Britney Spears Is Finally Free Best Day Ever Making Music Is Not Her Top Priority
Lutfi, a key figure in Spears’ life when she was at her worst, still has a five-year restraining order against him that a judge signed in 2019, TMZ reported.
An earlier restraining order was issued when the conservatorship was established in 2008.
So even though Spears’ conservatorship formally ended Friday after 13 years, Lutfi is still considered a threat to Britney.
Britney’s parents, Jamie and Lynne, contended at the time of the conservatorship that Lutfi was controlling every aspect of her life. They claimed he crushed up pills and put them in her food, and even decided who could visit her.
A judge signed the 2019 restraining order after Lynne Spears claimed Lutfi had offered her $1,000 to “disrupt and take over” the conservatorship process.
The restraining order also protects Jamie and Lynne, as well as Bitney’s two sons, Sean and Jayden.
Britney Spears thanks her fans as 13-year conservatorship ends: 'Best day ever'
Britney Spears is officially free. After nearly 14 years, the 39-year-old singer's conservatorship has been terminated effective today. Judge Brenda Penny dissolved the legal arrangement during Friday afternoon's hearing, granting the pop star's earlier request for it to end without undergoing additional mental evaluations.
"The conservatorship of the person and estate of Britney Jean Spears is no longer required," the judge declared, per the New York Times.
Britney shared a video of the hundreds of #FreeBritney supporters who were at the courthouse in Los Angeles on Friday.
"I love my fans so much it's crazy," she captioned the post. "I think I'm gonna cry the rest of the day !!!! Best day ever…"
Britney's attorney Mathew Rosengart, who was appointed only four months ago, addressed reporters after the hearing — which lasted less than 30 minutes.
"What's next for Britney, and this is the first time this could be said for about a decade, is up to one person: Britney," he said as a crowd of #FreeBritney supporters cheered. Rosengart noted the singer has been set up in a position "to succeed" post-conservatorship.
"We have a safety net in place for Britney, both on the personal side and on the financial side," he added. "But Britney as of today is a free woman and she's an independent woman and the rest, with her support system, will be up to Britney."
Britney Spears to gradually return to work: 'Making music is not her top priority'
Britney and her multimillion-dollar estate have been under the control of father Jamie Spears for more than a decade and his role has also been terminated. Certified public accountant John Zabel, who was approved to temporarily take over as conservator of the estate in September, will stay on to ensure a smooth transition in regard to Britney's finances.
American singer Britney Spears is celebrating her newfound freedom after 13 years of conservatorship.
The 39-year-old, who had been waiting a long time to get back to her career as a pop star, has a number of other things in her plate right now.
Britney Spears “wants to make music and perform again,” but it’s “not her top priority right now and hasn’t been for a while,” a source exclusively told Page Six Friday.
It continued, “It’s never been her intention to step away from her career altogether. People around Britney spoke for her and said she was retiring, but they were putting words in her mouth.”
The insider added, “The only thing she’s said is that she would not work again under her father’s control, but now that he’s out as her conservator, she’s willing and even excited to get back to it one day.”
Meanwhile, Britney Spears is making preparations to get married to longtime boyfriend Sam Asghari.
Pop star Britney Spears on Friday regained control of her personal life and her money when a judge ended a 13-year conservatorship that became a cause celebre for fans and critics of an arrangement typically meant to protect the elderly.
“Effective today, the conservatorship of the person and the estate of Britney Jean Spears is hereby terminated,” Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny said after a 30-minute hearing in which no one opposed ending the court-sanctioned arrangement.
The 39-year-old “Piece of Me” singer had begged the court for months to terminate the conservatorship that has governed her personal life and $60 million estate since 2008.
Spears did not attend Friday’s hearing but said in an Instagram post, “I love my fans so much it’s crazy!!! I think I’m gonna cry the rest of the day !!!! Best day ever.”
Outside the courthouse, dozens of fans erupted into cheers and tossed pink confetti into the air when they heard the news. Some danced and sang to her hit “Stronger.”
“It was a monumental day for Britney Spears,” the pop star’s attorney, Mathew Rosengart, said outside the courthouse. He thanked the #FreeBritney movement which he said had been essential to ending the legal arrangement.
The conservatorship was set up and overseen by the singer’s father, Jamie Spears, after she had a public breakdown in 2007 and was hospitalized for undisclosed mental health issues.
Interest in the case was propelled in the past year by documentaries and the #FreeBritney movement of fans who questioned why the singer needed such restrictions while she was touring around the world and earning millions of dollars.
Lauriann Wright, the attorney for Jodi Montgomery, who had been entrusted with overseeing Spears’ personal life, told the judge there was “no reason this termination cannot happen and Ms. Spears cannot live a safe, happy and fulfilling life.”
Rosengart said a “safety net” had been put in place to help Spears transition back to regular life. Judge Penny added that the current conservator should continue working to settle ongoing financial issues in the case.
“I’m shaking,” Leanne Simmons, a fan and one of the organizers of the #FreeBritney movement, said shortly after the decision. “It still hasn’t sunk in to hear those words, ‘The conservatorship has been terminated.’ Britney is a free woman.”
The Spears case helped prompt hearings in the U.S. Congress and a new law in California aimed at preventing abusive conservatorships, which are normally set up to protect disabled people, the elderly or those suffering from dementia.
Since revealing years of private anguish in tearful testimony in June, Spears hired Rosengart, who moved aggressively to end the restrictions.
In June, she told the court she had been humiliated and traumatized and that she wanted her life back. She said she had been forced to work and take medication against her will and was prevented from marrying or even getting her hair done.