Britney Spears' father is to remain in legal control of popstar after unsuccessful court hearing

Spears was “strongly opposed” to having her father return to control her affairs

Britney Spears has failed to remove her father from controlling her personal and business affairs after a Los Angeles court decided on making no immediate changes to her 12-year conservatorship.

The singer’s father was placed in charge of Britney’s welfare and finances after she was hospitalised for psychiatric treatment following her public breakdown back in 2008. Subsequent to a period of ill-health in 2019, Jamie Spears temporarily stepped back from the role, handing over the conservator title to the pop star’s long-time carer, Jodie Montgomery.

Britney is now trying to block her father from resuming his conservatorship role, preferring Montgomery as the person to take on the position full-time.

In a legal filing ahead of the court hearing, Spears said that being placed in conservatorship “rescued her from a collapse, exploitation by predatory individuals and financial ruin” and enabled her to once again become “a world class entertainer”. However, she argued that changes are now required to meet her current needs.

One of the singer’s lawyers had submitted documents ahead of the private hearing saying Spears was “strongly opposed” to having her father return to control her affairs.

Unfortunately, according to a court document posted online by fans, the closed-door court ruled against the singer’s wishes, extending the current arrangements until February 2021.

It’s believed that Britney’s attorney Samuel Ingham now has until September 18th to file a petition after the temporary letters of conservatorship were extended.

Dispute over the conservatorship follows the recent fan-led #FreeBritney campaign, which believes that the pop star should have control of her own life. Some fans have theorised that Spears is being kept prisoner and that she is sending cryptic signals asking for help through her social media accounts.

Jamie Spears denounced the campaign, stating: “All these conspiracy theorists don’t know anything. The world don’t have a clue.”

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on Wednesday offered its support to Spears.

“If Britney Spears wants to regain her civil liberties and get out of her conservatorship, we are here to help her,” the ACLU wrote in a tweet.

More updates to follow.