Britney Spears has spoken out about the alleged damage she endured during her 13-year conservatorship, stating she was "forced" to perform despite experiencing significant fear and anxiety. In a recent Instagram video, Spears, 44, appeared in a black bra and underwear, reflecting on her transformation from being "painfully shy" to performing for large audiences.
Spears detailed how, at the beginning of her career, she would experience asthma and shaking when meeting more than 10 people. She claims her father, Jamie Spears, would have her meet with "70 people," which she described as physically painful and dehumanizing, making her feel "like a robot."
"I'm so sensitive and proud of myself for shutting all that down, 'cause for too many years it was forced," Spears wrote in a caption accompanying the video. She expressed that during that period, she "lost a sacredness I used to have with people because I was secretly very sensitive and painfully shy."
The conservatorship, which was imposed in February 2008 following a series of public mental health challenges, officially ended in November 2021. For most of its duration, her father served as the primary conservator. He has previously maintained that his control was for her well-being, while Spears has described the arrangement as "abusive."
Spears further reflected on the conservatorship's impact on her "heart and soul," stating that "people don't realize the real damage that was done." She contrasted her stage persona with her private self, noting, "I was painfully shy, but I got to be someone different on stage."
She also shared an anecdote about meeting Shakira, who made her feel "normal" because they were similar in height, contrasting with her usual feeling of being the "youngest and shortest person in the room" when she first arrived in Los Angeles. Spears recalled feeling like a "robot, a machine" during her conservatorship and expressed gratitude that it is over.
The pop star's conservatorship was a subject of intense public scrutiny and the focus of the #FreeBritney movement. Spears has had a contentious relationship with her family since the conservatorship's termination, stemming from her experiences over nearly two decades of public struggles. Her past legal issues include a 2007 incident where she shaved her head and attacked a paparazzi's car, and a 2008 incident involving a psychiatric hold. More recently, she pleaded guilty to reckless driving in a 2023 incident.
