The New York Times | Britney Spears’s Conservatorship: What to Know

The legal battle over who should control Britney Spears’s finances and personal life is scheduled to return to the courtroom on Wednesday, one day after revelations in The New York Times that the pop star had expressed serious opposition to the conservatorship earlier and more often than had previously been known.

Ms. Spears, 39, is to address the Superior Court in Los Angeles directly — a rare move she requested on an expedited basis. It is unclear whether her remarks will be made in public.

James P. Spears, the singer’s father, was appointed her conservator in 2008, following a series of public struggles and concerns around her mental health and substance abuse.

According to newly obtained court records, Ms. Spears had objections as early as 2014 to her father’s serving in that role, citing his drinking, among other issues. A court investigator wrote in a 2016 report that Ms. Spears had articulated that “the conservatorship has become an oppressive and controlling tool against her” and she is “sick of being taken advantage of.”

In February, Ms. Spears’s conservatorship received renewed attention after the release of “Framing Britney Spears,” a documentary by The Times, that tells the story of a gifted performer surrounded by people seeking to capitalize on her, who dealt with the pressures of constant media attention and speculation about her health. The film also explored the #FreeBritney movement, a campaign by fans that portrays the conservatorship as a money-hungry machine intended to exert control over Ms. Spears.

Here is a breakdown of the conservatorship controversy as fans and others wait for Ms. Spears to address the court.

Read the full article here

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