Britney Spears calls conservatorship 'abusive,' says she's not allowed to get married or have a baby

Britney Spears.
(Image credit: Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images)

Britney Spears on Wednesday spoke out against her court-ordered conservatorship, telling Judge Brenda Penny that it has been "abusive" and "traumatizing" and she has no autonomy over her own body.

The 39-year-old singer has been under a conservatorship since 2008, with her father, Jamie Spears, the conservator of her $60 million estate. The hearing was made public at Britney Spears' request, and she addressed the court by telephone, speaking for about 30 minutes. Spears told the judge she wants the conservatorship to end without having to complete a health evaluation and hopes to "sue my family" over her treatment.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.