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#FreeBritney Rally DC© GettyImages

Britney Spears’ request to hire her own lawyer is granted amid #FreeBritney rally at the Lincoln Memorial

Her new attorney said he was “appalled” by her father and asked him to remove himself from the case


Jovita Trujillo
Jovita Trujillo - Los Angeles
Senior WriterLos Angeles
JULY 14, 2021 9:22 PM EDT

Britney Spears has officially been granted her request to hire her own private attorney. It’s a major win for Spears and could be the light at the end of the tunnel for the singer. The decision came ahead of another tearful plea by Spears to remove her father from the conservatorship in open court Wednesday, July 14th. But not just removed, Spears wants to press charges for abuse. “I’m here to get rid of my dad and charge him for conservatorship abuse,” Spears said via remote video. “I want to press charges for abuse on this conservatorship today… all of it.”

Before her voluntary testimony, Judge Brenda Penny granted Spears her request to hire former federal prosecutor Mathew Rosengart, who attended the hearing in person. A #FreeBritney group held a rally at Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC on the same day of the hearing to support the singer’s big day. Take a look at the pictures below and read more of Spears’ shocking testimony in court.

#FreeBritney Rally DC© GettyImages

#FreeBritney Rally DC

Britney’s new attorney briefly addressed the court and told the judge it’s clear “This is not working. What is supposed to be at the heart of this has been lost,” Rosengart intends to file a petition to the court soon with the hope it puts an end to the conservatorship. He also called on her father Jamie to remove himself from Britney’s case, adding that he was “appalled” by him. “There is a real question as to why Mr. Spears does not voluntarily step down today,” the attorney to the stars said, before asking, “Is he here for financial reasons? Does anybody really believe that Mr. Spears’ involvement is in the best interest of his daughter?” “If he loves his daughter, it is time to step aside — to move forward,” the former federal prosecutor said. Jamie’s attorney Vivian Thoreen said he would not voluntarily resign and questioned the accuracy of Britney’s claims of abuse.

Free Britney Rally DC© GettyImages

Free Britney Rally DC

Britney had initially asked the judge if the courtroom could be cleared, but then said she was fine speaking in open court. Just like her last testimony, Britney broke down in tears explaining that she was “extremely scared” of her father and refuses to be evaluated to remove him. Britney said she was forced to take psych tests and get blood drawn numerous times per week against her will while on her “Circus” tour. Her conservator told her participating in it would help get her life back, “I did it all and they lied…they did nothing,” Britney said. “They didn’t end it, and I kept working.” Now, Britney refuses anyone to “question my intelligence for the millionth time.”

#FreeBritney Rally DC© GettyImages

#FreeBritney Rally DC

The singer continued to detail the ways her father Jamie controls her life and called it “cruelty.” According to Britney, he controls what she eats, doesn’t allow her to drink coffee, and took away her “pink hair vitamins.” “That’s not abuse. That’s just f**ing cruelty,” she said, before apologizing to the judge for her language, per Variety. “Instead of trying to investigate my behavior or my capacity, I want my dad investigated,” Spears said to the judge. “This conservatorship is literally allowing my dad to rule my life…that is abuse, and we all know it.” She also said growing up, “I was always extremely scared of my dad and scared he was going to show up drunk somewhere.”

#FreeBritney Rally DC© GettyImages

#FreeBritney Rally DC

Britney said she knows she is not a “perfect person” and said her “episodes” are a direct result of “what they did to me.” She added that she has “Serious abandonment issues” and the conservators knew that but would leave her alone and not let her leave the house. She explained that her parents would leave her alone in their trailer multiple times a week.

'Free Britney' Rally Held In Washington, DC© GettyImages

#FreeBritney Rally DC

Britney’s mother Lynne Spears was also present via phone at the hearing. She said she agreed “entirely” with Rosengart and Lynne’s attorney asked that they are back in court sooner than later to put an end to the conservatorship “This system is broken,” her lawyer said. “This is lawyers gone wild.”