Bessemer Trust Company granted equal power as co-conservator of Britney’s estate

It’s been nearly impossible to avoid the #FreeBritney movement this past week. From social media and local news, to talk shows and international broadcasts, it seems like everyone is buzzing about The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears.

The documentary premiered on FX and Hulu on Friday, February 5, and there have since been over one million tweets referencing Britney Spears. While the documentary could only include 75 minutes’ worth of material, it managed to introduce a whole new crowd to the #FreeBritney movement. It only briefly touched on the corrupt probate court system and failed to mention Lou Taylor, but it certainly provided an overview that was easy for the public to understand. It seems like the world has finally taken a vested interest in Britney Spears, the human being, and not just Britney Spears, the pop icon.

On the heels of the documentary, there was another court hearing in Britney’s case today. In light of the recent media attention, there was certainly a feeling of hopefulness leading up to it. Since March 2019, Jamie Spears had been acting as sole conservator of Britney’s estate, which grants him the power to make all decisions related to her finances. In November 2020, the judge approved the appointment of Bessemer Trust Company as co-conservator, and it seemed that all parties were in agreement that Jamie and Bessemer would share equal power. However, just last month, attorneys for Jamie Spears filed objections to the appointment, requesting modifications which were argued today in court.

The hearing consisted of the usual back-and-forth. Jamie’s attorney, Vivian Thoreen, withdrew one of her objections, and Britney’s court-appointed attorney, Samuel Ingham, argued against the remaining ones. Thoreen also insisted that Ingham’s petition to appoint Bessemer was ambiguous and needed to be clarified. Ultimately, Judge Penny overruled the objections and both sides agreed to work together to “get a better sense of where this conservatorship is headed.” Specifically, Jamie and Bessemer will work together on a budget proposal and portfolio allocations.

Today’s outcome is being touted as a victory in Britney’s case, as her father will now share the control he maintains over Britney’s estate with Bessemer Trust Company. While the outcome was to be expected, some fans were disappointed that Judge Penny didn’t terminate the conservatorship in its entirety.

There seems to be a general lack of urgency in Britney’s case. Issues are frequently continued to subsequent hearings, and there have been no significant changes in recent years. It’s not hard to imagine why one might want to prolong this case. Attorneys on all sides make a substantial amount of money, and prolonging it continues the influx of income. It’s also worth noting that Britney pays for her court-appointed attorney, the attorneys for Jamie Spears, and the additional litigators on both sides.

As the #FreeBritney movement continues to grow and receive international media attention, we must keep the momentum. Whether you’ve been here since the early days or you’re just joining the fight, don’t forget to check out our Take Action page and continue using your voice on social media and beyond.