#FreeBritney: USD students help the movement gain momentum

Unpacking the history behind the movement and students’ goals for its future

Olivia Hunt / Asst. A&C Editor

Two weeks ago, The New York Times released a documentary on Hulu called “Framing Britney Spears.” The film puts a new spotlight on the Free Britney Movement, through which fans and celebrities have spoken out about Britney Spears’ unjust treatment, especially pertaining to her long-standing conservatorship. Though Spears has endured several court battles over her conservatorship since 2008, the Free Britney Movement wasn’t sparked until over a decade later.

In April of 2019, “Britney’s Gram,” a podcast in which two women analyze Britney Spears’ confusing and, at times, concerning Instagram posts, received a shocking tip. An anonymous source, claiming to have worked as a paralegal for the legal team in charge of Britney’s conservatorship, urged that Britney Spears had been put in a mental health facility against her will. The source also asserted that Spears’ father, who runs her conservatorship, is more focused on exploiting Britney than helping her heal. Currently, Britney is refusing to work until her father is no longer managing her career. 

USD seniors Helena Witiw and Alessandra Rios have been advocates for the movement ever since its ignition in 2019. The two capitalize on social media to distribute “Free Britney” petitions and post content to raise awareness about Spears’ conservatorship. In order to fully understand the movement now, it’s important to take a look back at Spears’ history. 

The late 90s was an era of boy bands, butterfly clips, and Britney Spears. But, amidst the novelty of MTV,  the entertainment industry was not a progressive environment. Talk show hosts could ask female celebrities sexist questions without fear of backlash, and women’s bodies and sexuality were constantly under a magnifying glass. In short, it was an environment that any 16-year-old girl would have difficulty navigating — especially one suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Upon the release of her 1998 hit single, “…Baby One More Time,” Britney Spears achieved international fame almost overnight. Her debut album topped the Billboard 200 charts the same year, and went on to sell 25 million copies around the world.

Witiw gave her opinion as to why the late 90s to early 2000s was an especially tough time for female artists.

“I remember growing up at the time and constantly seeing negative comments about female celebrities like Britney in the media, while at the same time seeing constant praise of men,” Witiw said. “Jessica Simpson’s brand was focused on her being a virgin, but men like Justin Timberlake were allowed to be known for their talents. That taught me, as a young girl, that my worth is determined by my body and how I use it; I learned that how a man uses his body is irrelevant to his character.” 

The media also perpetuated mental health stigma throughout the 2000s and beyond.  In 2007, when Britney Spears was at the height of her fame, she’d recently given birth to two children back-to-back. It’s now widely reported that she had suffered from postpartum depression. At the time, however, the media chalked up Britney’s erratic behavior to her simply being “crazy.” Her condition worsened following a custody battle with her ex-husband, partnered with relentless harassment by paparazzi. Britney’s notorious “breakdown” ensued: the singer shaved her head and decided to take a much-needed break from the limelight. In the wake of public calls for her to receive help and medical attention, Jamie Spears, Britney’s father, filed for conservatorship over his daughter in 2008.

The legal jargon behind a “conservatorship” can be a bit tricky. For some clarity, Witiw explained what the term means, and why it’s central to the Free Britney Movement.

“The conservatorship, which is put in place to help people, ended up being the driving force behind her exploitation,” Witiw said. “A conservatorship allows a guardian to be in charge of someone’s finances, estate, or person because they are unfit to do so themselves. It’s meant to protect people who aren’t capable of making important life decisions.”

The initial news of Britney’s conservatorship was shocking to the public for several reasons. One, Britney was young. Conservatorships are typically reserved for senior citizens who aren’t of sound mind or able to take care of themselves. The second reason was that, prior to her “breakdown,” Britney’s father was barely involved in her life. He went from having little contact with his daughter to controlling some of the most important aspects of her life — her finances and her career. Britney’s career, however, didn’t end after the conservatorship. In fact, it led to one of the biggest come-backs in entertainment history. 

Alessandra Rios feels passionate about the Free Britney Movement and hopes to raise awareness about Britney’s legal situation. She provided further insight as to why the conservatorship has become controversial, and why it resumed Britney’s career instead of pausing it. 

“The New York Times documentary exposes some legal documents related to Britney’s court trials,” Rios said. “One document says that the plan for the conservatorship was to be a hybrid business model. Of course, that’s not what a conservatorship is supposed to be. It’s far from it.”

Britney maintained her career during the first 11 years of her conservatorship — she went on tour, participated in TV interviews, and completed a residency in Las Vegas. The only difference was that all the money she earned was (and still is) controlled by her father, and dispensed to her through “weekly allowances.” Many of Spears’ fans, including Witiw and Rios, argue that if her mental health improved enough for her to perform, then her conservatorship is obsolete. 

Another contentious aspect of Britney’s legal battle is that the money from her estate is being used to fund her legal team as well as that of her father. Questions have been raised regarding whether or not Britney should be forced to pay legal fees for a conservatorship she is actively fighting against. 

Witiw and Rios expressed how they’d like the movement to move forward in the future. 

“We want Britney to be free from her conservatorship as soon as possible,” Witiw said. “We fully believe she is capable of making her own decisions, and that her father should not have control over her finances, estate, medical decisions or legal representation.”

“We also hope this documentary sheds light on celebrities and their participation in negative media portrayals,” Rios added. “Celebrities like Justin Timberlake should be held accountable for their actions in perpetuating negative images about women and their supposed promiscuity.” 

The next court hearing over Britney’s conservatorship is scheduled for March 11 of this year. While Witiw and Rios hope for a positive outcome, they will continue their promotion of the #FreeBritney Movement in the meantime.