The Surging News reporter Qian Lianshui
After years of "liberating Britney" movement, two New York Times documentaries, and a series of trials, Britney finally broke free from her nearly 14-year prison career. On Friday, local time, the Los Angeles Superior Court announced the termination of "guardianship of Britney Spears' personal and property."
Participants in the "Emancipation of Britney" movement
Since then, she has answered the questions that the public cares most about on Instagram: "How will I live my next life?" "Now, I'm thankful every day of being able to have my car keys, bank cards and cash, for regaining my independence, for regaining the feeling of being a woman." Now I can buy candles whenever I want. Although this is only a trivial matter, it means a lot to me. She said she did not "appear as a victim," despite having long "lived with the victims" during her childhood. "Working hard for twenty years was what motivated me to leave home. I'm a very strong woman (and still suffer from this misfortune) and can't imagine how much this system can do to other people. Hopefully, my story will have an impact and shake up this corrupt system. ”
University of Pennsylvania Law Professor Yasmin M. E. Harris is an expert in custody. She noted that the verdict was very rare in the same kind of case. Once a court finds that someone is unable to make decisions for themselves, it will be extremely difficult for the person to prove that he or she actually has the ability to make his or her own life and regain his or her autonomy. Usually, custody will last until the death of the person.
Britney's story has been fully known through the media's sparing efforts to render it. Since 2008, her "crazy" behavior has led her to be judged to be a person who "needs to be regulated." At that time, she tried to hire a lawyer herself to appear in court, and was told by the court that she no longer had the right to appoint a lawyer and could only use the court to appoint a lawyer. His father, Jamie Spears, was given full custody of his daughter, giving her full control of her career, body and life. After that, Britney, who was confirmed not to be responsible for herself, continued to work, publishing hot albums, hosting world tours, singing in Las Vegas, and acting as a money-making machine. She also had to support a team of professionals and lawyers at her own expense to guide her life. In her confession, Britney accused her father and other co-guardians of forcing her to work endlessly, comparing working seven days a week to sex slavery. Her personal guardian, Jody Montgomery, testified that Britney was forced to take medication and was banned from marriage, childbirth and the removal of IUDS.
In Britney's case, there was never a clear account of why she was appointed to custody. This transfer of individual rights is usually used for the elderly or infirm. Over the past 14 years, Britney has been in good health and has maintained a high-intensity job, which is quite different from previous precedents. Britney has been fighting against custody for years, and confidential court documents cited in this year's report by The New York Times say that Britney's overpriced former lawyer, Samuel Ingham III, who cost $3 million and $475 an hour, does not claim to end custody. In 2016, during the publication of her 9th solo album and las Vegas residency, Britney filed a series of troubling allegations with a court investigator, including the team forcing her to perform when she had a high fever, and the security guards and assistants around her could swipe her credit card at any time to make purchases, while she herself could only receive pocket money once a week. At a closed hearing that year, Britney said she had been forcibly sent to a psychiatric institution in retaliation for her remarks in a rehearsal.
Britney's resistance has not changed the status quo. Only recently has Ingham begun to express concern about Jamie's mistreatment of Britney. At last year's trial, Ingham noted that "Britney was afraid of her father" but did not fight for Britney's independence.
It was only in June that the situation took a fundamental turn. Britney's request for a public opinion was granted, and she was able to detail her plight, including allegations that her boyfriend banned her from taking her out. At the time, she also thought she had no right to apply for a stay of custody. In July, Britney was allowed to hire her own lawyer. Star lawyer Matthew Rosengart aggressively fought for it after taking office and vowed to thoroughly investigate Jamie's use of Britney's property.
Matthew Rosengart left the trial scene
As public opinion has become more and more intense this year, all parties in the custody have expressed their support for Britney's willingness to lift the guardianship.
The participants in the "Liberation of Britney" movement never imagined that the battle would be so long.2 Junior Olivers, who threw herself into it in April 2019, thought that through everyone's efforts, Britney's custody would be terminated within a month. "It was media exposure, documentaries and opinion that liberated Britney." It was the same medium force that destroyed Britney in the first place. She is seen as a typical victim of media bullying, and the gaunt Britney photo taken by paparazzi has circulated around the world, establishing her "crazy wife" image.
The word "crazy" is infinitely powerful. Earlier this year, Jamie Spears also scolded his daughter's back-up society for being "crazy people with superstitious conspiracy theories." The long-kept secret court documents have a deeper impression of "crazy daughters and crazy fans."
Fortunately, there is hope in the things that bring suffering to people. Brie Martinez, 27, draws strength and solace from this: "As a woman with a disability, I am grateful for my experience in this matter. It gave me a voice through this opportunity. ”
Editor-in-Charge: Chen Shihuai
Proofreader: Liu Wei