‘13 years being in a corrupt abusive system… Why is it such a hard topic for people to talk about?’
Britney Spears didn’t (or couldn’t) speak out all that much during the years-long legal battle that ended her conservatorship, but she’s had plenty to say since the legal arrangement was finally terminated earlier this month (November 12).
Shortly after her victory, the pop star shared how she’d celebrated the first few days of her freedom in an Instagram post, writing: “I felt like I was on cloud 9 the whole time!!!” Now, however, she’s taken aim at those who didn’t speak out about the restrictive arrangement that saw her father, Jamie Spears, control her personal life, body, career, and finances for 13 years.
Specifically, Spears has responded to a video of Christina Aguilera at Thursday’s Latin Grammy Awards, which sees a reporter ask her about the conservatorship, before her publicist leads her away, saying: “No, we’re not doing that tonight.”
As Aguilera leaves the interview, she does briefly speak on the legal win, reiterating that she can’t discuss it, but adding: “I’m happy for her.”
Reposting the video in an Instagram story, Spears writes: “I love and adore everyone who supported me… but refusing to speak when you know the truth, is equivalent to a lie! 13 years being in a corrupt abusive system… Why is it such a hard topic for people to talk about? I’m the one who went through it!”
It’s worth noting that Aguilera did talk about the conservatorship while the court battle was in progress. Back in June, she shared an open letter that addressed Britney’s direct statement to the LA court days earlier, and its disturbing revelations about her father’s control over her body and reproductive rights.
“These past few days I’ve been thinking about Britney and everything she is going through,” Aguilera wrote at the time. “It is unacceptable that any woman, or human, wanting to be in control of their own destiny might not be allowed to live life as they wish.”
Spears has also taken to social media to thank the supporters who “spoke up and supported” her following the court decision, including Lady Gaga. Also on Thursday, Gaga spoke at length about the conservatorship when questioned by reporters at a Los Angeles premiere for House of Gucci, expanding on her initial congratulations.
“Britney is a woman in this business that showed a lot of power,” Gaga says in the red carpet interview with Variety. “We can all root for her, but the person that changed her life was her. This change that’s happening for her, it happened because of her, I believe. I’m excited for her future and I wish her all the best.”
Following the statement on Aguilera’s interview, Spears shared her appreciation for the Chromatica singer, writing in another Instagram story: “Thank you Lady Gaga for genuinely taking your time to say something so kind. You made me cry! I love you!”
Find Gaga’s red carpet interview below.