<p>Britney Spears asked a judge Wednesday to end court conservatorship that has controlled her life and money since 2008.</p>.<p>The dramatic request at a Los Angeles hearing came with her first words in open court in the conservatorship in its 13-year existence.</p>.<p>Spears called the conservatorship “abusive,” and condemned her father and the others who have controlled it.</p>.<p>“I want to end this conservatorship without being evaluated,” Spears said in a long, emotional and sometimes profane speech, in which she condemned the legal arrangement and her father, who has controlled it for most of its existence.</p>.<p>“This conservatorship is doing me way more harm than good,” she said. “I deserve to have a life.” Spears said she wants to marry her boyfriend and have a baby, but the conservatorship won't allow her to.</p>.<p>About 100 fans from the so called #FreeBritney movement gathered outside the courthouse before the hearing, holding signs that read “Free Britney now!” and “Get out of Britney's life!”</p>.<p>Jennifer Preston, 33, crossed the country from Richmond, Virginia, to be outside the hearing because, she says, “I'm a mom and I'm a fan.”</p>.<p>“We're here to hear what she has to say,” Preston said. “She's been treated like a child for the last 13 years, she hasn't had control of her life or her finances, even though she's clearly capable enough to do those things.”</p>.<p>Spears spoke in court remotely by phone.</p>.<p>Her court-appointed attorney, Samuel Ingham III, made a request for the pop star to address the court at an April hearing. He said Spears has not officially asked him to file a petition to end the conservatorship.</p>.<p>Britney Spears has spoken in court in the conservatorship before, but the courtroom was always cleared and transcripts sealed.</p>.<p>The last time she was known to have addressed the judge was in May 2019.</p>.<p>Spears has since requested greater transparency from the court since then, and Penny has allowed far more to remain public.</p>.<p>The conservatorship was put in place as she underwent a mental health crisis in 2008. She has credited it with saving her from financial ruin and keeping her a top flight pop star.</p>.<p>Her father and his attorneys have emphasized that she and her fortune, which court records put at more than $50 million, remain vulnerable to fraud and manipulation. Under the law, the burden would be on Spears to prove she is competent to be released and free to make her own choices.</p>
<p>Britney Spears asked a judge Wednesday to end court conservatorship that has controlled her life and money since 2008.</p>.<p>The dramatic request at a Los Angeles hearing came with her first words in open court in the conservatorship in its 13-year existence.</p>.<p>Spears called the conservatorship “abusive,” and condemned her father and the others who have controlled it.</p>.<p>“I want to end this conservatorship without being evaluated,” Spears said in a long, emotional and sometimes profane speech, in which she condemned the legal arrangement and her father, who has controlled it for most of its existence.</p>.<p>“This conservatorship is doing me way more harm than good,” she said. “I deserve to have a life.” Spears said she wants to marry her boyfriend and have a baby, but the conservatorship won't allow her to.</p>.<p>About 100 fans from the so called #FreeBritney movement gathered outside the courthouse before the hearing, holding signs that read “Free Britney now!” and “Get out of Britney's life!”</p>.<p>Jennifer Preston, 33, crossed the country from Richmond, Virginia, to be outside the hearing because, she says, “I'm a mom and I'm a fan.”</p>.<p>“We're here to hear what she has to say,” Preston said. “She's been treated like a child for the last 13 years, she hasn't had control of her life or her finances, even though she's clearly capable enough to do those things.”</p>.<p>Spears spoke in court remotely by phone.</p>.<p>Her court-appointed attorney, Samuel Ingham III, made a request for the pop star to address the court at an April hearing. He said Spears has not officially asked him to file a petition to end the conservatorship.</p>.<p>Britney Spears has spoken in court in the conservatorship before, but the courtroom was always cleared and transcripts sealed.</p>.<p>The last time she was known to have addressed the judge was in May 2019.</p>.<p>Spears has since requested greater transparency from the court since then, and Penny has allowed far more to remain public.</p>.<p>The conservatorship was put in place as she underwent a mental health crisis in 2008. She has credited it with saving her from financial ruin and keeping her a top flight pop star.</p>.<p>Her father and his attorneys have emphasized that she and her fortune, which court records put at more than $50 million, remain vulnerable to fraud and manipulation. Under the law, the burden would be on Spears to prove she is competent to be released and free to make her own choices.</p>