‘She’s finally free’ – Reactions from outside the court after Britney Spears’ conservatorship ends
Pink confetti was propelled into the clear blue sky and the speakers blasting Britney Spears’ greatest hits cranked up a notch as news filtered through to supporters outside court that her 13-year-long conservatorship was over.
Shrieks filled the air and some even cried tears of joy and relief.
Megan travelled from Chicago to Los Angeles in the hope that the conservatorship would be terminated.
“I’m just so happy, it’s been so long and now she’s finally free, she can live her life,” she said.
Britney’s conservatorship has been officially terminated
“I had to be here for this.”
Throughout the morning with anticipation building ahead of the pivotal hearing, fans marched along the palm tree lined street outside the Stanley Mosk courthouse, placards held aloft.
“It’s her circus so why isn’t she the ringmaster?” was written on one. “This is a human rights issue, free Britney now!” on another.
Four women dressed in iconic outfits from some of Spears’ most famous music videos performed a dance routine on a stage erected for the occasion.
Fans marched along the street outside the Stanley Mosk courthouse
For the past two and a half years the Free Britney movement has brought energy, colour and a shared sense of outrage to the cause, as they campaigned for their idol to be released from her conservatorship.
“She is being held prisoner,” said one, “she’s not even allowed to go out to get a coffee.”
The most hardcore fans have become experts in the workings of the conservatorship system – an extreme legal arrangement for people deemed unable to make decisions for themselves, usually those with dementia or other mental illness.
It took less than 45 minutes for Judge Brenda Penny to reach her decision that this no longer applied to Britney Spears.
Inside court, the rows were packed with journalists and members of the public. “No phones, no electronic devices” bellowed the court bailiffs, after recordings of previous hearings had been leaked online.
Spears’ lawyer Mathew Rosengart was asked to put his position forward first.
“Ms Spears believes the time has come to terminate this conservatorship,” he said. He read out excerpts from her previous testimony where she told the court, “I just want my life back”.
Fans showed their support for Britney outside court
Britney’s father was dialled into the hearing, as was her mother Lynne Spears. Their lawyers also said they agreed the conservatorship should end.
Judge Penny heard no opposition, and determined that the conservatorship of the estate and the person should be terminated, as it was “no longer required”.
A decision that had garnered such international attention, and one that would mean so much to the hundreds of fans gathered outside the court, in the end, felt inevitable.
Britney’s conservatorship was officially terminated.
Only a couple of administrative powers remain for her temporary conservator John Zabel, like transferring the power of attorney to her trust.
Mr Rosengart said outside court that this was not the end of the story, telling Sky News that Spears would now have to decide whether to pursue her father Jamie in the courts.
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Jamie Spears, as the conservator, controlled his daughter’s estate and personal affairs for 13 years and says he only ever had her best interests at heart.
But Spears says he abused his position and she wants access to full financial records for the whole contested period of the conservatorship.
The termination of the conservatorship is a life-changing decision for Spears. Once the dust has settled, she may return to the stage but this time it will be on her terms.
Entertainment
Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner and investor of Swansea football club saying it’s ‘an underdog just like me’
Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.
Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.
However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.
The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.
Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.
The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA
Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.
They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.
Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.
The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”
“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.
The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.
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One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
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