Britney Spears thanks ‘real’ fans for support amid legal battle to remove father’s control over her personal life

Singer said she is at a ‘huge transitional stage’

Britney Spears has thanked her “real” fans for being “wonderful” just days after she requested for her father to be removed as her conservator.

Spears’ father has had control over much of her personal life, career and estate for 12 years.

In a document filed to the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles on Monday (17 August) by Spears’ lawyers, the singer stated that she is “strongly opposed” to having her father, Jamie, “return as conservator of her person” and is petitioning that her temporary conservator, Jodi Montgomery, become his permanent replacement.

Spears’ father had temporarily stepped down as conservator in 2019 citing health problems, but was due to resume the role this year.

In her latest Instagram post, Spears wrote: “I feel like we will look back at this time in quarantine as a huge transitional stage in our lives ….. we don’t know when things will go back to normal but we are staying positive and learning so much about ourselves !!!!”

Britney’s parents Jamie and Lynne Spears in 2012 (Rex)

She added: “For me I want to thank all my dear ... sweet ... real fans for being so damn wonderful !!! I can feel your hearts and I know you can feel mine ... thank you for your support.”

Conservatorship is when a guardian or protector is appointed by a court to manage the life of someone due to physical or mental limitations. Spears’ conservatorship was put in place in 2008 after she suffered a public breakdown in 2007.

It has been the subject of widespread online protests this year. The #FreeBritney movement was launched by fans who believe Spears is “trapped”, and one petition, with more than 100,000 signatures lobbying for Spears’ freedom, claims: “Her father doesn’t allow her to drive, all of her calls & messages are monitored, she’s not allowed to vote, hang with anyone or spend her money without permission. And if she breaks a ‘rule’ he threatens to have her kids taken away.”

Earlier this month, Jamie called the #FreeBritney campaign “a joke” and said he is tired of rumours that she is being exploited.