After nearly 14 years of being controlled by her father, Jamie Spears, Britney Spears is finally free from her conservatorship.

After her divorce from Kevin Federline in 2007, Britney lost custody of her two children and spiraled into a mental health crisis that was fueled and publicized by the media. After public incidents such as Britney shaving her head, hitting a photographer’s car with an umbrella and being admitted into a hospital under a temporary psychiatric assessment ruling two different times, Britney’s father decided to take action.

A temporary conservatorship was set up, which was made permanent a year later in 2008 which gave Britney’s father total control over her estate and financial affairs.

By definition, a conservatorship is “an agreement or order under which one person or entity controls the personal and financial affairs of another, such as a minor or someone who is considered legally incapable of managing their own affairs.”

Back in 2008, many would agree that a conservatorship was necessary due to the mental state of Britney, but in recent events, light was shed on the restrictions and alleged abuse that took place under her father.

According to Britney, her father not only forced her to perform and take lithium, a mood-stabilizer, but he also forced Britney to stay on her birth control.d

“I want to be able to get married and have a baby. I was told right now in the conservatorship I am not able to get married and have a baby,” Britney said.

Being in charge of her finances, Jamie only allowed Britney to see $2,000 a week of her money, while he was spending $16,000 a month out of his own daughter’s pocket.

The abuse that took place under the conservatorship was discarded and ignored until fans started showing support.

In 2009, fan Megan Radford started speaking out against the conservatorship and the abuse Britney faced within. The #FreeBritney movement was a long, and somewhat slow fight, but in 2019 the movement picked up as Britney spoke out publicly.

Because of health issues, Jamie was forced to receive help from a court appointed co-conservator to help with Britney between 2018-19. Following these issues, Britney spoke to lawyers, saying she was “afraid of her father” and would not return to performing until he was no longer in control.

Britney’s statements launched almost a two year battle between her and her father, but finally, on November 12, Judge Brenda Penny ended the almost 14 year long conservatorship.

Now, 39 year old Britney plans to celebrate by getting married to her fiance, Sam Asghari, and doing the little things, such as using an ATM card, driving her own car and many other things she was unable to do under her fathers control.

Britney is elated by her new freedom but is above all grateful to her fans.

“The #FreeBritney movement — you guys rock,” Spears said. “Honestly, my voice was muted and threatened for so long, and I wasn’t able to speak up or say anything…I honestly think you guys saved my life, in a way. 100 percent.”

With a now free platform, Britney plans to advocate and speak up for others who face similar, abusive conservatorships and situations that she found herself in for over a decade.

“I’m a very strong woman, so I can only imagine what the system has done to those people,” Spears said. “So hopefully…my story will make an impact and make some changes in the corrupt system.”