Madonna Speaks Out And Says Britney Spears' Conservatorship Is 'A Violation To Human Rights'

Jul 09, 2021

After Britney Spears' explosive testimony about the current state of her conservatorship, her desire to have it removed, and the subsequent denial from a judge in the last month, singer Madonna has now extended her support to Spears. In an Instagram story post from July 8, 2021, Madonna made it clear that she is on team #FreeBritney and she had some cutting words for people who may not show solidarity towards Spears.

Spears has been a musical star for almost two decades. At the height of her fame in the late 90s and early 00's, Spears had become one of the most successful and well-known pop artists of the time, selling millions of records and becoming an established cultural icon in the process. Her music continues to be influential even today and inspires new generations of pop music.

However, like many celebrities who have felt the glare of fame from a young age, Spears went through a tumultuous time in the late 2000s. Constantly being plagued by cameras and paparazzi is not easy to manage no matter how much experience you have, but Spears was overcome by the difficulties. Her public 'breakdown' in 2007 made her an object of public scrutiny for years. 

Her erratic behavior also led to her father becoming her legal conservator. A conservatorship is usually granted for individuals who are unable to make their own decisions, like those with dementia or other mental illnesses — and Britney's father has essentially managed her life and finances for more than 13 years. 

Spears spoke out publicly for the first time in years and her shocking testimony shed light on how much her life has actually been controlled over the years. 

PEOPLE reported that Madonna uploaded a photo to her Instagram story, in which she wore a shirt that had "Britney Spears" emblazoned across it. In the post, the 62-year-old singer wrote, "Give this woman her life back. Slavery was abolished long ago! Death to the greedy patriarchy that has been doing this to women for centuries."

She added, "This is a violation of human rights! Britney, we coming to get you out of jail!"

Since Spears' testimony, many prominent people in the entertainment industry have voiced their support for Spears such as Iggy Azalea, Justin Timberlake, Paris Hilton and Christina Aguilera. 

While appearing in court in June, Spears did not hold back as she spoke out candidly about her feelings for the first time. USA Today reported that Spears spoke to the court over the phone and said, "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 that maybe if I said it enough, I would maybe 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."

She also took the opportunity to condemn her father, James Spears, who was responsible for making legal decisions on her behalf. "I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive. … I don't feel like I can live a full life. … I want this conservatorship to end without having to be evaluated," the star added. 

This is the first time since May 10, 2019, that Spears spoke out in court. The last time, the courtroom was sealed and none of what the singer said became public.

She also addressed that things have changed since then. "A lot has happened since two years ago," Spears said during her court appearance. "I haven’t been back to court because I don’t think I was heard on any level when I came to court last time." 

An attorney for professional conservator Jodi Montgomery, who has been managing Spears' case, requested any information pertaining to Spears’ and her children’s medical privacy be sealed, but Spears wanted everything to be public. "They’ve done a good job at exploiting my life," she said. "So I feel like it should be an open court hearing and they should listen and hear what I have to say."

During the hearing, Spears also revealed other shocking events that had been happening in the background that had not been public knowledge, such as being forced to use an IUD even though she had a desire to have more children and being given medication against her will. 

"I cried on the phone for an hour and (James Spears) loved every minute of it," she added. "The control he had over someone as powerful as me. He loved the control to hurt his own daughter." Spears added, "I just want my life back. It’s been 13 years and it’s enough. It’s been a long time since I’ve owned my money and it’s my wish and my dream for all of this to end without being tested."

The Guardian reported that a judge has denied Spears's request to remove her father from his role overseeing her conservatorship and rubber-stamped Bessemer Trust’s role as co-conservator of the estate. This decision has shocked most people who have been supporting Spears throughout her journey, especially considering her shocking testimony. 

Do you agree with Madonna? What do you think of the current state of Britney Spears' conservatorship? Tell us your thoughts, and be sure to ask your friends what they think as well.