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TRUE BRIT

The bizarre Britney Spears conspiracy theories and ‘fake emails’ that claim singer is being ‘imprisoned’ by her dad

Despite Britney's denials that she's being 'held against her will in rehab', fans continue to find 'clues' she's not happy and have waged a 'Free Britney' campaign online

BRITNEY Spears was forced to issue a statement denying she’s being held in rehab against her will this week.

In an emotional video, the singer thanked fans but said that rumours had ‘got out of control’ and “all is well”.

 Britney has always insisted she's grateful for her dad Jamie's help
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Britney has always insisted she's grateful for her dad Jamie's helpCredit: Refer to Caption

Referring to the fan campaign “Free Britney” – which was backed last week by The Hills star Heidi Montag and high profile YouTuber Shane Dawson – she said: “there’s rumours, death threats to my family and my team, and just so many things crazy things being said.”

It’s the first time in over ten years Britney has addressed constant fan claims that she’s “trapped” in her conservatorship – where her dad and until recently, her lawyer, control her access to money and make key decisions about her life.

Since Britney entered a mental health facility suffering from what US reports claimed was “severe emotional stress” and “struggling to cope with dad Jamie’s health issues” and cancelled her Las Vegas residency, bizarre online conspiracies that Britney was “forced” into rehab have gone viral.

Despite Britney’s repeated assurances that she’s happy and maintains a close relationship with her father, and being seen on a lunch date with her boyfriend Sam Asghari, fans started the “Free Britney” movement, where they bombard her management with pleas to end the conservatorship.

 Britney, spotted earlier this week with boyfriend Sam
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Britney, spotted earlier this week with boyfriend SamCredit: BackGrid

What is a conservatorship?

A conservatorship is when “an adult with a relationship to the individual, perhaps a spouse or other relative, [petitions] a county probate court for control over his or her affairs.”

It’s normally used when an adult “lacks mental capacity” to safely make their own decisions – commonly when someone is suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's disease, or is psychotic or suicidal.

In this case, Britney’s dad Jamie, and her lawyer Andrew Wallett (who quit the position last month) would approve every personal, medical and financial decision she made.

Britney’s dad approves her spending, and any big decisions like getting married and buying houses. He also approves jobs – like taking on tours, Las Vegas residencies and joining shows like US X Factor.

 Britney's mum Lynne has worried fans with her online behaviour
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Britney's mum Lynne has worried fans with her online behaviourCredit: Getty - Contributor

Britney originally handed over control of her business decisions and finances to her dad Jamie in February 2008, following her 2007 breakdown.

In 2008, Britney tearfully compared the situation to being in prison, saying there was “no excitement” in her life, and in 2011, she confirmed she still didn’t have access to a phone under the terms of the conservatorship.

And in 2009, reports claimed Britney was trying to contact her former ‘manager’, a man called Sam Lutfi, in an attempt to end the conservatorship. Lutfi is a Hollywood film producer who was present during the star’s breakdown and who her family have accused in court of using her for money.

In 2016, Britney fans in the audience of a Jonathan Ross show interview claimed the singer said she’d had to take control of her album Glory because “under the conservatorship, a lot of decisions have been made for me” – but the quotes were cut from the final broadcast.

 Britney's financial, medical and personal decisions are all approved by her dad
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Britney's financial, medical and personal decisions are all approved by her dadCredit: Getty - Contributor
 Britney's conservatorship started after her 2007 breakdown
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Britney's conservatorship started after her 2007 breakdownCredit: The Mega Agency

Small ‘clues’ like this have been held up by super-fans who claim that Britney is desperate to be ‘free’ from her family, who want to keep it going as her dad earns £100k a year from the arrangement.

The bizarre rumours were fuelled again last week after Britney’s mum Lynne – who split from Jamie in 2002 - liked a series of Instagram comments from fans.

One comment read: “I really hope you are supporting Britney in trying to end this conservatorship. I really hope your ailing ex husband isn’t keeping your daughter somewhere against her will.”

Another fan comment that she liked said: “I hope she’s doing ok & can finally be able to [be] free she deserves it!! We know.”

 Britney and her former manager Sam Lutfi
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Britney and her former manager Sam LutfiCredit: Rex Features
 Fans have protested in Hollywood to draw attention to the campaign
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Fans have protested in Hollywood to draw attention to the campaignCredit: BackGrid
Britney Spears breaks silence over 'severe emotional distress’ and says rumours are ‘out of control’

She also liked a post telling fans to listen to podcast Britney’s Gram, where the two presenters, Tess Barker and Barbara Gray, played a voicemail they claimed was from an anonymous lawyer who claimed he worked with Britney and that she wanted to get out of the conservatorship, telling the podcast “you’re onto something”.

Earlier this week, Britney fan networks started sharing emails claiming to be from Britney begging to end the conservatorship – however Britney has denied she wrote them, saying: “These fake emails everywhere were crafted by Sam Lutfi years ago... I did not write them. He was pretending to be me and communicating with my team with a fake email address.”

Sam has already hit back and denied the accusations.

Britney has also denied all fan rumours she’s been ‘held against her will’, claims she says are causing her family “anxiety and stress”. She added: “My situation is unique, but I promise I’m doing what’s best at this moment. You may not know this about me, but I am strong, and stand up for what I want!

 Fans made their own homemade signs for the protest
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Fans made their own homemade signs for the protestCredit: BackGrid
 Britney and boyfriend Sam, who has reassured fans she is fine
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Britney and boyfriend Sam, who has reassured fans she is fine

“Your love and dedication is amazing, but what I need right now is a little bit of privacy to deal with all the hard things that life is throwing my way.”

Britney’s publicist has been contacted for comment.

Britney Spears ‘admitted to mental health facility as she struggles to cope with dad’s illness'


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