What is the FREE Britney Act, and How Could it Help Britney Spears Now?
Why is Britney Spears not free? What is the Free Britney Act? What does the #FreeBritney movement want to free Spears from? The new FREE Act might help the pop icon get out of her father’s clutches for good. However, it won’t free Britney from the conservatorship completely. Plus, below is a quick rundown regarding how James Parnell Spears secured a conservatorship over his daughter and why she can’t get out after 13 years.
What is the Free Britney Act?
The FREE Act doesn’t include Britney Spears’ name, but its creators came up with a catchy acronym to please the #FreeBritney movement. According to the New York Times, the Freedom and Right to Emancipate from Exploitation (FREE) Act was introduced in Congress by two U.S. Representatives. A Republican from South Carolina, Nancy Mace, and a Democrat from Florida, Charlie Crist, introduced the bill.
If passed, a person under a conservatorship or guardianship will have the right to ask for a replacement guardian or conservator. In Britney Spears’ case, if this bill had been in place, she could have been free from James Parnell Spears years ago. The current law forces the person in the conservatorship to prove fraud or abuse in court. That is frequently very difficult to do. The new bill also assigns an independent caseworker to monitor for signs of abuse or neglect — which Britney needs desperately. However, it depends on how long the act takes to pass to determine if it might help free Britney.
When did Britney Spears’ conservatorship start?
The #FreeBritney movement strives to remove Britney Spears from her father’s conservatorship, which she was placed under in 2008. According to Lynne Spears’ memoir, Through the Storm, James secured the conservatorship to protect Britney from Sam Lutfi. Lynne wrote that Lutfi came into Britney’s life at a time when she was most vulnerable. He quickly became her manager and closest confidant.
Lynne claimed that Lutfi drugged Britney and took advantage of her fortune. So, in 2008, a judge granted James a temporary conservatorship over Britney’s now $60 million fortune and her personal decisions/rights. However, fans and supporters found out on June 23, that they were correct, she wished to get out of the conservatorship. Hopefully, the FREE act will help those like Britney in the future, if it doesn’t pass in time to help the pop star.
Why is Britney not free?
On Jun 23, 2021, Britney gave a heartbreaking testimony to Judge Brenda Penny in probate court. According to the New York Times transcript, she equated the conservatorship she was in to jail and even sex trafficking. The pop icon testified that the team, which included her close family, would not let her marry or have more children. She also explained that the team forced her to take Lithium against her will.
Following the testimony, Britney’s longtime court-appointed attorney, Sam Ingham III, still failed to petition the court to end her conservatorship. Instead, he resigned. So, the pop icon fought for the right to choose a new council with the help of her mother, Lynne.
Since the FREE Act is not in place currently to help Britney, it’s up to her her new lawyer, Mathew Rosengart. He announced on Monday that he is working hard to remove James from the conservatorship.
“My firm and I are moving aggressively and expeditiously to file a petition to remove Jamie Spears unless he resigns first,” Rosengart said on July 19, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Hopefully, the new FREE Act will be passed quickly to help others who fall into situations similar to Britney Spears.
