I did not ever think that Britney Spears was crazy. In 2007 or 08, whenever it was, it seemed like celebrity-gossip journalists were writing that she was "crazy" because of three things:
She had her hair cut off
She drove her car with her baby on her lap
She used an umbrella to thump a car belonging to a paparazzi who was harassing her.
None of those things makes a person crazy, imo.
(I mean, -- thumped the paparazzi's car?
Boo-hoo, Sinatra used to thump the paparazzi.)
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NYT reader comments
Sharon H
Georgia
As many here have stated, I seriously doubt if this situation would be allowed to continue if this was a man or if the person was poor. This is abuse and grifting in plain sight. Sad.
Pauline
NYC
Who is looking into the judge in this sordid affair? Her comments and decisions are so bizarre that it's impossible to believe she is not being paid off within this maze of corruption and chicanery.
Criminal investigators and forensic accountants need to start some serious digging into the finances of everyone involved in this far ranging and utterly contemptible fraud.
Catherine
Washington
This whole thing is so fundamentally corrupt that it's mind-boggling how it's gone on for so long, in plain sight of the world.
Kelsey
Queens, NY
@Vera, she has no control over her social media. It's controlled by an employee of an LLC. Owned by her father. They cherry pick what to post in order to continue the narrative that Britney is unwell.
Thomas B
Los Angeles
The judge in this case must be removed for sheer incompetence.
globalnomad
Boise, Idaho
What is wrong with those judges? Are they getting kickbacks?
Jack
US
Aren't lawyers supposed to advocate for their clients? If Brittany is paying for her father's lawyers, that should mean that she, not her father, is the client. Yet those lawyers are fighting to keep the father as conservator - which also keeps money flowing to the lawyers.
It seems Brittany is being forced to pay those who are working against her best interests.
How is this possibly legal?
Wichita, Kansas
After reading the article it seems apparent to me Mr. Spears has the judge under his thumb and isn't interested in "acting out of love for his daughter," while he is very interested in maintaining his $16,000 a month plus $2,000 for office space.
I feel sorry for her. I think her entire birth family are appalling.
Kathleen
Kentucky
If Ms. Spears needs a conservatorship, I volunteer to do it for 8k a month, and I will allow her to stain her kitchen cabinets.
Patsy
Arizona
This is a bizarre story. It sounds like Ms. Spears is a prisoner. It sounds like Mr. Spears is dysfunctional, living by a warehouse in a RV. I sure hope Britany wins her freedom to live her life as she wishes. I hope she gets a better judge.
Matt
Canada
Completely revolting and infuriating. The father, the judges and lawyers involved in this are completely in the wrong and clearly motivated by selfish and perverse reasons. How can this have gone for so long...
Copprred
DC
Mr Spears is entirely too volatile and likely unfit even as a parent, never mind as conservator. He needs to be removed immediately and a solid investigation of exactly what he has been doing with her money for years.
Ellen F. Dobson
West Orange, New Jersey
Her failed father is in it for money. And so are the judge and the lawyers. End of story. Once a person is forced into conservatorship it is extremely hard to terminate. Why? I really have no idea.
Dimitri
France
Where do we find these judges? They should be in jail.
CitizenTM
NYC
After having lived in Europe for more than a decade now, I must say from multiple experiences: the US family courts are the worst in the so-called West.
Stewart
North Carolina
I have read previously that she has attempted to hire her own attorney on two occasions. Both of these attorneys were told by the judge they were unable to enter into a client-attorney relationship due to Ms. Spears being deemed incompetent.
Thus they could not represent Ms. Spears and she was required to deal with the court appointed attorney.
["Catch-22"]
Massachusetts
Follow the money. As long as Brittney Spears can make money, her father will try to control her.
London
I have read elsewhere that corruption in the justice system is the reason this has gone on as long and as absurdly as it has. I have no proof to back it up personally but she had a fortune of well over $500m by some estimates which has shrunk to $60m, not a little of which may have been lining these legal pockets.
Dave
Poway, California
Britney Spears court appointed lawyer seems to be acting in his own financial interests, not the interests of his client.
Budleymac
Canada
Wow...it's hard to imagine that every person in this story isn't somehow on the take.
Todd
Wisconsin
@Karen McHale, I agree. This is utterly inconsistent with the legal standards for conservatorship. If she was poor, the county human services department would be involved. In this case, it doesn't seem like there are any disinterested parties involved.
Lagrange
California
This is a bizarre story! Why would they give conservatorship to a dad who has barely been there, is a recovering alcoholic himself, is apparently not holding any jobs and has a history of verbal and physical abuse?!
A lot of male performers have way more "colorful" conduct than Brittney and no one deems them incapacitated to make their own decisions!
The court has succumbed to the demands of an overbearing over-controlling father over his daughter. This needs to end immediately.
Frank
Dublin
@Andy W, If she isn't mentally well enough to take care of herself she shouldn't have been performing hundreds of tours and multiple albums. Her father and the team surrounding her are taking advantage of her. If she has mental illness or not she is being exploited.
DD
Boston
Those commenting on her Instagram are poorly informed. Her father through the conservatorship owns the rights to her Instagram and controls the content through a media manager that does his bidding. Of course they are creating a narrative to keep the conservatorship in place. Money, money, money, money.
Ericka
New York
Conservatorship is a dangerous and nearly permanent tool used by crooks to bilk elderly of their assets and by family to abuse family. It should not be so irreversible. That someone works their whole life and what they earned can be taken so easily and permanently including agency over one's life. It is a crime indeed.
Christopher McHale
New York
"A recent $890,000 bill from one set of Mr. Spears's lawyers, covering about four months of work, included media strategizing for defending the conservatorship." $890,000 for four months work? We're watching an adult citizen get legally raped by an out of control legal system.
Jacksonville
Why doesn't someone talk about the lawyers and what they have made off the continuation of this abuse?...This case shows the disgraceful state of conservancy laws in this country. She should sue the jackals for every dime they have collected.
Kate S
Delaware
Even worse, part of her allegation is that she has been forced to work when she didn't want to (example, when she was extremely ill) and that the threat of involuntary commitment is held over her head.
She says she was placed in an institution a few years ago as punishment for arguing during a rehearsal.
Her saying it doesn't make it true, but the known facts of her situation are so bizarre and horrifying that I don't find it hard to believe.
It's absurd that anyone could argue that all of this is "for her own good," regardless of her competence.
Carolyn
Riverside, California
The financial arrangement with her father is prima facie conflict of interest. She needs a separate management firm to make professional decisions. But these conservatorships are notoriously difficult to modify or end.
Gary Fern
Honolulu, Hawaii
Dad's a loser. Peaked as High School quarterback and it's been downhill from there. So he leached onto his daughter so he'd make more than minimum wage which he is qualified for. Ms. Spears may need some guidance (don't we all at times) but dad is the leach of leaches.
Good luck Britney. I'm rooting for the end of your conservatorship and a road to some normalcy - if a pop star can have that.
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#FreeBritney
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