Despite the world’s shock after revealing the level of control she is under during an explosive court hearing, Britney Spears’ plea to have her father removed from her conservatorship was denied last month.
A judge ruled that Jamie Spears, 58 – who Britney claimed “should be in jail” for his role in controlling her life – will remain as co-guardian. Yet insiders say that, instead of being knocked by the decision, the star is staging a rebellion in a bid to regain her freedom.
Britney’s acts of defiance began after she spoke out in court – the first time she’s done so during her 13 years under the order – when she jetted off on a romantic Hawaiian holiday with boyfriend Sam Asghari.
She was pictured smiling as they lounged on a beach and smoking a cigarette while sunbathing on their hotel balcony. She was also seen being driven by Sam before they headed to Hawaii – despite revealing she didn’t have access to her own money and was not even allowed to “ride in my boyfriend’s car”.
She also seemingly took control of her own Instagram – despite having a social media manager, who is approved by her father – when she addressed her struggles for the first time, writing, “I apologize for pretending like I’ve been ok the past two years… I did it because of my pride and I was embarrassed to share what happened to me.”
Now, insiders confirm to Closer that the latest moves were not approved by her father – who was granted control of her life and £60m fortune, following her highly-publicised breakdown in 2007 – but she is fighting back.
A source says, “Britney has a new-found strength since the hearing and feels more empowered than ever. Something inside of her changed the moment she made that plea. It was like a light switch went off and she snapped. She’s decided to live her life as she wants, no matter the consequences.
“Getting it all out there for the world to hear, and to have so much public support in the aftermath, has helped. She no longer feels she has to live in fear of being punished, because she knows all eyes are on her now. She has been given a voice and she’s being listened to, so she’s using it as an opportunity to take matters into her own hands and do what she wants.”
Despite the judge’s latest decision, the case isn’t over and legal experts warn it could rumble on for years. Their lawyers are back in court on 14 July and Britney will be able to petition to end the conservatorship, after saying she hadn’t realised she was able to apply to do so.
In one of the most disturbing details of the harrowing court appearance, the mum of two claimed she is not allowed to have her contraceptive IUD removed, despite her longing to start a family with Sam, 27.
Last week, her dad denied he was to blame for this and his lawyers asked the court to investigate the claims Britney made in court. He also said he was not involved with her marriage or reproductive freedom, pointing out instead her medical care was down to co-conservator Jodi Montgomery – who then denied Jamie’s claims. Montgomery’s lawyer said Ms Montgomery had been “a tireless advocate for Britney and for her wellbeing”.
However, insiders say the pop star is now determined to fall pregnant before her 40th birthday in December, whether the court-sanctioned order is lifted or not.
The source adds, “Brit and Sam want to be a family and she knows time is ticking for her, so she doesn’t want to waste another moment waiting for the powers that be to decide whether they can or can’t.”
Previously, conservatorship lawyer Mina Sirkin – who knows Britney’s lawyer, Sam Ingham – told Closer that it was unlikely the pop star could have her conservatorship overturned without a medical examination, which she’s refusing to do.
Britney spoke about her struggles with bipolar disorder in 2013, saying, “I turn into this different person” due to the condition, which causes manic mood swings and episodes of extreme highs and lows – but it’s unclear if she has episodes now. It’s also recently been alleged her dad claimed in court documents that she has dementia.
However, speaking to Closer again from her Los Angeles office last week, Mina reveals that there is only so much that can be done to stop her from having another baby.
She says, “The real obstacle for Britney will be getting the IUD taken out, as her doctor is under the order of her conservator. But it’s possible she could go somewhere else under disguise with fake ID and get it removed by another doctor. There will be someone out there who, I’m sure, would take it out for her.
“If she does fall pregnant, the court can’t impose any punishment and they cannot ask her to abort the baby or take the child away. The only way her father could make it difficult for her is to restrict her financially.”
Mina explains there is also nothing that could have been legally done to stop her from jetting to Hawaii, again reiterating they can only do so by stopping her cashflow.
Britney has had an outpouring of support, with singer pal Iggy Azalea and former teen rival Christina Aguilera speaking out in her defence last week.
Insiders say that seeing such a loyal support base has given her the confidence to push forward with her case. Once she files a petition to end the conservatorship, a date will be set for another court hearing and potentially a trial.
Check out: the most shocking celebrity breakups of the decade
Most shocking breakups of the decade - slider
1 of 30Louise and Jamie Redknapp
They were the British A-list couple that we thought would last but the world was stunned in July 2017 when Louise and Jamie Redknapp confirmed they'd split after 19 years together. Months later Louise opened up about the end of her marriage and following the end of the Redknapp marriage, it was reported that celebrities were refusing to sign up to the BBC show because of the Strictly curse.
2 of 30Cheryl and Ashley Cole
Cheryl and Ashley Cole first met in 2004 and quickly became an A-list couple. Two years later they tied the knot in an extravagant wedding. However, in 2010 following cheating allegations that were splashed across the media, Chez split from her footballer husband.
3 of 30Lisa Armstrong and Ant McPartlin
Lisa Armstrong and Ant McPartlin had been together for 23 years and married for 11 but in January 2018, the TV presenter confirmed he was filing for divorce following his rehab stint.However after a drink driving arrest, a second visit to rehab and liking a lot of shady tweets – the pair officially divorced nine months after splitting.
4 of 30Lenny Henry and Dawn French
At the beginning of the decade, Dawn French and Lenny Henry announced they were splitting after 25 years of marriage.
5 of 30Paul and Alex Hollywood
Great British Bake Off star Paul Hollywood and his wife Alex split after 20 years together. They'd previously split in 2013 after the GBBO star had an affair with his American co-star but they managed to patch things over and make things work. For a while.
6 of 30Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
We still can't believe Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie split in 2016 after ten years together and two years marriage. The couple are parents to six children; Maddox, 18, Shiloh, 13, Pax, 16, Zahara, 14, Vivienne, 11, and Knox, 11. Even George Clooney was stunned at the news; well, to be fair he did find out during an interview.
7 of 30Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green
We thought they'd be a real-life Romeo and Juliet (minus the death) but Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green called it quits after being married for three years. We weren't the only ones who thought they were a power couple; remember when Craig Lawson joked he'd be the next Pro Green and Millie with Camilla Thurlow? Yeah, that didn't last.
8 of 30Bruce and Kris Jenner
They're the head of the Kardashian/Jenner household but in 2013 the world was shocked when Bruce and Kris Jenner announced they had separated after 23 years of marriage. A year later, Kris filed for divorce and cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason. A month after their divorce was finalised, Bruce publicly came out as a transgender woman – Caitlyn.
9 of 30Katy Perry and Russell Brand
One of the most heart-breaking celebrity break ups was definitely Katy Perry and Russell Brand, after all, she found out their 14-month marriage ended via TEXT. Their entire split was shown on her documentary Part of Me and remarkably Katy still performed on stage just hours after Russell announced he wanted to end their marriage.
10 of 30Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom
Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom had only known each other for three weeks before they tied the knot. Yes, really. They lasted four years before the Keeping Up with The Kardashians star filed for divorce. However, in 2015 she withdrew the file after Lamar suffered a drug overdose and she had to take control of his health decisions. There were reports that the pair would reunite but in 2016 their divorce was finalised.
11 of 30Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries
Kim appeared to have followed in the footsteps as her younger sister Khloe when she got engaged to Kris Humphries after just seven months. She documented her 'dream' wedding on Keeping Up with The Kardashians but their relationship didn't last and they split just 72 DAYS after their wedding. Their breakup was also documented on their show.
12 of 30Stormzy and Maya Jama
We're still devastated about Stormzy and Maya Jama splitting, tbh. They were the dream team and had been together for four years – despite being very private they appeared in Vogue magazine together and the grime artist dedicated a song to her. However in August 2019 they called it quits and the TV presenter unfollowed him on Instagram.
13 of 30Seal and Heidi Klum
Seal and Heidi Klum renewed their wedding vows every year on their anniversary however after a seven-year marriage they called it quits. The A-list couple are parents to four children; Leni (who Heidi had from a previous relationship, but Seal adopted) and during their relationship they also welcomed Henry, Johan and Lou into the world.
14 of 30Gary Lucy and Natasha Gray
After dating for 10 years and then being married for four, Gary Lucy and Natasha Gray called time on their marriage. The pair confirmed the news in a statement saying, "This was a very difficult decision, but was reached mutually and amicably. No other parties are involved."
15 of 30Liam Payne and Cheryl
We're pretty sure the world was shocked when Liam Payne and Cheryl announced they were dating. However they then went on to welcome baby Bear Grey Payne into the world and despite breakup rumours they posed together at the Brit Awards in 2018. Unfortunately a few months later – and a total of two years together - they split.
16 of 30Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy
This break up is still a bit weird and we're not really sure why it happened because – spoiler alert – they're not real people. Anyways, in 2015 the puppets announced the end of their relationship in a lengthy statement.
17 of 30Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick
Another KUWTK break up – this one more surprising than the others – was Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick. The pair had been together for nine years and during that time they welcomed Mason, Penelope and Reign. They'd split a few times throughout their relationship – which included Scott doing to rehab and cheating allegations. However in 2015 they split for good.
18 of 30Cheryl and Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini
Cheryl literally surprised the world when she announced on Instagram that she had eloped with Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini after three months of dating. The pair seemed totally in love until Cheryl raised concerns among fans after losing a lot of weight and slammed any split rumours by revealing her father in law had died. Unfortunately their romance wasn't to last and after 18 months of marriage they split.
19 of 30Perrie Edwards and Zayn Malik
Little Mix's Perri Edwards and One Direction's Zayn Malik were X Factor sweethearts. They supported each other's career, posted adorable snaps and even got a puppy together. The singers then got engaged but two years later – following cheating accusations and after Zayn quit One Direction – it came to light that he ended their relationship. While she claimed he dumped her via text, he denied it.
20 of 30Adele and Simon Konecki
She's notoriously private with her life but in 2019 is came to light that Adele and her husband Simon Konecki had split. Awhopping £145m is the figure being talked about in relation to their divorce. In 2012 they welcomed their only child into the world – Angelo.
21 of 30Chris Pratt and Anna Faris
Chris Pratt and Anna Faris announced they were splitting back in 2018 and a few months later their divorce was finalised. At the time they released a statement, saying: "We tried hard for a long time, and we're really disappointed. "Our son has two parents who love him very much and for his sake we want to keep this situation as private as possible moving forward."They went on to say they "still have love for each other".
22 of 30Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan
Step Up stars Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan called it quits after being married for eight years. At the time they insisted they'd "lovingly chosen to separate as a couple". During their relationship they welcomed their daughter Everly into the world.
23 of 30Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk
We were devastated in June 2019 when one of the hottest A-list couples – Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk – split after four years together. Apparently the parents to their daughter Lea De Seine hadn't "been good for a few months".
24 of 30Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes dated for seven years and were married for six but in 2012 it came to light that she had filed for divorce. He later spoke out and admitted he "did not expect" the turn of events.
25 of 30Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux
Friends star Jennifer Aniston and her husband Justin Theroux called it quits after being married for two years. At the time they said the "decision was mutual and loving" and it appeared to be the truth because a year later to paid tribute to his ex-wife to celebrate her 50th birthday.
26 of 30Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom
Victoria's Secret model and Hollywood actor Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom broke up after six years together. After being married for three years they announced they'd been "amicably separated for the past few months" before confirming their relationship had ended.
27 of 30Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth lived a real-life story after falling in love on the set of The Last Song. However after four years together they split. They were then on/off but decided to call it quits AGAIN after eight years together. Their relationship didn't end there though because they reunited and got married but eight months after their wedding they split again.
28 of 30Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson
Another couple who took the world by surprise were Twilightstars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. They met on the set of the vampire phenomenon back in 2009 and fell in love. While we all thought it would last, it didn't. Their relationship hit a rough patch in 2012 when Kristen's affair with her married director Rupert Sanders was exposed by paparazzi. Robert forgave her and they tried to make it work but they split a few months later.
29 of 30Fergie and Josh Duhamel
After eight years together Fergie and Josh Duhamel announced their split. Fast forward two years and Fergie filed for divorce.
30 of 30Matt Leblanc and Aurora Mulligan
In news that shocked Friends fans the world over, In February 2022 it was reported that Matt LeBlanc - best known for playing Joey Tribbiani on the show – had split from his girlfriend of six years, Top Gear producer Aurora Mulligan.
The source adds, “Being sent messages from high-power, high-profile people has made Britney believe she can end this.
“It’s not only given her more confidence, it’s made her realise she’s not crazy like she was made to believe – she deserves to live the life she wants.”
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Dr C: ‘Her sanctions are normal for someone with severe bipolar’
Despite rumours Britney is under the conservatorship due to early onset dementia, Closer’s Dr Christian Jessen says it’s more likely it is due to “severe bipolar disorder”.
Dr C explains, if true, “This kind of restriction is normal to put on people with extreme bipolar, due to tendencies to behave erratically. Britney said she was put on lithium against her will, but it is a common drug to treat bipolar as it’s a mood stabiliser.
“There’s the argument that she’s an adult so can choose whether to take medication, but then she wouldn’t necessarily make good decisions. That’s where law and medicine cross, so it gets tricky. We’ve seen no statements from her medical team – to protect her privacy and confidentiality – but it’s likely the court made the decision based on them. It’s common for patients to rebel and want more freedom when they feel good, but people looking after them can be reluctant in case of another episode.”