Britney Spears was spotted out for the first time in several months on Thursday as she stepped out with her boyfriend Sam Asghari and what looked to be her eldest son Sean Preston Federline.
The 39-year-old popstar has been in the midst of a very public conservatorship battle with Jamie Spears for nearly 13-years, her dad having control over her finances and personal affairs.
The sighting comes just a day after her lawyer Sam Ingham told a Los Angeles Court that he will ask Jodi Montgomery — the woman appointed as her temporary conservator in 2019 — to be made permanent.
Rare spotting: Britney Spears, 39, is spotted out in public for the first time in months following her ongoing conservatorship battle with dad Jamie Spears who has controlled her personal affairs and finances for 13 years
A rare public outing, it has been alleged that her dad’s grip over her life is so strong over a decade later that he can dictate the singer’s day to day affairs, which includes where she can go and who she can see.
The last time she was seen in public was in October as she and Asghari enjoyed a vacation in Hawaii, being virtually confined to the walls of her Thousand Oaks mansion since.
Spears looked overjoyed to do some normal errands with her boyfriend and son, the trio grabbing beverages at a local Starbucks.
She stepped out in a pair of white shorts and a teal sweatshirt with a pair of matching birkenstocks, her platinum blonde tresses tied back in a ponytail.
Normal life: Spears looked overjoyed to do some normal errands with her boyfriend and son, the trio grabbing beverages at a local Starbucks
Confined: The last time the singer was spotted out in public was on a Hawaiian vacation in October 2020 being virtually relegated to the confines of her Thousand Oaks home
Justice: Ingham told a Los Angeles court hearing on Wednesday, that he will ask that Jodi Montgomery, who in 2019 was appointed temporary conservator of the singer’s personal affairs, be made permanent instead
She peeled down her face mask to reveal an ear to ear grin, later going over to hug a bunny balloon and pose for a photo.
Despite looking in good spirits, her life has been incredibly lonely for over a decade, frequently taking to social media to put on dance performances for her followers who have grown concerned with her mental health.
After the New York Times released the Framing Britney Spears documentary on February 5, there was a renewed interest in her conservatorship case amid outrage from her fans.
Having a $215M fortune at her peak, her funds have been diminished by legal fees, treatment centers, doctors, and a custody battle over her kids Sean and Jayden with ex Kevin Federline.
Fighting back: In November, Spears requested to have Jamie ‘suspended immediately’ after it was said she was afraid of her father and would refuse to perform again as long as he was part of the conservatorship
Outrage: After the New York Times released the Framing Britney Spears documentary on February 5, there was a renewed interest in her conservatorship case amid outrage from her fans
Shared duties: The court ruled not to suspend Jamie as conservator, and instead granted financial institution Bessemer Trust joint control over the estate, making them co-conservators in Britney’s interest
With a $60M net worth per recent financial documents, her father has been in control of her fortune when he became sole conservator of her estate in 2019.
In November, Spears requested to have Jamie ‘suspended immediately’ after it was said she was afraid of her father and would refuse to perform again as long as he was part of the conservatorship.
The court ruled not to suspend him as conservator, and instead granted financial institution Bessemer Trust joint control over the estate, making them co-conservators.
Jamie had petitioned that he had lost a lot of control when the financial institution was welcomed aboard, he and attorney Vivian Thoreen arguing that he should have some of the powers he had as sole conservator, including the ability to designate investments.
Smiling: The bubbly singer removed her mask to reveal a big grin on her face before she hugged a balloon and posed for a photo
Lost control: Having a $215M fortune at her peak, her funds have been diminished by legal fees, treatment centers, doctors, and a custody battle over her kids Sean and Jayden with ex Kevin Federline
Ingham argued that it would be ‘highly detrimental’ to Britney to give him any more control over her estate.
The judge overruled Jamie’s objections in February, ruling that they would continue to have equal power and would be tasked with putting together an investment plan and proposed budget for her future.
That court date was set for March 17, her legal team seeking her father’s permanent removal.
Ingham told a Los Angeles court hearing on Wednesday, that he will ask that Montgomery — who in 2019 was appointed temporary conservator of the singer’s personal affairs — be made permanent instead.
Next steps: Her last hearing occurred on March 17, her team seeking to relinquish Jamie’s control for good
Behind the scenes: Jamie (left with Britney in Las Vegas) was appointed conservator in 2008 after his daughter was hospitalized for psychiatric treatment following a widely publicized breakdown
Dozens of her fans, who started a #FreeBritney movement, gathered outside the court in Los Angeles on Wednesday as the hearing related to her conservatorship was underway
Ingham said he would present the petition at an April 27 hearing, but a previous bid to remove him failed in August last year.
Montgomery, who is the singer’s care manager, took over from her father in 2019 after he suffered a bout of ill health.
A planned court review on Wednesday of the pop star’s finances was postponed for a month.
Her #FreeBritney fans were out in full force yesterday after the Hulu documentary continues to bring new scrutiny to the case, them showing her love and support with signs outside the courthouse.
Extension: In December her conservatorship was said to be extended to September 2021
Letting loose: Yesterday she clapped back at ‘wise a**’ fans worrying her regular outfit selfies are a coded cry for help
Stronger: Her team has vowed to fight back to settle her situation once and for all
Those supporters believe Spears is being kept prisoner and that she is sending cryptic signals begging to be freed through her various social media accounts.
Jamie’s lawyer Thoreen noted last month the pop star had never requested the termination of the legal arrangement to begin with, and in December her conservatorship was said to be extended to September 2021.
‘This is a story about a fiercely loyal, loving, and dedicated father who rescued his daughter from a life-threatening situation. People were harming her and they were exploiting her,’ Thoreen told TV show ‘Good Morning America’ in an interview.
‘Anytime Britney wants to end her conservatorship she can ask her lawyer to file a petition to terminate it,’ Thoreen said.
The conservatorship battle and the #FreeBritney movement are set to be explored in another documentary, this time on BBC Two.
On her terms? ‘Anytime Britney wants to end her conservatorship she can ask her lawyer to file a petition to terminate it,’ Thoreen said as she spoke of Jamie
The documentary is set to follow BAFTA-winning journalist Mobeen Azhar as he journeys from Britney’s hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana to Los Angeles, while delving into her passionate fan base.
It will include some of the recent court hearings related to the case, as two have occurred since the Hulu documentary came out.
‘I went to LA in search of the truth of how Britney Spears, one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, ended up in a conservatorship,’ Azhar said of the documentary, which is set to air this spring.
‘I found myself in a world of lawyers, superfans and paparazzi and spent time with many of the people who’ve had a front row seat in Britney’s life.
‘This film taps into the energy of the #FreeBritney movement and questions the industry, fandom and the laws that facilitate conservatorships.’
Unfolding story: The conservatorship battle and the #FreeBritney movement are set to be explored in another documentary, this time on BBC Two; pictured 2013