britney spears conservatorship case
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The #FreeBritney movement has had its first victory, with a judge ruling that Bessemer Trust Co. would now be co-conservator to Britney Spears‘ estate alongside her father Jamie Spears. As Variety reports, the judge overruled Jamie Spears’ objection, which will see him share 50/50 control over his daughter’s estate with Bessemer Trust.

The singer’s attorney Samuel Ingham had also submitted a request to dissolve the conservatorship over Spears altogether, but the judge declined the motion, granting the appointment of Bessemer Trust instead. Ingham addressed the court, saying that the co-conservatorship was designed to give “an equal division of responsibility, in the hopes that [Jamie Spears and Bessemer Trust] would sit down and figure out together the best way to handle this complex estate for the benefit of my client.”

It’s a small win for the #FreeBritney movement, which has gathered momentum in recent weeks thanks to the Hulu documentary Framing Britney Spears. Social media gathered behind the hashtag #FreeBritney, as celebrities such as Munroe Bergdorf and Jameela Jamil urged users to get it trending in solidarity with Spears as her conservatorship case returned to court.

britney spears conservatorship case
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 16: Supporters of Britney Spears attend the #FreeBritney Protest Outside Los Angeles Courthouse at Stanley Mosk Courthouse on September 16, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Spears has long petitioned to have her 12-year-long conservatorship lifted, but she is particularly concerned with having Jamie Spears removed from the arrangement altogether. “It’s no secret that my client does not want her father as co-conservator, but we recognise that removal is a separate issue,” said Ingham, who has indicated he may look to revisit removal at a later date.

The Toxic singer recently appeared to address her renewed support from the documentary, posting an old performance to her Twitter account. “Each person has their story and their take on other people’s stories!!!!” she wrote. “We all have so many different bright beautiful lives. 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.”

The Los Angeles court is expected to hold additional hearings about the conservatorship case on March 17 and April 27.