Days after a new documentary sparked outrage about the controversial guardianship Britney Spears has been living under for 13 years, the legal battle over the troubled pop star’s future raged on in a Los Angeles court last week.
The case centres on a legal arrangement that has given Britney’s father, Jamie Spears, complete control over her £60m estate since 2008 – as well as her medical care and almost every aspect of her day-to-day life. It had been enforced after Britney had a series of worrying public appearances in 2007, infamously shaving off her hair and attacking a photographer’s car with an umbrella before briefly being admitted to a hospital psychiatric ward months later.
Mental health However, cracks in the conservatorship over her began to show in January 2019 when Britney announced she was taking a career break. Three months later, she checked into a mental health facility before reportedly asking the courts to end the ruling over her. At the time, Britney’s mum, Lynne, claimed her daughter was in “dire shape” and “needed her mother”.
Last autumn, lawyers for Britney, 39, filed for Jamie to be removed as sole conservator, arguing that she was “afraid of her father” and would refuse to perform until he was removed as her guardian.
In November, a judge declined to remove Jamie, but granted 50 per cent of the conservatorship to a financial company, Bessemer Trust – though Britney is said to want the firm to have sole control.
And last week, the judge denied Jamie’s request to have power over all of his daughter’s finances and the current co-conservatorship will continue. Britney does not want her father to be involved in any way in the controversial arrangement, but Jamie himself has always insisted he’s acting in her best interests, saying he loves her “unconditionally” and alleging that her team are motivated by “self-serving interests”.
The next court hearing – to settle financial details – is set for 17 March, but she is still forced to adhere to incredibly strict rules.
Britney has been thrown back into the headlines recently with the release of documentary Framing Britney Spears, which has exposed details of the restrictions imposed on her. In an Instagram post last week that many fans took to refer to the show, she wrote, “Remember, no matter what we think we know about a person’s life it is nothing compared to the actual person living behind the lens.”
Britney has previously compared her situation to “prison”. Speaking out in 2008 shortly after the ruling was first made, she said, “Even when you go to jail, y’know, there’s the time when you’re gonna get out… I never wanted to become one of those prisoner people. I always wanted to feel free. I think I’ve learnt my lesson now and enough is enough.”
And last week, Britney’s boyfriend – personal trainer Sam Asghari, who she’s been dating since 2016 – spoke out, claiming Jamie was trying to “control” their relationship. He said, “I have zero respect for someone trying to control our relationship and constantly throwing obstacles our way. In my opinion, Jamie is a total d***.”
Shockingly, a source tells Closer that Britney – who has 30 per cent custody over her two sons Sean Preston, 15, and Jayden James, 14, with ex-husband Kevin Federline – is under constant surveillance.
Check out: 28 celebs who look very different after plastic surgery
From Katie Price to Kim Kardashian, it's the most drastic plastic surgery faces - SLIDER with a cover pic
1 of 29From Katie Price to Kim Kardashian...
Have these celebs had a little help about the face? In our opinion, hell yes! Although some of them have been coy about whether they've had surgical attention to help with their striking looks. Take a look and decide for yourself if it's all down to good genes or...not.
2 of 29Sam Faiers
Since joining TOWIE back in 2010 it's safe to say Sam Faiers' look has changed over the years however the reality star has denied having any work done.Back in 2015, she spoke out about cosmetic surgery claims and wrote on Instagram: "A couple of weekly magazines have said I have had surgery, fillers & an EYE lift.. Yes apparently at 24 I have had an eye lift. "At fashion week I tried new looks with my makeup & now according to them I have had a face lift. "It's hurtful & not true!"So we've decided to leave these photos here; on the left she was 19 and on the right she's 27...
3 of 29Meg Ryan
Back in 1989 the fresh faced Meg Ryan appeared gorgeous however 20 years later and the actress almost looks unrecognisable. The When Harry Met Sally actress has never confirmed or denied having plastic surgery but she's previously said: "I love my age. I love my life right now. "I love the person I've become, the one I've evolved into."
4 of 29Kim Kardashian
She's arguably the biggest reality TV star in the world but over the years there's been a lot of speculation about plastic surgery she may have had done. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star has previously confirmed she's had botox and her baby hairs lasered off. Although she's since revealed she regrets the laser, she wrote on her website: "My forehead had all these little baby hairs, and I would always break out because of them."Every photographer would Photoshop them out anyway, and I thought I looked better without the baby hairs, but now I miss them."
5 of 29Alicia Douvall
Her career kick started as a glamour model and she's since gone on to star in Celebrity Big Brother, alongside Katie Price and Katie Hopkins. However, Alicia Douvall's mainly known for having over 300 surgeries and spending an estimated £1million on it all.In an exclusive interview with Closer magazine, the reality star opened up about her toxic bum implants and has previously admitted she's had cheek and chin fillers and nose jobs.
6 of 29Lindsay Lohan
It's safe to say Lindsay Lohan looks VERY different nowadays compared to her fresh face back in 2003. The Mean Girls star revealed on Instagram that she's tried a non-surgical facial treatment however she hasn't spoken out about having any other plastic surgery.
7 of 29Amanda Bynes
She's The Man actress Amanda Bynes has had a rollercoaster of a ride in the spotlight. Before she was hospitalised for mental health evaluation and confirmed she was diagnosed with bi-polar and manic depressive disorder, she confirmed she had a nose job on Twitter.She wrote: "...I had a nose job to remove skin that was like a webbing in between my eyes. I wasn't going to tell anyone, but I look so much prettier in my new photos that I don't want old photos used anymore!"
8 of 29Lauren Goodger
Original TOWIE member Lauren Goodger has had a complete transformation over the years. Back in 2016, the reality star infamously removed her lip fillersafter having them for five years however she's since done a U-turn and got her lip fillers back. Lauren has also admitted to having a rhinoplasty to repair her broken nose, a boob job and liposuction. She has also slammed face fillers and pleaded with girls to stop having them.
9 of 29Tulisa Contostavlos
After shocking fans with her transformation, N-Dubz star Tulisa Contostavlos has admitted she's altered her face. On the Jonathan Ross show, she explained: "To clarify, I haven't had surgery. Surgery is 'going under the knife,' breaking bones, adding stuff in."I simply just had cosmetic enhancement, it's just a little bit of filler which I put a little bit in my cheeks and in my lips."
10 of 29Heidi Montag
The Hills star Heidi Montag has been very open and honest about plastic surgery and admitted she's had a nose job, lip injections, neck liposuction, a mini brow lift, chin reduction, botox, fillers, a boob job and bum injections.Wowza!
11 of 29Donatella Versace
She's a fashion designer for one of the biggest brands in the world and over the years Donatella Versace's look has changed. Back in 2013, she admitted at the Vogue Festival that she has previously had work done."I'm not like this genetically. I use tonnes of cream and take care of my hair and skin."She added she has had Botox but "only on my face".
12 of 29Sharon Osbourne
X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne is another star who has admitted to having surgery, so much so that she even joked she's on her third face.Sharon has admitted she's had face lifts, Botox and nose jobs and in her autobiography Unbreakable, she said: "There's not much I haven't had tweaked, stretched, peeled, lasered, veneered, enhanced or removed altogether. "I don't think I'm as bad as some women - like Jocelyn 'Bride of' Wildenstein. But I won't be having any more cosmetic procedures."
13 of 29Katie Price
Katie Price is one celeb who has been VERY open and honest about having surgery done; people accused her of being on drugs after she posted a bizarre video about her facelift, she then said she needs to "sort out" her plastic surgery before her agent admitted her facelift "knocked her confidence". Over the years the former glamour model has had boob jobs, a nose job, veneers, a facelift, botox, liposuction, dermal fillers and non-surgical procedures that include dermal roller micro-needling treatment and a Geneo+ facial.Wowza!
14 of 29Kylie Jenner
One of the most dramatic celeb transformations is definitely Kylie Jenner. After months of speculation the KUWTK star finally admitted that she did get lip fillers when she was 17 because it was an "insecurity" of hers. However, surgeon Mark Ho-Asjoe told Closer that Kylie's face is out of proportion. He explained: "Kylie looks as though she's had too much filler in her cheeks, lips and above her eyebrows."As a result, her cheeks are now alarmingly wife and her eyes appear sunken. Her whole face appears out of proportion. She looks way beyond her years, maybe even a decade older."
15 of 29Khloe Kardashian
Another member of the Kardashian/Jenner clan who looks VERY different from when she first found fame is Khloe Kardashian. Khloe has never admitted to having lip fillers however they do appear much fuller compared to when she first graced our TV screens. The KUWTK star has admitted she's had face fillers; on the TV show Botched she explained: "It did not work for me. "I looked crazy, and I still think the effects are in there - I went to have it all dissolved like three times."She added: "My face was so f--ked I had to go and get this whole thing dissolved."It was a bummer and now I'm afraid to do it again. And I'm almost like, I swear things are still in my face."
16 of 29Kris Jenner
Kris Jenner - aka Momager - has always been open and honest about any surgery she's had done; so much so that she's documented it on Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Over the years she's had a boob job, neck lift, a facelift earlobes cut and there's been a lot of speculation that she may have had a nose job and cheek fillers.
17 of 29Chloe Ferry
Geordie Shore star Chloe Ferry has openly admitted to having veneers, a nose job, teeth whitening, botox, eyebrow tattoos, chin fillers, lip fillers, cheek filler and a boob uplift. It hasn't all been easy though and in 2017 she admitted she 'couldn't breathe' after having an extreme nose job.
18 of 29Charlotte Crosby
Back in 2016, original Geordie Shore cast member Charlotte Crosby got a nose job and at the time she described it as "perfect".She's also had lip fillers, admitted she wouldn't rule out "more botox" in the future and had a boob job.
19 of 29Holly Hagan
Following in the footsteps of her former co-star Charlotte Crosby is Holly Hagan.Not only has she changed her hair colour but Holly has dropped from a size 16 to a size 10, got lip fillers, a boob job, botox, filler in her nose, filler in her chin anda 3-D bum lift.
20 of 29Sophie Kasaei
Another Geordie star who has admitted to having surgery is Sophie Kasaei. She revealed in an interview with The Sun that she's had, "a breast lift, implants and lip fillers". She's also had dermal fillers injected into her chin to define her jawline and remove the loose skin.
21 of 29Renée Zellweger
After a five-year break from movies no one could quite believe how different Renée Zellweger looked. However, the Bridget Jones star denied having any surgery in a letter written for Huffington Post.She wrote: "Not that it's anyone's business, but I did not make a decision to alter my face and have surgery on my eyes. "This fact is of no true import to anyone at all, but that the possibility alone was discussed among respected journalists and became a public conversation is a disconcerting illustration of news/entertainment confusion and society's fixation on physicality."
22 of 29Amy Childs
TOWIE's Amy Childs had admitted to having a boob job, botox, lip fillers and veneers. However in an interview with Closer magazine she admitted: "I'm not planning on getting anything else done and don't think I ever will because surgery has left me with so many problems."My boobs have drooped so much now and they're so heavy. I need to wear as push-up bra - nobody told me this before I had my boobs done."
23 of 29Lauren Pope
TOWIE star Lauren Pope looks VERY different from when she first graced our screens in 2010. The reality tv star has admitted she's had a boob job, botox and a 'his and hers' nose job she got alongside her then boyfriend Kirk Norcross.
24 of 29Chloe Sims
As well as having two boob jobs and a Brazilian bum lift, TOWIE's Chloe Sims has admitted to having veneers, Botox and filler. She told Now Magazine: "I've had Botox in my forehead. I've also had fillers around my mouth and in my lips and I've got a set of veneers."
25 of 29Bobby Norris
Last year TOWIE fans were shocked at Bobby Norris' face and while there was lots of speculation that he had plastic surgery, the reality star quickly shut down all the rumours. Sharing a video on Twitter, he explained that he's only had a nose job: "I can assure you, categorically that I've only had one septo-rhinoplasty on my nose."I've had no other surgeries - I'm just a little bit swollen. Sorry to disappoint guys but just the one surgery and I love it."
26 of 29Courteney Cox
Friends star Courteney Cox surprised everyone in 2016 with her new err, look. The actress looked miles different and has since admitted to removing the filler in her face. She told New Beauty: "I've had all my fillers dissolved. I'm as natural as I can be. I feel better because I look like myself. I think that I now look more like the person I was."I've had to learn to embrace movement and realise that fillers are not my friend."
27 of 29Georgia Kousoulou
TOWIE's Georgia Kousoulou is another reality star whose face looks very different from when she first graced our screens. The TV star has admitted to having a nose job, lip fillers and a boob job.
28 of 29Chloe Khan
X Factor turned Celebrity Big Brother star Chloe Khan has definitely changed over the years.The reality star has had chin filler to get rid of her dimple, two boob jobs, veneers, a Brazilian bum lift, a nose job and we can't forget the time she got her lips done but the surgery went terribly wrong.Eek!Speaking about the cosmetic surgery she has had, Chloe told Closer magazine: "I understand surgery's not for everyone, but I look a million times better after this [bum lift] procedure."I really don't care what people think."
29 of 29Ferne McCann
After being bullied at school for her nose, former TOWIE star Ferne McCann got a nose job in 2016 and showed it off on TV.Despite fans thinking she had lip fillers while she was pregnant, Ferne's previously told Closer magazine she won't have Botox or face fillers."Everyone thinks surgery is a slippery slope and that you get addicted but, for me, my nose job was the only thing I wanted to get done."I don't know what else I would have done, even if I wanted it," she told the magazine.She added: "I'm 26 and I think Botox and fillers actually make you look older. I like expression on a face."
“Britney’s day-to-day life is incredibly mundane and fairly solitary,” says the source.
“Everything from her finances to her boyfriend and even the TV shows she watches are closely monitored. If she simply wants to get a coffee with Sam or go for a drive, she has to get permission. She can’t choose her friends and can’t
just go for a spontaneous walk. Her phone has a tracking device and her social media is monitored. She has to stick to her monthly allowance and let her team know where she
is at all times. Britney has no control or power over her diary, or even how her day will be set out – only being able to fill in the free time with activities for her and Sam, which even then are monitored.”
A host of high-profile celebs have shown their support to Britney being awarded her full independence, including Jameela Jamil, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ariana Grande, Ellie Goulding and Khloé Kardashian.
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Some pals have also voiced their concerns. In 2019, Paris Hilton said, “After just working your whole life and working so hard, she’s this icon and I just feel like she has no control of her life whatsoever and I just don’t think that’s fair.” Singer Iggy Azalea claimed her home had to pass “security clearance” before Britney could visit her for lunch. And Britney’s make-up artist Maxi insisted, “They’re still controlling to this day whether she has a baby or not, whether she gets married or not, who her friends are and those are some big things.”
Britney’s dedicated fans are determined to have her released from the conservatorship with the #FreeBritney petition – which had over 120,000 signatures at the time Closer went to press.
The source adds, “Her circle is incredibly small and her world is sheltered and so controlled to the point that it’s almost like she’s a child living a seemingly adult life. It’s so sad.”
For information or support in living with a mental health issue, go to Mind.