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Britney Spears's Father, Jamie, Finally Spoke Out About the #FreeBritney Movement
Britney Spears Fans Declare War on Singer's Dad, Demand End to Conservatorship
These are interesting times in the life of Britney Spears.
And that's somewhat surprising, as it appears that the pop icon has not left her home in several months.
Even so, Brit hasn't been this much of a tabloid staple since her infamous head-shaving meltdown back in 2007.
While that strange situation unfolded just over a decade ago, it was a different time in terms of society's sensitivity toward mental health issues, as well as the tabloid media's willingness to kick a suffering celeb when they're down.
Thankfully, Britney's current situation is being handled with a bit more compassion -- though the main reason for that might be the fact that it's her fans who are controlling the coverage.
If you're one of those fans, you're probably well aware that for most of her adult life, Britney's freedom has been severely restricted by a conservatorship controlled primarily by her father.
Under the terms of the arrangement, Britney cannot make any major decisions with regard to her finances, her career, or even the raising of her children.
Many of the details are not publicly known, but Britney has confirmed that she's not permitted to drive, and fans have speculated that she's not even allowed to leave the house without permission.
Now, the strain of life in a gilded cage appears to be taking a toll on Britney's mental health,
The first sign of trouble came back in April, when Spears burned down her home gym.
Officially, the incident was an accident, but some fans jumped to the conclusion that Britney was crying out for help.
In the months since, reports of Spears sending coded messages through her Instagram posts have put her fan base in a hyper-vigilant state.
Many believe that Britney is being held captive, and recent events have only heightened their suspicions.
First, a conservatorship review hearing was canceled due to alleged privacy concerns.
Shortly thereafter, Britney's brother gave a bizarre interview in which he described the conservatorship as "a wonderful thing" for his family.
Now, her father, Jamie Spears, is speaking out about the so-called #FreeBritney movement for the first time.
"All these conspiracy theorists don't know anything. The world doesn't have a clue," Jamie recently told Page Six.
"It's up to the court of California to decide what's best for my daughter. It's no one else's business," he added.
"I have to report every nickel and dime spent to the court every year. How the hell would I steal something?"
The remarks sent Britney fans into an uproar.
Some responded by ramping up their allegations against Jamie, while others pointed out that much of his questionable conduct has been verified by court documents.
"You accuse us of starting conspiracies on your daughter. But you know what's not a conspiracy? You asking for a raise for taking care of your daughter," one #FreeBritney activist tweeted.
"You hanging out with your handlers/managers group, living your best life off Britney's money, without her."
Others appealed to law enforcement agencies, imploring them to step in:
"We want an investigation on Britney Spears' conservatorship @CalCourts @FBILosAngeles @FBI," tweeted one fan.
"We want an investigation on Britney Spears' conservatorship @CalCourts @FBILosAngeles @FBI."\
Others seconded those demands in the replies:
"Yes. #FreeXBritney #FreeBritney END THE CONSERVATORSHIP," wrote one fan.
"Britney Spears' fans don't want her medical or private records to be public. We want her to be free. Pass it on - #FreeBritney," another echoed.
The Blast reports, both the hashtag and the movement have caught on in recent weeks.
Fans protested outside the courthouse before Spears' latest hearing was canceled, and an online petition urging the judge in her case to end the conservatorship has received more than 100,000 signatures.
Obviously, none of this will force the court to bend to the movement's will, but Jamie Spears is likely feeling the pressure to at least make the arrangement more transparent.
Britney Spears's father, Jamie, Finally Spoke Out About the #FreeBritney Movement. Britney Spears has lived her life in a fishbowl since the release of her first album, …Baby One More Time, in 1999. Her triumphs, her struggles, her relationships, and of course, her music have been chronicled in the press and tabloids, and her rabid fanbase has never waned in their affection over the course of her career.
It seems like every few months the #FreeBritney movement bubbles up on social media. For those who don't know what that is, it was started last year by fans who oppose the conservatorship Spears is currently under that gives her very little control over her legal affairs. According to People, Britney's father, Jamie, stepped down as Britney's permanent conservator due to "personal health reasons," and her "care-manager," Jodi Montgomery, temporarily took the role.
Jamie recently spoke out about the situation, people calling for Britney to be "freed," and claims that he is stealing money from his daughter. "All these conspiracy theorists don't know anything. The world doesn't have a clue," he told Page Six. "It's up to the court of California to decide what's best for my daughter. It's no one else's business.
"I have to report every nickel and dime spent to the court every year," he continued. "How the hell would I steal something?"
Spears also spoke out about the aggressive behavior of a certain segment of Britney's fanbase. "People are being stalked and targeted with death threats," he said. "It's horrible. We don't want those kinds of fans.
"I love my daughter," he said. "I love all my kids. But this is our business. It's private."
Britney Spears's younger sister, Jamie Lynn, also recently spoke out in defense of the singer, shutting down a social media commenter who questioned her mental health.
"You have no right to assume anything about my sister. And I have no right to speak about HER health and personal matters," she said. "She is a strong, badass, unstoppable woman, and that's the only thing that is OBVIOUS."