For the past 13 years Britney Spears, famous singer/performer, had been in a conservatorship under her father. James Spears took charge of all her financial dealings and had a hand in planning out her life for the last decade. 

A conservatorship or guardianship is created when the court deems a person unfit to oversee their finances. Oftentimes this happens with those with disabilities or older people who cannot care for themselves.  

Recently there has been a trend on social media, “#freebritney”, claiming that Spears was getting taken advantage of. The movement brought up a lot of uproar against Britney’s family and people claimed that she was being treated unfairly.  

“My dad in the loop made me feel like I was dead, like I didn’t matter, like nothing had been done to me…I’m not lying. I want to feel heard. And I’m telling you this again so maybe you can understand the depth and the degree and the damage that they did to me back then.” Stated Spears during her conservatorship trial. 

On October 5th Spears was released from her father’s conservatorship. Spears later thanked her fans publicly on social media claiming that they played a large role in helping free her. Many claim that this would’ve never happened without the support of social media.  

“Media has a huge effect on many celebrities and politics they’re related to.” states Juhee Lee, senior at Davis High. 

Even if the media brought this issue into the light, the courts wouldn’t have ruled in her favor if it wasn’t a logical claim. Britney claims to have suffered a lot during the conservatorship, including not being allowed to see her boyfriend and kids. 

“It probably has a lot to do with experiences in her personal life and personal health too.” claims Lee. 

Spears suffered under her father’s control for 13 years, and media attention was able to help bring that to a stop.