Britney Spears Says She Felt 'Manipulated' As She Discusses Conservatorship

Britney Spears has spoken about her feeling of being "controlled by someone else" in "almost everything" during her 13-year conservatorship.

The pop icon, 39, has been under conservatorship since 2008, when she was placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold amid mental health concerns.

With her father, Jamie Spears, petitioning to step down as her conservator after 13 years of overseeing the star's personal and professional affairs, the singer opened up about her experience in an Instagram post on Monday.

Spears took to the image-sharing platform to post a text excerpt entitled "Infusing education with heart," a portion of which she had shared days earlier.

Captioning the post, Spears wrote: "I had to repost this so you can see the whole article 📰 !!!!! Growing up in a world where basically almost everything I did was controlled by someone else ...

"I hope this message gets to people who have been confused or manipulated by a system !!!! No ... you're not alone and no ... you're not crazy !!!! People need to hear this before it's TOO LATE !!!!

"I've waited 13 years and counting for my freedom !!!!! Again ... team #FreeBritney you guys f****** kick ass 💪🏼 !!!!! Love you so much and God bless 💕✨🌹!!!!"

The excerpt was preceded by a quote from Oscar Wilde that read: "Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught."

Britney Spears
Britney Spears attends the 4th Hollywood Beauty Awards on February 25, 2018 in Hollywood, California. The star has further discussed her experience under conservatorship in a new Instagram post. JB Lacroix/WireImage

It went on: "In particular, this interplay between knowing and knowing must now be considered within our education systems. How much do we teach knowledge versus draw out knowing?

"Prioritizing the former entrenches children into identification with their thinking mind and migrates them away from the feeling body.

"Yet, by being genuinely curious about their inner knowing, children are encouraged to stay connected to, and express the heart / body wisdom they are so naturally settled into when born.

"We need children growing up trusting their inner authority rather than blindly granting power to external authorities of information.

"We need empowered teens and adults with a strong internal locus of control willing to image and create new life-giving products and systems, rather than having a habitual external locus of control that weakens them and their creativity over time, and causes anxiety and depression."

Spears, who announced her engagement to Sam Asghari on Sunday, delivered a damning court testimony about her life under the conservatorship in June.

She alleged that she was made to perform in shows, take psychiatric medication and wear a contraceptive device against her will.

Her father has since stated in a petition filed earlier this month that "recent events" had called into question whether the singer should continue to be under the controversial conservatorship.

Jodi Montgomery oversees Britney Spears' personal decisions under the conservatorship, which will remain in place until Judge Brenda Penny rules otherwise. The next Los Angeles Superior Court hearing on the case is scheduled for September 29.

Britney Spears' father, Jamie Spears
Britney Spears' father, Jamie Spears leaves the Los Angeles County Superior courthouse on March 10, 2008. Jamie Spears recently petitioned to step down as his daughter's conservator. VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Ryan Smith is a Newsweek Senior Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on ... Read more

To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go
Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go