Many have learned about the concept of a conservatorship for the first time this year, as the quiet tragedy that Britney Spears has been facing for the last few years has finally come to light. Plagued by the invasive press and paparazzi, Britney Spears went through a very tough period very publicly. Many characterized this time as a "mental breakdown," but in retrospect it seems clear that it was the enormous pressure she was under while living in the spotlight that was mostly to blame for her perceived unraveling.
The conservatorship was meant to put her estate and general affairs in the hands of her father, Jamie Spears, because Britney was thought to be unfit to manage her own life. While that may have been prudent at the time, the conservatorship turned abusive when Britney was well equipped to handle her own money, schedule, work, health and psychiatric care. Fortunately this month Jamie Spears has announced that he will step down as her conservator, a relief to fans everywhere. But fellow former child star Amanda Bynes is in a similar situation, and hasn't been so fortunate - at least not yet. Read on to find out how Amanda Bynes' conservatorship compares to Britney Spears'.
6 Both Were Perceived As 'Crazy'
It's almost a cliche now, the trope of the maligned woman painted as "crazy" or "out of control." Between Britney's Vegas marriage, custody battles, and the infamous head-shaving incident, the press was eager to paint her as unstable and unfit to manage her and her sons' lives. And maybe that was true at the time, just like it was for Amanda when she began drinking and using drugs heavily and having run-ins with the law. But now that both women are in a better place, it is time for them to get their independence back.
5 Both Have Gotten Sober
Amanda Bynes turned 35 in April of this year, and her lawyer, David A. Esquibias, told People Magazine at that time that she was very happy and really enjoying her life. "Amanda is doing great," he said. "She lives by the beach, attends school and is enjoying meditation and Soul Cycle classes." Amanda Bynes was living in an inpatient rehab facility for most of the last couple years, but now that she's out she's managed to stay clean and sober from alcohol and drugs. Britney Spears, too, has gotten sober. Their sobriety is just one of the reasons Amanda Bynes and Britney Spears have demonstrated that they are capable of managing their own lives.
4 Both Were Child Stars
Both Amanda Bynes and Britney Spears were famous before they hit the double digit ages, Amanda from Nickelodeon's All That and Britney from The Mickey Mouse Club. It is a well documented phenomenon that fame can really mess people up, especially when the person is too young to grapple with the implications of living in the spotlight, and many child stars go on to unravel and go wild a little bit. This was certainly the case for Amanda and Britney, who were household names before they even hit puberty. While the conservatorships may have been meant to protect them during these unstable periods, both women have set themselves on a better path and showed that they are ready to take back their lives.
3 Amanda Bynes Is Engaged
Amanda Bynes surprised fans when she announced that she was engaged to her boyfriend, Paul Michael, whom she had only known for three weeks. They met in rehab, which should have been a warning sign in and of itself. Days after announcing the engagement on Instagram, Amanda shared that the engagement was over. A day later, though, it was back on, and seems to have remained stable since then. Though Paul Michael gushes about her to the press, Amanda Bynes' lawyer isn't convinced. He believes that Paul Michael is selling access to Amanda Bynes to the paparazzi. Britney Spears seems to have locked down a good man, though. Sam Asghari has been with Britney since 2016 and keeps their relationship extremely low profile, respecting the need for Britney's privacy.
2 Amanda Bynes Hasn't Been Forced To Act Or Perform
One major feature of Britney Spears' conservatorship was the fact that she was forced to perform against her will. She stated that she was made to continue performing at her Vegas residency show against her will and that her management team threatened to sue her if she stopped doing the show. The residency ran from 2013 to 2017 and grossed $138 million, none of which she was allowed to access or control for herself. Amanda Bynes, on the other hand, has not been forced to act, and has been living life off of the silver screen since 2010 when she appeard in Easy A. Her parents control her $3 million net worth.
1 Amanda Bynes Made A False Pregnancy Announcement
Amanda Bynes posted a picture of an ultrasound to Instagram in early 2020 that appeared to serve as a pregnancy announcement, heralding the upcoming arrival of her first child with her fiance Paul Michael. The post was quickly deleted, and Amanda's lawyer has refuted the claim that she is pregnant, insisting that she never was and that the announcement wasn't true. Amanda and Paul have said that they are very excited to have children. Britney Spears' conservatorship involved reproductive agency as well, with her stating that she was not allowed to remove her IUD, which she wanted to do so that she could have a child with her longtime boyfriend Sam Asghari.