Britney Spears Says Finally Being Allowed To Drive Herself Is 'A Different Ballgame'

Jul 23, 2021

On July 15, a judge ruled that Britney can choose her own lawyer in the fight to end her conservatorship — a freedom that was only just now allowed to her for the first time in 13 years. This news came as a welcome change for the singer, who had been dealt a devastating blow after a judge denied her request to end her controversial conservatorship that gives her father, James Spears, control over her estate and life.

The attorney Britney appointed herself, Matthew Rosengart, made a statement wherein he thanked Britney's fans all over the world while also announcing that he and his team would be moving very quickly to remove James as conservator.

Like many celebrities who have felt the glare of fame from a young age, Britney Spears went through a tumultuous time in the late 2000s. Constantly being followed by cameras and the press isn’t easy to manage no matter how experienced you are, and Britney was overcome by the difficulties as she was not only one of the world's biggest pop stars but a young mother at the time. Her public "breakdown" in 2007 made her an object of public scrutiny for years. 

However, a few recent signs seem to indicate that Britney’s life may be improving as the “Free Britney” movement gains momentum and as the pop star continues to fight what she characterizes as an unjust conservatorship.

In one of her most recent Instagram posts, Britney seemed to be in a fantastic mood, dancing to the Foster the People track “Pumped Up Kicks” in a new pair of shoes. In the same post, the star also revealed that she is allowed to drive again.

"Yesterday I realized all my tennis shoes were gone ... I like them because I dance three hours most days and my feet hurt so I put tennis shoes on so my feet feel nice ... well all of mine are old so I ordered four new pairs and they came in five weeks ago but they were all too big so I've been without them for a long time !!!! So when I woke up yesterday and remembered I had none I pulled a Carrie Bradshaw and ordered a bunch of new shoes online!!!!” the pop star’s post reads.

Beyond the joy of buying new shoes and dancing for all her fans, Britney also seems to be finding happiness in being able to drive again. According to The New Republic, the conservatorship was so limiting that it prevented Britney from driving herself. What’s more, in an explosive statement that she read in court on June 23, Britney claimed that even her boyfriend, Sam Asghari, was not able to drive her due to the strict rules of the conservatorship.

Since then, however, things have changed. 

In the aforementioned Instagram post, she writes, “It's been a while since I drove alone and well let's just say it's a DIFFERENT BALLGAME cause I’m not sure this stadium 🏟 is gonna be anywhere near America !!!!”

The Independent also reports that Asghari posted a video of himself driving Britney around Los Angeles; and on July 21, People Magazine revealed that Britney’s conservatorship is allowing the pop star to drive herself.

This may sound unbelievable — that the conservatorship prohibited Britney from driving — but the legal arrangement is quite a powerful one. 

According to the BBC, Britney’s father worked with lawyers in 2008 to establish the conservatorship, which effectively makes James and his lawyer in charge of many of the 39-year-old singer’s decisions and her finances. At the time, Britney had a public breakdown, which precipitated the restrictive legal arrangement.

However, Britney argues that James has abused the powers of the conservatorship.

During a 24-minute-long testimony that she gave in front of a probate judge at the end of June, she accused her conservators of forcing her to perform against her will, making her take mood-stabilizing drugs and keeping her on birth control despite her wishes to have another baby. 

Variety published her words in full. She declared, "I’m not here to be anyone’s slave."

She added:

"I’ve lied and told the whole world 'I’m OK and I'm happy.' It's a lie. I thought I just maybe if I said that enough, maybe I might become happy, because I've been in denial. I’ve been in shock. I am traumatized … I’m so angry it’s insane. And I'm depressed. I cry every day."

As for what’s next in the Spears saga, The New York Times reports that Britney is likely to submit formal paperwork with her lawyer to end the conservatorship. At that point, James Spears can object to the request, which would bring the case to a trial in which a judge would make the final call. The case is likely to be an uphill battle for Britney, as California trust and estate lawyer Chris Johnson explained that judges often rely on medical experts to make their decisions in these cases.

“In many cases, it can be harder getting rid of a conservatorship than establishing it in the first place,” Johnson told The Times.

What do you think about the “Free Britney movement? Do you think things will improve for the singer? Let us know — and be sure to get your friends and family members’ thoughts as well.