‘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.
Jack Whitehall says he’s been the victim of “outrageous shading” after the Prince of Wales described his jokes as “dad-like”.
The next in line to the throne was asked by a group of school kids to tell a “dad joke” – and responded by saying he was “channelling” the 35-year-old comedian.
On X, Whitehall quipped: “There goes my knighthood.”
In a light-hearted, split-screen video, Whitehall reacted to the prince’s comments – but flattery after being name dropped turned to mock offence after William critiqued his jokes.
“Rinsed by the future King,” the comic said.
William made a surprise visit to a school in the West Midlands yesterday after a pupil requested he come and learn about their mental health campaign.
During the trip, William was asked to join children from St Michael’s Church of England School in Sandwell for the “dad joke” segment of their radio show.
He said: “I’m trying to channel Jack Whitehall, because most of his jokes are pretty dad-like.
“I think what I’ll do is I’ll say a joke which is Charlotte’s favourite joke at the moment, she keeps telling me.”
The Prince of Wales visits a school in Sandwell. Pic: Kensington Palace
The royal began with “knock knock” – and when pupils replied “who’s there”, William said “interrupting cow”.
As the kids tried to ask “interrupting cow who?” he made them laugh by saying “moooooo” before they could finish the sentence.
Whitehall shook his head with disapproval while listening to the joke – but then picked up a notebook and scribbled it down, as if he planned to use it in a future set.
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Whitehall – who welcomed his first child with his partner Roxy Horner last year – has written a Netflix special called Settle Down about becoming a father.
He is known for his sarcastic and self-deprecating stand-up comedy, starring in the sitcom Bad Education, and his long-running travel show with his father Michael.
Hilary Swank says playing roles based on real stories have made her a “better person”.
The 49-year-old has portrayed a real-life single mother, a lawyer and a high-school dropout – and won her first Academy Award in 2000 for Boys Don’t Cry, a story based on the life of Brandon Teena, a trans man who was murdered in 1993.
She tells Sky News: “Each character that I’ve ever played is in my heart, and I am so grateful for that because it just made me, I think, a better person and certainly helped me challenge myself as an artist”.
Hilary Swank as Sharon in Ordinary Angels. Pic: Sony Pictures/Allen Fraser
Swank says she never thought her acting choices would have such an impact on others and finds it “so beautiful to have those conversations” with people who relate to the roles she has played.
“[My filmography] touches not only different, genders, which is so unique, but different races and, and different classes of people and that is so beautiful because I then get to connect with people who have gone through something similar.
“Whether it’s people with addiction, people who are having a sexual identity crisis, people who are clear on their sexuality but had struggled in the past, people who were not seen in high school and dropped out because they didn’t matter and then that went on to graduating high school and college because they saw a movie that I was in”.
Her latest film, Ordinary Angels, is also non-fiction and she plays a woman who goes out of her way to help strangers at their time of need.
It’s based on the true story of a recently widowed father of two daughters, one of whom is in need of an organ transplant.
(R-L) Skywalker Hughes and Alan Ritchson in Ordinary Angels. Pic: Sony Pictures/Allen Fraser
Losing her father
The story has a real connection with Swank, whose father was an organ transplant recipient before his death in 2021.
In 2014, the two-time Oscar winner took a three-year break from acting to be the sole caretaker of her father and says it allowed them to grow closer “deepening our relationship and savouring every moment we had together”.
She was offered the role in Ordinary Angels just months after his death in 2021.
“When people are losing their lives it’s hard and it’s a reminder of the lives that are lost in our own lives as we play them”.
Swank describes playing real people as “an honour,” explaining: “It allows us, as actors and storytellers, to break the blinders of how we walk in the world and see the world and it reminds us that people are going through things that we have no idea about. So, to be a little kinder walk, tread a little gentler, give people more grace.”
She adds: “Each character that I’ve ever played is in my heart, and I am so grateful for that because it just made me, I think, a better person. And, certainly helped me challenge me as an artist”.
(R-L) Tamala Jones and Swank in Ordinary Angels. Pic: Sony Pictures/Allen Fraser
The real ‘snow baby’
Ordinary Angels centres on a struggling hairdresser Sharon who finds a new sense of purpose after reading about a tragic story in a Kentucky newspaper.
Ed, played by Reacher’s Alan Ritchson, is a recently widowed father of two daughters – one of whom is waiting for an organ transplant.
The film is based on real events that occurred in Kentucky in the early 1990s that saw a local hairdresser step in and launch fundraisers to help the family with their medical debt and organise the child’s journey via private plane whenever a donated liver became available.
Locally named the “snow baby”, Michelle Schmitt and her father were helped by a stranger, Sharon Stevens and their community, to get from Louisville to Nebraska for an organ transplant during a historic snowstorm.
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The tagline of Ordinary Angels is simple – “Find your purpose. Make a difference”.
Swank agrees and says it’s important to remember that we are not always aware of what others are going through.
“We have a choice in how we want to step into our lives every single day. That means helping others and helping ourselves to be a better person.”
Ordinary Angels is in UK cinemas now.
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