1. She had to make appearances regularly (so money would still come, right?)
Image Source: NBC News
Britney, the ever-dancing puppet, was required to follow a carefully planned schedule of appearances and performances in order to fulfill her contractual responsibilities and please her dedicated fan base. She had no say in how she looked, either. Everything was planned by her father and the team that "managed" her. Better said, "controlled," but hey, who are we to challenge the law?!
2. Severe financial supervision
Image Source: Reddit
The singer has been subject to strict financial supervision during the conservatorship, needing permission for even the most elementary expenses. Because who needs financial independence? She had to obtain approval for even the simplest expenses as if choosing between a grande or venti coffee was a matter of national security!
3. No "Oops, I did it again" moments on IG
Image Source: Reddit
Britney has a sizable social media following; thus, her posts were frequently scrutinized. Some "guidelines" have been put in place to ensure that her internet profile supports both the conservatorship's goals and her reputation. No spontaneous rants or eyebrow-raising posts here! Britney's social media was meticulously monitored to maintain a squeaky-clean image and avoid any "Oops, I did it again" moments.
4. No say of her own
Image Source: NBC News
Say what you want, but not too much! Britney had to carefully navigate public statements, interviews, and press engagements in order to maintain a positive public image, adhering to guidelines that rival the complexity of a NASA launch sequence. For
years and years!
5. Strict custody arrangement
Image Source: Reddit
The singer had to follow custody arrangements and parenting guidelines that would make even the most organized parent's head spin, apparently to ensure the well-being of her children. While yes, the court's custody arrangement stands as the ultimate authority, you can easily buy a judge to get you the outcome you want, especially if you're Britney Spears' father!
6. "Take this and shut up!"
Image Source: Blesk
Under the conservatorship, Spears has been subject to various medical assessments and treatment plans. After the hell ended for her, she admitted that her doctor abused her with medication, prescribing dr*gs that made her feel dizzy all day long, potentially killing her, just based on the staff's false accusations that "she's not listening to them."
7. No traveling unless approved
Image Source: Hollywood Life
Jet-setting around the world? Not so fast! Britney's travel activities may be as restricted as a budget airline's legroom. Bon voyage, Britney, as long as your itinerary aligns with conservatorship-approved destinations. All her travel activities required approval, and considering her demanding schedule and the need for proper logistical arrangements, you'd say that the conservatorship team was born just to do this to her.
8. Musical chairs in legal jargon
Image Source: E!Online
Creative freedom? What's that? Subject to approval, of course! Working with other artists or embarking on new projects requires navigating a maze of contractual guidelines. It's like playing a game of musical chairs but in legal jargon. Which is not to be messed with.
9. Pop princess life
Image Source: Reddit
Because Britney needed to maintain the image of a pop princess at all times, her hair, makeup, wardrobe — every detail was (and probably still is) carefully curated, leaving no room for fashion faux pas or "I did it again" fashion disasters. Her iconic live performances needed rigorous rehearsals and adherence to performance schedules, ensuring that her shows were delivered to the highest standards. Conservatorship standards, you mean.
10. "Sorry, can't work with you, my father won't let me!"
Image Source: Reddit
Britney was asked (pardon, forced) to abide by particular requirements put down in her recording contracts, such as promotional activities, album releases, and artistic direction. Remember, the show must go on, even if it means perfecting those dance moves until your feet cry for mercy.
11. Men in Black
Image Source: Reddit
Protecting the queen of pop is no joke. Interacting with fans, the media, and the general public requires a delicate balance, right? To that end, Britney had to follow security protocols that made Fort Knox look like a child's playpen. Just remember, the entourage is there to protect, not to reenact scenes from "Men in Black." Although we're not sure that they got the message.
12. Like a puppet
Image Source: Reddit
When entering into endorsement deals or partnerships, the singer needed to follow specific obligations set in stone by her father, including promotional appearances and brand representation. Because who needs creative freedom when you can have a team of executives dictating your every musical move?
13. No law here
Image Source: Reddit
Nobody enjoys appearing before a judge. Even when you're certain you've done nothing illegal, the interrogation can be stressful. However, Britney's father categorically refused to allow her near anything with the word "law" in it. That's why she was surprised when she found out that she can challenge the conservatorship. She did it and won in the end.
14. Needed parent's signature to work
Image Source: Billboard
Her father had the authority to discuss her employment options. The team's consensus was that she should prioritize her health (remember the forced dr*gs? Yeah, that's what they were referring to) over her career, but her father made her serve as a judge on the X Factor in 2012. Yep, the slot machines might have more freedom than the pop princess herself.
15. Song selection out
Image Source: Reddit
Britney also needed to navigate the intricate world of song selection, like a musical chess game where each move was carefully calculated. Kidding. The songs were also chosen for her. Because nothing says creative expression like an assembly line of chart-topping hits. You're getting used to this, no?
16. No more rebellious moments
Image Source: The Mirror
Another rule: Britney needed to uphold professional behavior and conduct herself with the elegance of a royal. Forget about those rebellious "Lucky" moments; it's time to play by the rules! While we might understand this one, considering what the singer did when she had that breakdown, we're already up to our necks with so many rules.
17. Can't do what you want to do
Image Source: Reddit
Britney's physical and mental well-being apparently took the wheel all those years. Because nothing screams "getting better," like following a strict regimen of exercise, therapy, and self-care, all supervised by an army of professional "controllers." Don't forget forced medication, too.
18. "Classified" life chapters
Image Source: The Mirror
Britney's life is an open book, with a few chapters marked "Classified." She needed to uphold some confidentiality agreements to ensure that any potential scandal or revelation remains locked away from prying eyes. Not that her father and the team have anything to fear if it gets out... no.
19. Spending limits
Image Source: Reddit
Jamie Spears was in charge of Britney's finances and all of her business dealings, which was one of the most significant aspects of the singer's conservatorship. For her purchases to be included in yearly spending reports submitted to the court, Britney was forced to account for everything she purchased. All money coming in and going out was closely scrutinized. The financial issue, however, becomes more complicated — Jamie forced Britney to cover his own legal costs in the conservatorship dispute. That he started.
20. No iPhone or social media
Image Source: Reddit
The "Circus" hitmaker reportedly wanted an iPhone in 2019, but her father refused to let her have one. Or access to social media. Her dad reportedly worried about "people with ulterior motives contacting her." They even got so far as to make Cassie Petrey, her social media manager, claim that the singer "creates her own posts and writes her own captions for Instagram." He added that there were no hidden messages in her videos, and she had no connection to the conservatorship. I mean, c'mon... she WAS the subject of the conservatorship!
21. Britney needed "permission" to marry and have kids
Image Source: Vogue
Another restriction of the conservatorship prevented Britney from remarrying without her father's consent. Maxi, Britney's makeup artist, backed this up by claiming that the conservatorship is dictating whether she can get married and have more kids. "I can tell you what they're still controlling to this day is whether she has a baby or not, whether she gets married or not, who her friends are, and those are some big things," he said to US Weekly.
22. Not allowed into liquor stores
Image Source: Reddit
Even though Britney is supposedly free to come and go as she pleases, TMZ previously reported that a different conservatorship arrangement prohibits her from entering liquor stores. The singer's difficulties with substance misuse before the 2008 events were allegedly connected to this.
23. Or near alcohol, for that matter
Image Source: Reddit
A dry spell: As if she were a mythical creature vulnerable to the mere scent of alcohol, Britney's "Rulebook" included a strict no-alcohol policy. In order to prevent the singer from being tempted, it was also said that Britney's staff had forbidden alcohol from the backstage area of her tour. Because why get a Cosmopolitan when you can sip on sparkling water and be the poster child for a responsible living?
24. Regular substance check
Image Source: The Denver Post
In the name of safety, Britney had to be subjected to regular dr*g testing... with all the restrictions she had. She couldn't get a breath of fresh air without being supervised, so it makes sense she could have had the chance to do dr*gs! Let's raise a glass of water and toast to a life free of any "Toxic" substances, though!
25. Her parents dictated where she could live
Image Source: Reddit
Most of us can't wait to become adults and live independently. The New York Times reported that, after she lost custody of her kids, Britney believed a parking lot would make a good place for her to live. However, the choice of her residence was made by her father while she was under the conservatorship. She needed her father's approval before she could get up and move to Bamako — not that he would have granted it, but you get it.
26. She wasn't allowed to decide what she can eat
Image Source: Colorado Daily
Unfortunately for Britney, her parents made these kinds of decisions on her behalf. According to court rules, her parents decided what she ate and what she drank. Even if some of us detest planning meals or choosing what to eat, there are moments when an adult just wants to eat a chocolate chip cookie and pass out. Losing that right can be traumatic, to put it mildly.
27. She couldn't hang out with just anyone
Image Source: Vanity Fair
Britney's father arbitrarily decided who she could and could not see in order to keep her on track. This zeal was apparently intended to guarantee that nothing undermines her stability. A former company manager and a lawyer who attempted to step in on Britney's behalf were both given restraining orders in this endeavor. Additionally, her parents set the rules for who she may and cannot date; an ex-boyfriend was even served with a restraining order when she refused to stop seeing him.
28. Fashion by Papa Spears
Image Source: Reddit
In the whimsical world of Britney Spears, her father took on the role of chief stylist. Yes, you heard it right. Even the clothes Britney wore inside the house were chosen by Mr. Spears. This is definitely a tall task for a father who appears to have no issues with his (adult) children wearing nothing but the birthday suit around the house. Something's really, really fishy about this rule (and all the other ones, thb).
29. Personal care was not so personal
Image Source: NBC News
Personal care includes making choices like whether to shave your head and wear a pink wig, get one too many nose jobs, or get other dubious modifications that would make it difficult for your grandmother to recognize you when you see her at Christmas. But Britney's parents even set the rules for what she can and cannot do regarding personal hygiene.
30. Supervised communication
Image Source: Reddit
Everything regarding communication was controlled by her father's team. Deep within the confines of her suffocating castle, a secret cellphone vault existed. Britney was not granted unrestricted access to the world of mobile communication; instead, her phones were locked away like prized artifacts in a high-security vault, only to be accessed under strict supervision. It's as if she were living in a techno-dystopian thriller, where even a simple text message required the approval of an elite council.