The 12 biggest and most shocking revelations from Britney vs Spears on Netflix

Netflix has just released what it is describing as an “explosive” documentary about the conservatorship pop star Britney Spears has lived under for over 13 years. The hour and a half film explains the details of the conservatorship, under her father Jamie, and how it has affected her personal life, career and finances. A lot of revelations were made in the doc, Britney vs Spears, which ended in a powerful segment of reflection, in Britney’s own words.

In the guardianship, Britney’s father has control over aspects of her life and finances and it has caused the huge #FreeBritney campaign online. Britney has accused her father of “conservatorship abuse,” asking a judge to “press charges” against him. The film ended with her saying that everyone who has been involved should be in jail.

Here are the most shocking revelations made in the Netflix documentary about her life under the conservatorship, Britney vs Spears.

1. The paparazzi could get thousands and thousands for just one photo of Britney

Right at the beginning of Britney vs Spears, we are shown the world of paparazzi culture and how lucrative it was for photographers to get a snap of her – with one of the main revelations being that the price tag for a Britney picture is thousands of dollars. “As a photographer, you can get a few hundred thousand dollars for a picture of Britney,” photographer Adnan Ghalib says.

Yes, a few HUNDRED thousand for ONE picture.

2. Jamie Spears and the attorney Andrew saw the conservatorship as a ‘business model’

The idea of a conservatorship is that it is to support someone who cannot look after themselves or their finances alone. However, in paperwork shown during the documentary, Britney’s was seen as a “business model” to her father Jamie and the attorney who was also in charge of the guardianship. It is later said that people involved in the conservatorship made millions from Britney’s work and estate.

3. It was stated that Britney was suffering from dementia

In new documents uncovered in this documentary, one of the reasons cited for the conservatorship coming into place is claimed to be due to “orders related to dementia placement”.

4. Sam Lufti was accused of drugging Britney, which in the Britney vs Spears documentary he denies

Sam Lutfi claims he was Britney’s former manager. But in her divorce court documents, she cited him as her “friend sometimes” and someone who will help “get groceries”. It has been claimed by Britney’s mother that Lufti had been crushing drugs and putting them in Britney’s food. The documentary is the first time Lufti has addressed these claims, denying anything like this happened. He states Britney was having constant drug tests at the time, and was always negative. He also says that if her family really thought he was drugging her, they would have gone to police – not TMZ. “I was the perfect scapegoat to get this [conservatorship] done,” he says.

5. ‘I’ve represented dozens of conservatees in court, not one of them has had a job’

Tony Chicotel, a conservatorship attorney, is interviewed during the film. He says that something that really stuck out in the Britney case, to him as an expert, is that he has represented dozens of conservatees [what Britney was] in the past, but not one of them has ever had a job. Britney is successful, hardworking and a professional. This makes it seem extremely odd that she would be placed under a conservatorship of her finances, as well as her personal affairs.

6. The filmmakers were sent confidential documents

In the film, “During the fall of 2020, a source reached out to the filmmakers,” appears on screen. It continues: “They said they wanted the truth out there. The producers have worked to independently corroborate the contents of the leaked reports.” The anonymous texter says: “I have 1000s of confidential documents and emails from most parties involved with the conservatorship. If you’re trying to fact check something challenging, let me know and I can share what I have. I am happy to help and know you will bring the story, Britney and Conservatees veritas aequitas.” Veritas aequitas is Latin, and translates to truth and justice.

It’s then revealed the source passed on a document from a doctor, and medical reports stated “Britney Jean Spears lacks the capacity to retain and direct counsel” and “Britney Spears lacks the capacity to understand or manage her financial affairs without being subject to undue influence.” At the time, Britney was working and starring in TV show How I Met Your Mother, which makes it seem ridiculous that she was viewed as “lacking capacity” and unable to manage her finances.

7. Britney wrote the Blackout album on a Starbucks napkin

If you needed any more evidence that Britney is an unmatched talent and absolutely iconic, it’s said in the documentary that she wrote the entire of the Blackout album on a napkin in Starbucks. Blackout is widely said to be some of her best work.

8. Jamie Spears was threatening Britney

Another of the revelations made in Britney vs Sears is that Jamie Spears had been threatening Britney, with her saying he had threatened to take her children away from her in the past. In a 2009 voicemail message obtained by the filmmakers between Britney and a lawyer, she says that during the process of eliminating the conservatorship he had threatened her “several times” saying he would take her children away.

9. Britney had made it vocal that she wanted out of the conservatorship for years

To most, it seemed obvious that Britney was unhappy. However, she admits in her own words later on in the film that she had lied to the outside world and said she was happy. So one of the most shocking revelations in Britney vs Spears was just how much she wanted the guardianship to end. In documents and statements dating to years back, Britney had been saying she wanted out of the conservatorship. She said it over, and over again and was refused. In 2009, Britney is said to have written an open letter pleading for it to end.

10. Jamie Spears was basically getting all of Britney’s money, but still what she cared for most was the control it had over her personally

The conservatorship Britney was under was of the person and finances. This meant the guardianship gave power over her personal affairs and finances and estate to a third party – here being Britney’s father. Throughout the documentary, it is made very clear that the conservatorship had been very profitable for Jamie Spears and he was making millions from her work. “The people controlling her life have made three million dollars this year,” the documentary says.

However, the main part Britney objected to was the restrictions on her lifestyle. “I just want my life back”, she later says in the documentary.

11. Britney had been doing tours out of pure fear

At the end of the documentary, we hear Britney herself say she was doing tours out of fear. She says she was told if she didn’t do the tours that were planned she would have to find an attorney and her own management could sue her. “It was very threatening and scary,” she says. “Out of fear, I went ahead and I did the tour.” She later says she wasn’t allowed a break in between show dates and tours in Las Vegas.

12. ‘He loved every minute of it’ and ‘anyone involved in this conservatorship should be in jail’

One of the most shocking parts of the documentary is Britney’s own words at the end. She begins by saying: “I have a lot to say, so bear with me. I don’t think I was heard on any level when I came to court the last time.” She says she wants to discuss what she has been through, saying “the people who did that should not be able to walk away so easily.”

When explaining that she was producing her own shows and teaching her own dancers, Britney says: “I wasn’t good. I was great.” She continues to say she had her medications changed to stronger ones that she wasn’t used to. “Not only did my family not do a god damn thing, my father was all for it,” she says. “He loved every minute of it, the control he had over someone as powerful as me. One hundred, thousand per cent he loved it.

“That’s why I’m telling you this again two years later, after I’ve lied and told the whole world I’m okay and I’m happy. It’s a lie. I’ve been in denial, I’ve been in shock. I am traumatised. I’m not happy, I can’t sleep. I’m so angry it’s insane and I’m depressed. I cry every day.

“My dad and anyone involved in this conservatorship should be in jail. The last time I spoke to you [the judge], you made me feel like I was dead, like I didn’t matter. It’s embarrassing and demoralising what I’ve been through. I just want my life back, it’s been 13 years and it’s enough. It makes no sense whatsoever for the state of California to sit back and watch me make a living for so many people and be told I’m not good enough. I’m great at what I do. I feel ganged up on, I feel bullied and I feel left out and alone. I deserve to have the same rights as anybody else does. That’s all I wanted to say.”

Britney vs Spears is available on Netflix now. For all the latest Netflix news, drops and memes like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook. 

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