Britney released, Britney avenged? The year 2021 will have marked a major turning point in the long battle waged by the interpreter of Baby One More Time to free himself from his father’s tutelage. But the story will not stop there: on January 19, the question of the management of the finances of the artist who has sold 100 million albums in 20 years of career will again be discussed in a court in Los Angeles.
“I don’t believe the end of guardianship is the end of history, Britney has said over and over again that she wants to prosecute those who took advantage of her guardianship. She could launch an investigation or launch a prosecution, even if the guardianship is ended, “believes Samantha Stark, joined in New York last December.
Video reporter for the New York Times, Samantha Stark directed and produced two punchline documentaries in 2021 under the tutelage of Britney Spears, Framing Britney Spears and Controlling Britney Spears. Both ignited and then fueled a wave of support on an unprecedented scale for the singer of Work Bitch and the #FreeBritney movement.
PHOTO ARCHIVES THE NEW YORK TIMES
Samantha stark
The original concept was really to revisit the media coverage of Britney Spears in light of #metoo. We really had the impression that in the early 2000s, the media were after her.
Samantha Stark, video reporter at New York Times
Britney driving with her son on her knees, Britney shaving her head, Britney attacking a paparazzi’s car with an umbrella… “We all saw the same images, but they had very little context”, believes today ‘hui Samantha Stark.
The entourage of the pop sensation of the late 1990s describes her, however, as an ambitious young woman, in full control of her career, very committed to artistic decisions, far from the “cowardly bimbo” described by the printed tabloids and in line.
“We realized how false the public account of his story was. ”
PHOTO MARIO ANZUONI, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Britney Spears supporters celebrated a Los Angeles court decision to suspend the star’s guardianship on September 29.
#FreeBritney
As part of their research, the documentary team met with members of the #FreeBritney movement. Mobilized in favor of the lifting of the tutelage under which Britney Spears was placed against her will in 2008, the group suspected of liking conspiracy theories a little too much, until the release of Framing Britney Spears, a very marginal influence.
Yet they asked us a fundamental question: How can a person who is under guardianship bring in millions of dollars? Because we are the New York Times, the audience followed us when we asked this question ourselves.
Samantha Stark, video reporter at New York Times
Between 2008 and 2019, Britney Spears indeed pursued a prolific career: she appeared on a television show, released four albums, went on a world tour as many times and did a residency in Las Vegas which generated, according to Forbes, revenues of $ 137 million.
Revelations
Throughout 2021, disturbing revelations about the life of Britney Spears follow one another. We will learn in particular that the singer is spied on in her bedroom, that her father monitors all her communications, or that her ex-manager has financed anti-LGBTQ campaigns thanks to the income generated by the artist, yet a figurehead. of sexual diversity.
“I was completely surprised by the public reaction. I was afraid it would be seen as a joke again, when the reaction was completely different, with a lot of people sorry for her, ”says Samantha Stark.
The 23-minute shock testimony given by a “depressed” and “traumatized” Britney Spears in court in Los Angeles last June accelerated the collapse of her guardianship, which was officially lifted in November. Major questions remain today on the management of the artist’s finances by his tutors, suspected of having greatly benefited from their legal status.
“The case of Britney Spears highlights this system of guardianship in general, in which the people who make decisions are also paid for their services,” says Samantha Stark. As long as the guardianship continues, they make money. Britney’s case is unique because she was performing and making millions of dollars. This is a unique case, but with an obvious conflict of interest for the tutors. ”
New era
At 40, Britney Spears is no longer the sexy schoolgirl whose virginity everyone questioned, nor the young sex symbol denigrated by the tabloids, nor the woman harassed by the paparazzi. In 2021, the rehabilitation of the pop icon is also moving many women of her generation.
“I’m the same age as Britney,” says Samantha Stark. I remember the way she was treated in the 2000s. It was normalized to think she deserved to be humiliated. How has it affected our development as women? It’s a good question.
“At the end of the day, the way we treat celebrities is also the way we treat each other. That’s why we can feel challenged by Britney’s case. ”
Framing Britney Spears and Controlling Britney Spears are available in English and French on Crave.
Britney Spears’ Guardianship Ends
February 2021: release of the documentary Framing Britney Spears, directed by Samantha Stark
March 2021: Britney Spears asks her father to step down from her guardianship.
June 2021: Britney Spears goes to court in Los Angeles. The audio recording (COVID-19 requires) of his 23-minute plea is quickly going viral and making headlines. Britney Spears affirms that she wishes to have a child with her partner, but that her guardians impose contraception on her.
July 2021: following the vibrant plea of the pop star, the Bessemer Trust company leaves the trusteeship in order to respect the latter’s wishes. Sam Ingham, a lawyer appointed by the court and who will have represented Britney Spears during his guardianship, gives way to a new lawyer, chosen this time by the singer, Mathew Rosengart. This calls for an end to this “Kafkaesque nightmare”.
PHOTO VALERIE MACON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Britney Spears’ new lawyer, Mathew S. Rosengart, speaks to the media as he leaves court last July.
August 2021: Mathew Rosengart requests access to financial documents for the past 13 years. His father, Jamie Spears, in turn asks to step down from the guardianship.
September 2021: release of the documentary Controlling Britney Spears, also directed by Samantha Stark.
November 2021: the Los Angeles court ends the guardianship of Britney Spears.
PHOTO CHRIS PIZZELLO, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Britney Spears supporters celebrate the end of her tutelage in Los Angeles.
December 2021: Britney Spears regains control of her finances and her fortune, estimated at $ 60 million. Jamie Spears asks singer to keep paying her attorney fees, says Variety. An “abomination”, denounces the lawyer of the latter.
With Agence France-Presse, Tea New York Times and Variety