When recalling the dazzling and vitality of Britney's debut, how many people will helplessly sigh: How did everything become like this?
"I didn't do anything but protect my daughter." On August 6, Britney's father, Jamie Spears, defended himself.
More than a month ago, Britney Spears, the once-popular "Sweetheart of America," returned to the public eye. On June 23, she appeared online for a hearing on an individual custody case, emotionally complaining that her biological father and team had exercised "inhuman" control over her over the past 13 years and that she was "going to send her father to jail."
Britney's voice has aroused great concern and strong empathy. A "Free Britney" movement unfolded among the populace and then spread to celebrity circles and even To Capitol Hill.
In the face of the accusations initiated by his daughter, the father claimed that it all stemmed from "unconditional love". But public opinion generally believes that if britney's statement is true, then it is "shameless behavior under the guise of love."
In fact, the difficulty britney faces is not only the denial of the father's side, but also the need for sufficient evidence support and the proof that she has returned to normal ability to live independently without supervision.
At present, no one can say when she will be free again.
Britney's contrast between the past and the present is lamentable. Image source: rightside.me
Love or abuse?
On June 23, the world listened to a celebrity daughter's 24-minute complaint against her biological father.
"In California, only locked-up sex workers are so miserable — credit cards, cash, cell phones, passports are all confiscated!" During the online trial, Britney told the judge about the abuses she had suffered from her father and his team over the past 13 years, including: constant surveillance, loss of property use rights, forced to work long hours of intense work, involuntary psychiatric treatment with greater side effects, and placement of IUDs so that she could not get pregnant again.
"The security guards live together 24 hours a day, they stare at me all the time every day, from morning, noon, to night, my room, my body, and there is no 'privacy door'." The Daily Mail said Britney "sometimes sounded desperate, tapping the table with her hands from time to time, her voice trembling with excitement".
"I wanted to get married and have children, but the team didn't allow me to, and the birth control device in my body made it impossible for me to get pregnant. In addition, for the past 8 years, a lady has fed me medicine every morning, and when I was in the rehabilitation center, they made me take more powerful drugs. Britney said, "I just want to get my life back." ”
The father (left) denied the allegations from his daughter. Source: The New York Times
In 2007, Britney was mentally unstable because she lost custody of her two children. Shave your hair in front of paparazzi cameras, pick up a long umbrella and chase reporters who are secretly shooting... A series of "out of control" behaviors have made Britney a "crazy woman" in the media's mouth.
In 2008, she was forcibly taken to a psychiatric center for treatment. Later, her father applied to the court to become Britney's "permanent guardian," which ruled that his daughter was no longer able to make informed decisions on her own because of her mental disability.
Britney said it left her father in control of everything and began to control him with blackmail and fear, "He likes to control his daughter to get her a hundred thousand percent hurt and they deserve to go to jail." ”
This online trial is just the beginning. After that, Britney attacked one after another.
"My dad would control what I wore, what I said, what I did, and that kind of surveillance killed my dreams." On July 18, Britney posted a long article on a photo wall (ins) in which she angrily rebuked the people who commented on her dancing video while clearly expressing her resistance to surveillance.
On July 26, Britney's newly hired lawyer, Matthew Rosengart, filed a 120-page petition with the court on her behalf exposing her father's control over Britney since 2008 and demanding that her father's custody and financial control be lifted.
On Aug. 6, Britney's father responded that "his sole motivation during his tenure as guardian was unconditional love for his daughter" and refused to release him from his financial rights. According to US media reports, Britney has about $60 million in assets controlled by her father.
Rescue Britney
In fact, over the years, the news of Britney's control has come out from time to time, and a "rescue Britney" campaign initiated by her fans has begun.
In 2021, The New York Times produced a documentary with "Saving Britney" as the clue. The core of the film points to a possible reality: Britney is losing her freedom under her father's surveillance, and the root cause of all this is the intrusion and scrutiny of her private life by public opinion and the public.
Fans hold up signs that read "Deliver Britney." Source: The New York Times
After the documentary aired, many public figures of Britney's contemporaries publicly expressed their support.
"Rescue Britney!" Miley Cyrus sang this during the July 4 performance.
"Give this woman's life back to her." Madonna appealed on ins.
"She deserves to be free." Paris Hilton said on social media, "I will keep calling for 'deliver Britney' until she is free." ”
Voices of protest also came from Capitol Hill.
According to the New York Times, lawmakers from both parties have expressed support for the weeks that Britney has made public accusations.
"I am completely and unambiguously in the camp of 'Deliver Britney'." Senator Ted Cruise, Republican of Texas, said.
Florida Democrat Rep. Charlie Christer revealed that the state will move quickly through bipartisan legislation to give people more rights and greater transparency.
"This case has sparked a discussion about civil liberties and the abuse of legal mechanisms." The New York Times analysis said, "It is also good for urging lawmakers to pass reforms to help those caught up in abuse." ”
Tough fights
Despite the growing protests, Britney's prospects remain worrisome.
As a young man, Britney (right) and Michael Jackson on stage. Source: Twitter
Family lawyer David Glass argued that Britney's statement in court was not at all good for her, "The words shot out like bullets, and she also admitted that she had been depressed and crying, and although I was not her counselor, these things may indicate that she is still mentally ill." ”
Legal analyst Lisa Green said, "While Britney wants the judge to end it all with a wand, this is just the beginning of a whole new legal process where the judge not only needs to hear her complaints, but also needs her friends, relatives, including her father, to give different accounts." ”
"This is probably the most unique custody case ever, and a judge wouldn't stop this surveillance without sufficient evidence." Legal analyst Danny Ceballos holds this view.
Some US media believe that Britney's professional and financial success does not directly indicate that she has regained her independence in the legal sense, "if you want to get rid of supervision, you have to be assessed for mental illness, mental health is an important indicator for judges to decide whether they can cancel custody, but Britney refuses to provide relevant proof." ”
In this regard, family lawyer Chris Melcher advised Britney: "Calm demeanor, acknowledging past problems, and accepting the court's previous decisions are the best choices for her." ”
"It was a groundbreaking day and it felt like life was different." Recently, the gaunt Britney updated the video to share that she finally had the first iPad in her life, and some people were happy for her, but more perhaps sad.
Especially when recalling the dazzling and vitality of Britney's debut, how many people will helplessly sigh: How did everything become like this?
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