Britney Spears Documentary About Conservatorship
‘Framing Britney Spears’, a documentary addressing her conservatorship, is set to air on February 5th. It will be the sixth episode of The New York Times Presents series, Season 1.
The documentary will survey Britney Spears’ tumultuous career in light of the recent court battles over her father’s conservatorship. It will also focus on the Free Britney Movement.
The Courtroom Drama
For over 10 years , Britney Spears has been subject to a conservatorship, where a judge appoints a guardian to manage the financial and personal affairs for someone who is incapable of making those decisions themselves. James “Jamie” Spears, the singer’s father, was her conservator until the fall of 2019. He stepped back that year due to health issues and a licensed conservator took his place.
Jamie Spears defended himself and his role as her guardian in December, saying, “I have and will continue to provide unwavering love and fierce protection against those with self-serving interests and those who seek to harm her or my family.”
Jamie’s attorney Vivian Lee Thoreen, described his relationship with Britney as “not that different than your average father-daughter relationship” and insisted they have “mutual love and respect”.
In 2020, the ‘Toxic’ star said in a court filing that she was opposed to her father resuming his role as her conservator and overseer of her financial affairs and estate. However, the conservatorship under her father, alongside the singer’s requested co-conservator, was extended through at least next month.
The Free Britney Movement
A growing group of fans and supporters, who have been concerned about Britney Spears questioned the conditions and motives of her conservatorship. They have been advocating for the pop star under the hashtag #FreeBritney.
The documentary trailer opens with a black-and-white childhood photo of a smiling Britney. A woman says: “Britney was so focused. This was a girl that’s coming from strength”. Accompanying the introduction were innocent pictures of Britney from early in her career. The brief teaser trailer concludes with snippets of footage of protestors gathering in support of the pop star while marching last year with a ‘Free Britney’ banner.
A recent description about the documentary says, “People close to Britney Spears and lawyers tied to her conservatorship now reassess her career as she battles her father in court over who should control her life.”
By: Anjana Sathyanarayan
