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The Project hosts' surprise reaction to 'nuts' #FreeBritney movement
Britney Spears was finally able to speak openly in court about the conservatorship that has controlled her life and money for 13 years on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
The 39-year-old said what fans had long believed, that she found the conservatorship "abusive" and felt "traumatised" after living with it for so long.
The explosive claims by Britney were a hot topic of conversation on Thursday's episode of The Project with Lisa Wilkinson explaining, "Britney Spears has asked a court to end her 13-year conservatorship because she claimed she had been abused and exploited by her family and carers, likening her situation to that of a sex trafficking victim. She told the judge she deserves to have a life."
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Britney Spears asks to end 'abusive' conservatorship: 'I’m traumatised'
The Project's Carrie Bickmore brought to tears in emotional segment
The panellists sympathised with the star after listening to audio from court of Britney speaking about the conservatorship and the shocking effect it's had on her life.
"It is heartbreaking,” Lisa said. "Just hearing her speak like that, she’s a woman who’s been destroyed by the people around her and the very fame that once upon a time, as a little girl, when you first saw her sing, you saw that incredible amount of talent and it's all just been destroyed."
However, Waleed Aly and Peter Helliar both admitted to not believing the #FreeBritney movement until now.
"Obviously we have heard the #FreeBritney things bubble along for a bit," Waleed said. "We never had any flesh on the bones... It feels like today is the first hint of that."
"If you're not paying attention to this and a lot of us haven't been, not really, you weren't sure what to make of that Free Britney movement," Peter agreed.
"Because a lot of fan movements are nuts, right?" Waleed added.
"Absolutely, but they may have been onto something," Peter responded.
Britney's emotional speech, in which she said she is "traumatised" broke hearts around the world.
"This conservatorship is doing me way more harm than good," she said. "I deserve to have a life."
Britney said she wants to marry her boyfriend and have a baby, but the conservatorship won’t allow her to.
The singer has spoken in court about the conservatorship before, but the courtroom was always cleared and transcripts sealed.
The conservatorship was put in place as she underwent a mental health crisis in 2008. She has credited it with saving her from financial ruin and keeping her a top-flight pop star.
Her father Jamie Spears and his lawyers have emphasised that she and her fortune, which court records put at more than $US50 million ($A66 million), remain vulnerable to fraud and manipulation.
Under the law, the burden would be on Britney to prove she is competent to be released and free to make her own choices.
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