There have been many hearings and court rulings handed down around Britney Spears' controversial conservatorship - but yesterday saw the pop star speak at length for the first time about her situation.
Spears gave a 24-minute-long testimony at the open hearing in Los Angeles that saw her call for an end to the 'abusive' conservatorship that has ruled her life for more than a decade.
"I just want my life back. And it’s been 13 years. And it’s enough,” she said. “All I want is to own my money, for this to end, and for my boyfriend to be able to fucking drive me in his car. And I would honestly like to sue my family.”
She also revealed some of the most alarming aspects of the conservatorship, including the fact that she had been prevented from removing an IUD birth control device, had been drugged and had been forced to perform against her will since 2008.
"This so-called team won’t let me go to the doctor to take [the IUD] out because they don’t want me to have children,” she said. “I want to be able to get married and have a baby. I was told right now in the conservatorship I am not able to get married and have a baby.”
She said that she has "been in denial. I’ve been in shock. I am traumatised."
"I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive," she added. "I don’t feel like I can live a full life."
Spears has been under a conservatorship that covers both her person and her estate since 2008, when her father Jamie petitioned the court for authority over his now-39-year-old daughter following concerns for her mental health and potential substance abuse. She said of him and the management team who had intimidated her, "they should be in jail."
She had previously addressed the court at a closed hearing in 2019, but said that she felt she had not been listened to. "And that’s why I’m telling you this again two years later, after I’ve lied and told the whole world “I’m OK and I’m happy.” It’s a lie," she said. "I thought I just maybe if I said that enough maybe I might become happy, because I’ve been in denial. I’ve been in shock. I am traumatized. You know, fake it till you make it. But now I’m telling you the truth, OK? I’m not happy. I can’t sleep. I’m so angry it’s insane. And I’m depressed. I cry every day."
Two of the things that she said she wanted to do - and was currently unable to - was get her hair and nails done at will, and drive to see some friends who live "eight minutes away".
Over 100 fans gathered outside the LA courthouse to lend their support, while other names from the music business - including her ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake, Brandy, Mariah Carey and more - spoke up for her on social media.
The full testimony can he read here.
