. Bless our super star."
"It's just creating such a good path for her to be on her own and for them to stop extorting her, manipulating her, and for her to have her say in her own body, her own person, and we just couldn't be happier," said Amy Wesselman, a 26-year-old resident of nearby Long Beach.
Jamie Spears had been in charge of his daughter's business affairs since 2008, when he put in place a wide-ranging, court-approved conservatorship after she suffered a mental breakdown.
The singer, 39, has been demanding for months that her father be removed from any role in her life. She did not take part in Wednesday's hearing but was represented by her attorney, Mathew Rosengart.
"I think this is the right first step in the right direction -- the suspension. But we still want an end of the conservatorship and just for her to be completely in control of her life again," said supporter Sam Deleon, a 25-year-old Los Angeles resident.
The "Circus" singer's father made a surprise request earlier in September for her conservatorship to end. His attorneys on Wednesday argued there was no need for him to step down because all sides had agreed the contentious arrangement should end.
Rosengart said it would take time to wind down the conservatorship, and he said Jamie Spears wanted to avoid having to answer questions about his actions.
A New York Times documentary released last week alleged that the singer's phone and bedroom were bugged by security staff working for her father. Conversations with friends, her children and her previous lawyer were monitored, a former security staffer said.
Jamie Spears said his actions were within his authority as conservator.
Spears stepped up her efforts in June to break free of the conservatorship, telling the judge in her first public comments that she found it abusive and humiliating and did not trust her father.
Public support for her has swelled, and some restrictions Spears complained about have been loosened, including being able to drive her own car.
Two weeks ago she announced her engagement to Sam Asghari, 27, her personal trainer boyfriend of more than four years. The pair hope to marry soon after negotiating a pre-nuptial agreement.
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