Three Years After Britney, Wendy Williams Shows Celebrity Conservatorships May Still Be Toxic to Women

Amanda Bynes, Britney Spears, Wendy Williams and Nichelle Nichols. (Chris Smith/TheWrap)

Such court-ordered financial oversight arrangements “adversely and disproportionately impact women,” a lawyer told TheWrap 

by  Andi Ortiz

In 2022, Wells Fargo successfully petitioned a judge to put talk show host Wendy Williams under what was said to be a temporary financial guardianship. The judge froze her accounts and set a hearing to determine if a guardianship was needed, all while the talk show host disputed the decision and accused a Wells Fargo financial advisor of lying to get access to her accounts.

The guardianship became the subject of a documentary on Lifetime this year, and has drawn criticism from her family, who say they have struggled to get access to her for even a phone call as she languishes in a private facility to treat her cognitive issues. They, along with fans, are worried, especially in the wake of her aphasia diagnosis.

It’s not an unfamiliar story. Celebrity conservatorships have entered the mainstream over the last several years, largely in relation to a few famous women. The issue hit a boiling point with Britney Spears, whose 13-year involuntary conservatorship ended in 2021 following a movement fans dubbed #FreeBritney, culminating in multiple documentaries and emotional testimony from the pop star about her life under conservatorship.

Now, fans everywhere are locked on Williams, 59, hoping things don’t go south yet again.

Experts TheWrap consulted — including lawyers and professional therapists experienced in the area — said that while roughly the same number of women and men are put under conservatorships, female celebrities are often subject to adverse conditions. Men like Charlie Sheen have public meltdowns and are able to maintain control over their lives, while women like Spears are deemed unable to take care of themselves — or their wealth.

Conservatorships of celebrity women have become “almost a perverse financial incentive” for members of their families in some cases, Benazeer “Benny” Roshan, a partner at law firm Greenberg Glusker and chair of the Trust and Probate Litigation Practice Group, told TheWrap.

“They adversely and disproportionately impact women,” she said. “Look at the women that are under conservatorship that have regained their cognition and are still conserved. And then you see male examples.

“Did you ever wonder, why wasn’t Charlie Sheen conserved when he was dealing with bowls of coke, and hookers and whatnot? Why wasn’t Kanye West conserved?” Roshan continued. “It’s because, I think on some level, they’re men, and somebody’s like ‘We need to conserve you’ and he’s like, ‘No! I’m fine!’ … The inquiry stops there.”

Wendy Williams attends the world premiere of the Apple TV+ series “The Morning Show.” (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

​Indeed, Sheen ​suffered almost no career consequences for his public  meltdown in 2011, though he lost his sitcom, for which he was paid $1.8 million an episode in his last season. (He later received $25 million in a settlement with Warner Bros. Television and Chuck Lorre over his firing.) Quotes from the interviews that got him fired from “Two and a Half Men” became catch phrases (“Tiger Blood,” “Winning!”). In 2010, he pled guilty to misdemeanor assault and was removed from a hotel after causing $7,000 in damage during a bender.

At the 2011 Television Critics Association press tour, just prior to Sheen’s many drug-addled interviews, CBS’ then-entertainment chief Nina Tassler noted about the actor: “On a professional level, he does his job and he does it well and the show’s a hit, and that’s all I have to say.”

Within a month of losing “Two and a Half Men,” Sheen launched a sold-out comedy tour. That September he was the star of a Comedy Central roast​. And by 2012 he ​had a new sitcom, “Anger Management,” and new movie roles.

Spears, meanwhile, went from publicly shaving her head in February 2007 to an involuntary conservatorship in February 2008. She later testified that she was forced to continue working during that time, saying, “It was very threatening and scary,” and that she only went ahead with another tour “out of fear.”

Charlie Sheen in “Two and a Half Men” (CBS)

The singer also revealed she was forced to have an implanted IUD, preventing her from having more children. That imposed birth control appears to be a struggle unique to women under conservatorship as well. Tom Stenson, the deputy legal director of Disability Rights Oregon, told The Nation in 2021 that he’d never seen a case involving a man’s family seeking to sterilize a man.

“I’m sure somewhere out there, there’s somebody trying to get their son or brother with a disability sterilized,” he said at the time. “But I’ve had a number of these cases arise, and they are, in my experience and so far, all women.”

Differing perceptions of mental health

A conservatorship is put in place when it’s determined that someone cannot make necessary, safe decisions about their well being — physical, financial, or otherwise. Once that is proven to a judge, that person’s rights and decision-making are transferred to someone else, usually a family member or friend.

Those decisions are often subjective, as “every person operating within the larger guardianship system possesses some level of implicit bias,” according to the Justice in Aging organization.

Spears was 26 when she first was conserved. Former Nickelodeon star Amanda Bynes was 27. Lindsay Lohan’s father attempted, but failed, to get his daughter into a conservatorship at 26. Each of these came at a time when the young women were having public mental health crises.

In stark contrast, conservatorships of celebrity men have been largely due to cognitive decline from old age: Mickey Rooney (90), Casey Kasem (81), Randy Meisner (69) and, most recently, Brian Wilson (81). 

[Conservatorships] adversely and disproportionately impact women. Look at the women that are under conservatorship that have regained their cognition and are still conserved.

Benazeer “Benny” Roshan, lawyer

That’s nothing new to mental health professionals. Patrice Le Goy, a psychologist and adjunct professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, told TheWrap that mental health struggles often get “more connected to the ‘fragility’ of women, and with men it is sometimes chalked up to them simply going through a difficult period.”

Both singer Joni Mitchell and actress Nichelle Nichols were placed under a conservatorship due to neurological problems in 2015 and 2018, respectively. Mitchell suffered an aneurysm that hospitalized her, and Nichols was diagnosed with dementia. (That said, Nichols’ situation also drew protestors prior to her death, many of whom worked in the Free Britney movement).

For her part, Wendy Williams was diagnosed with the same aphasia condition as Bruce Willis — which impacts language and communication abilities, as well as behavior and cognitive functions — but Willis remains independent. (Roshan suspects that’s because the “Sixth Sense” actor had done proper estate planning, making a conservatorship unnecessary.)

It’s unclear exactly what kind of conservatorship Williams is under, but she has a court-appointed guardian in Sabrina Morrissey. Even her family does not have many details. According to Williams’ niece who spoke to People magazine, under the rules of the conservatorship, Williams is allowed to call her family, but they cannot call her.

In his 30 years of practicing conservatorship law, David A. Esquibias, who served as Bynes’ lawyer when she ended her conservatorship in 2022, said he’s never noticed a “demonstrable” gender bias. He noted that a conservatorship only comes when “there is a perception” that someone specifically needs outside help, but an exact agreement cannot be reached privately.

“I would assume that you would never go through a conservatorship if you’re able to take care of matters,” he said.

Of course, perception of women’s mental health tends to differ from the perception of men’s. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that some mental disorders are “diagnosed at comparable rates for men and women or at higher rates for men,” but that “men are less likely to have received mental health treatment than women in the past year.”

“In general, it seems that the mental health of women is more up for public debate than that of men,” Le Goy said. “When women have mental health issues, it also seems to live in the public domain for longer than it does for men.”

The money

According to Esquibias, “family dynamic is everything” and will dictate how smoothly the process of conserving someone will go. But mental health experts note conservatorships change and twist family dynamics in particularly detrimental ways for young conservatees. When that conservatee is a celebrity worth millions of dollars, it gets tricky fast.

“When the breadwinner is the child, there is already a dynamic shift that they may have power over their parents,” Le Goy said. “In a way, a conservatorship can almost adjust this power, but not always in a healthy way.”

In her 2020 memoir, Mariah Carey revealed that she was nearly put into a conservatorship as a young adult by her own family, writing that “to my family, I’d been an ‘ATM machine with a wig on.’”

In the case of Britney Spears, it was revealed in 2022 that her father and lawyers took more than $36 million from her estate throughout the course of her conservatorship. 

“It really can be an unnatural and unhealthy family dynamic if not approached with the ultimate care, and with the individual’s mental health as the key priority,” Le Goy added.

Britney Spears (Getty Images)

Wendy Williams was making $10 million annually for her talk show, and in 2015 she got a seven-year contract extension. But in the trailer for her documentary, she declared, “I have no money.”

Having money — or not having it — can certainly impact how a conservatorship goes, particularly for people of color, experts said.

“Wealth and skin color are positively correlated to how one fares when going through the conveyor belt of conservatorship and guardianships,” Roshan said.

Developmental impact

Experts say there’s an additional detriment to putting someone under a conservatorship at a young age, as most female celebrities are: stalling the “natural development” processes.

“Part of our development and growth is the need to take on challenges and fail or succeed, but learn from the experience either way,” Le Goy explained. “When we don’t have the opportunity to make our own mistakes, a crucial part of the development process is missed and this can leave us ‘stuck’ at a younger emotional age than we should be.”

Conservatorships must be terminated by mutual agreement, and with a lot of proof. As Esquibias detailed, the person under conservatorship must demonstrate he or she is able to manage their finances, make their own medical decisions and resist fraud or “the undue influence of others.”

And the burden of proof can have its own effects on a person’s mental health, especially when they’ve been made to doubt their decision-making abilities.

Amanda Bynes attends an appearance at Manhattan Criminal Court in 2013, the year her mother was granted a conservatorship over her. (Getty Images)

“It’s very important to mental and social development to integrate into society with self-trust and the ability to think for yourself,” Asha Tarry, a psychotherapist and CEO of Behavioral Health Consulting Services, told TheWrap. “But, when that’s removed from you, there are all sorts of ramifications … that may make one vulnerable to exploitation.”

These days, Bynes mostly stays out of the public eye, save for a TikTok account, and is headed back to school. In July 2023, she checked herself into a new inpatient mental facility, just a month after she called police on her own behalf, reporting she felt she was a danger to herself.

For Spears, the end of her conservatorship didn’t mean the end of her struggles. She had a very public divorce, an equally public falling out with her younger sister when Jamie Lynn Spears released a book called “Things I Should’ve Said,” and, even still, has had her well being speculated about. She was sent a welfare check at the end of last year after a social media post showed her dancing with kitchen knives (something she did not appreciate).

Still, Spears’ situation and the Free Britney movement helped change things in the system. It led to legislative measures that tightened rules and regulations surrounding conservatorships. Law practitioners have come to refer to them colloquially as “The Britney Spears Rules.” 

TheWrap reached out Spears’ lawyer for comment on this story.

Roshan concedes there is “a double-edged sword” element that comes into play with conservatorships, particularly in celebrity circumstances. Her advice for those who might be facing one: “Get educated, as knowledge is power.”

Full Article & Source:
Three Years After Britney, Wendy Williams Shows Celebrity Conservatorships May Still Be Toxic to Women

Update Child Star Amanda Bynes Found Walking The Street Naked After Dialing 911 For Herself

By Jeff Porter

Amanda Bynes has been put under psychiatric hold after being discovered naked and alone on the streets. According to an eyewitness, Bynes was seen strolling around downtown Los Angeles without any clothes on early Sunday morning.

According to reports, Bynes waved a vehicle down, telling the driver she was recovering from a psychotic episode. Amanda then dialed 911 on her own.

According to law enforcement sources, Bynes was brought to a nearby police station, where a mental health team decided she required a 5150 psych hold.

Fortunately, Bynes was not injured during the experience, though things could have been much worse given the location where she was discovered.

Child Star Amanda Bynes Found Walking The Street NAKED, Placed On Psychiatric Hold

According to a source, Amanda says she is presently hospitalized and will likely remain there for several days. A psychiatric hold typically lasts 72 hours, but it can be prolonged. Amanda’s 9-year conservatorship was formally terminated almost a year ago today.

Amanda’s mother became her conservator in 2013, when it became obvious that she was struggling with her mental health — she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

After a succession of bizarre incidents, including one in which she set fire to her neighbor’s driveway, nearly engulfing her dog in flames, she was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for treatment.

Amanda was scheduled to attend 90s Con in Connecticut this weekend, but she had to cancel due to illness.

Amanda appeared to be doing well for herself after the conservatorship ended, though the most recent incident is clearly very concerning and it’s unclear if her parents or legal team will step in.

Full Article & Source:
Update Child Star Amanda Bynes Found Walking The Street Naked After Dialing 911 For Herself

See Also:
Amanda Bynes' conservatorship terminated

How Amanda Bynes' Conservatorship Compares With Britney Spears'

 

Amanda Bynes' Fans Are Calling For Her Conservatorship To Come To An End 

 

Amanda Bynes Files to End Conservatorship

Nassim: Britney Spears, Amanda Bynes and why their cases are making advocates think twice

by Adria Nassim

Many of us watched as pop icon Britney Spears' thirteen-year convenorship finally ended in November 2021 after a weeks-long battle in the courts during which she alleged financial abuse from her father, Jamie Spears. Separately, former child actress Amanda Bynes was recently released from her own conservatorship in late March, after 9 years following a period of significant mental health issues.

Such high-profile names have brought the issue of conservatorship and guardianship into the spotlight. However, in the disability community, establishment of guardianship or conservatorship is more common. Even though I am pleased to see that Spears and Bynes were able to have their conservatorships dissolved, this is less common in the case of people with disabilities. Not that it does not happen at all, but once guardianship or conservatorship is established, it is often a rare and sometimes a difficult occurrence to see it eliminated.

Understanding the difference between these two, guardianship and conservatorship, may not always be clear. Both of these legal arrangements are typically overseen by a court. A guardianship may be put in place when a child or adult is deemed physically or mentally incapable of caring for themselves and making their own responsible and safe decisions. The guardian is then responsible for decisions relating to daily care and living needs of the individual. These decisions can include providing or securing a safe and stable living environment, assisting with everyday care and managing financial matters related to everyday necessities. Similarly a conservatorship involves a judge appointed protector for a person who makes decisions regarding finances and/or daily life of another person due to old age or physical or mental limitations.

While establishment of guardianship is more common in the case of individuals with disabilities than those without, disability advocates and policy makers around the country are saying it’s time to shake things up. This would demand that individuals with disabilities be given more control over their own lives. In cases where the individual with a disability truly may not have the capacity to care for him or herself without significant assistance, may not be able to execute safe and responsible judgement and may unknowingly potentially place him or herself in a dangerous situation, yes, in those types of cases, guardianship may be needed.

Still I agree as well, with what many advocates and policy makers are saying, that just because a child grows up living life with a disability and later becomes an adult, it doesn’t mean that they can’t be taught or entrusted to make their own responsible and safe decisions and to have control over their day to day lives to the fullest extent possible.

According to the American Bar Association, since October 2019, 10 states including Indiana have now passed what are known as Supportive Decision-Making laws as an alternative to guardianship. Supportive Decision Making is defined as services and supports including trusted friends and family members in the lives of individuals with disabilities whom the individual may choose to go to for support and consultation in making a decision, such as where to live. This can be an informal arrangement but many times, it is a legal document kept on file with the court. For these 10 states that have passed Supportive Decision-Making laws, the law also states that guardianship must be in place only as a last resort and when absolutely necessary.

Adults with disabilities need to be held to high expectations, and I think even more so, they need to be allowed to fail. I think a lot of parents of children with disabilities only see the challenges their child will have or the struggles they may have. While this is understandable, for a while, it’s really important that families not just look at their kid’s challenges, but what they can do, and build from that.

Challenges for children with disabilities probably will not end in their teen years. However, if challenged, and if taught with the right amount of guidance and proper supports, many adults with disabilities can become capable of making their own decisions and executing control over their lives. When you live with a disability, you learn to rely on other people, but along with relying on a supportive community of individuals around them, adults with disabilities need to be given every chance possible to make their own decisions and figure out life on their own. I think it’s important to have people who can look after you, but also, as much as possible, to be able to look after yourself as well.

Full Article & Source:

Nassim: Britney Spears, Amanda Bynes and why their cases are making advocates think twice

Why did Amanda Bynes need a conservator?

Britney Spears & Amanda Bynes are the current best-known references of conservatorships, but, are there more celebrities under the regime of a conservator? Also, it’s important to question if this is a fair way to rescue someone from a personal crisis, or if there’s a legal way to make sure conservators won’t be abusive. Let’s keep in mind what happened to Britney with her conservator, which was her own father. 

In the end, celebrities are always exposed to being victims of media assault, and this should be talked about along with celebrating Bynes & Spears’s freedom. It must be overwhelming having so much talent & wealth and not being able to fully enjoy the fruits of labor due to social pressure & substance abuse. These two factors are the usual reasons celebrities get under a conservatorship.  

The number of either overdosed or suicide celebrities is astonishing. However, unlike the 90s when all eyes were posed over T.V. celebrities, this is the era of mediation & visibility. Andy Warhol once said that in the future, everyone will be world-famous for fifteen minutes, that future is now, just think of how easy it is to make a  TikTok go viral. However, we’re now collectively sensitizing ourselves to deal with visibility.   

What are conservatorships for? 

A conservatorship is a court case where a person or organization has a legal responsibility to someone else. The “conservator” cares for a “conservatee” which is another adult who for some reason, cannot take care of themself or manage their finances. This is a convenient way to protect people with different mental abilities, however, there are other situations that can make someone unable to self-decide. 

Even though the situation is officially managed by a judge, several ethical debates can appear when a conservatorship is decided. A lot of people wonder why Amy Winehouse wasn’t under a regime like this, and if having a conservator would’ve changed her destiny. In fact, Winehouse’s parents have been questioned about it and said that even though they didn’t control her finances, they did put effort into her.

After Jamie Spears became Britney Spears’s conservator in 2008, Lindsay Lohan’s father tried to do the same, but her siblings disagreed with the arrangement. In 2013, Lohan admitted being an addict to Oprah, however, she also mentioned a lot of situations were going on with her family. This shows how complex conservatorships can be, and the way family is not always the best option to care for you. 

Just recently, former actress Amanda Bynes went out of a nine years conservatorship. According to the media, her mother Lynn, now former conservator, was supportive of Bynes’s decision to terminate this condition, due to her recovery process. Yet, why did Amanda Bynes end up under a conservatorship? 

Why was Amanda Bynes under conservatorship?

While people remember Britney’s shaved head when thinking of her hardest time, with Amanda Bynes things are blurry. Looking at a before and after picture of her might give some clues about her having a rocky time, in fact, Bynes started working on her appearance after starting the liberation process. Her recently reopened Instagram shows her tattoo removal. 

But something stronger than a face tattoo & substance abuse had to happen for someone to end up under a conservatorship at twenty-seven. Well, Bynes almost killed a dog and a stranger. She started a fire in someone’s garage and almost set her dog on fire, apparently she only poured gasoline over it. Fortunately, she didn’t kill anyone.

After these events, her mother declared to the court that Bynes was dangerous to people, property, and herself. Also, Amanda’s parents started to fear for her daughter who started getting unnecessary & expensive plastic surgery and spent her entire net worth on it. 

Nonetheless, time has gone by and Bynes has transformed into another person with the full support of her family & fiance. Hopefully, this new era will bring Bynes the peace & happiness she couldn’t find before. 

Full Article & Source:

Why did Amanda Bynes need a conservator?

Amanda Bynes' conservatorship terminated

Bynes filed to terminate her conservatorship in late February

 

By Lauryn Overhultz

Amanda Bynes' conservatorship has been terminated.

The decision was made by a judge at a hearing on Tuesday, Bynes' family's lawyer confirmed to Fox News Digital.

"Lynn is so proud of Amanda and the progress she has made and looks forward to having a mother-daughter relationship with Amanda outside of the conservatorship," Tamar Arminak told Fox News Digital on behalf of Bynes' mom, Lynn.

The judge decided the conservatorship was "no longer required" in a tentative ruling Monday, Fox News Digital can confirm. Bynes had filed for her conservatorship to end in late February. 

The "She's the Man" actress' petition to terminate her conservatorship was confidential.

A judge officially terminated Amanda Bynes' conservatorship at a hearing Tuesday, according to a report. (Photo by Bauer-Griffin/GC Images via Getty Images)

Bynes' attorney David Esquibias did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

"Amanda is excited and looking forward to living independently," Esquibias previously told Fox News Digital in a statement after confirming the actress wanted to end her conservatorship.

"Amanda wishes to terminate her conservatorship," the actress' lawyer further told People magazine. "She believes her condition is improved and protection of the court is no longer necessary."

Bynes was placed under a conservatorship in August 2013. The decision by a judge gave her mother, Lynn Bynes, legal control of her finances among other things.

The legal move followed a series of public events that ended with Bynes being hospitalized after allegedly starting a small fire in a driveway, according to Page Six.

Bynes filed to terminate her conservatorship on Feb. 23. (Mark Sullivan/WireImage via Getty Images)

Bynes submitted a status report regarding her health to the Ventura County Superior Court in September and the document was approved by a California court. The actress' lawyer clarified at the time that Bynes' conservatorship could end when it was "no longer convenient" for the star.

"It is open day to day. A status report regarding her health and welfare was recently filed and approved by the court," Esquibias told People magazine.

"By law, the next status report is due in two years. Her conservatorship will terminate when it is no longer convenient for Amanda."

Bynes has moved on with life following a few periods of time spent receiving treatment in rehabilitation centers. The "Easy A" actress graduated with an associate's degree from California's Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in 2019.

Bynes announced her engagement to Paul Michael, a man she met in 2019, on Valentine's Day 2020. 

In April 2021, Esquibias told Fox News that Bynes was "doing well' ahead of her 35th birthday. At the time, Esquibias added she was also "living independently" and is back "attending school."

Full Article & Source:

Amanda Bynes' conservatorship terminated

 

See Also:  

How Amanda Bynes' Conservatorship Compares With Britney Spears'

 

Amanda Bynes' Fans Are Calling For Her Conservatorship To Come To An End 

 

Amanda Bynes Files to End Conservatorship

How Amanda Bynes' Conservatorship Compares With Britney Spears'

By Emma Nolan

Amanda Bynes addressed her fans for the first time in a long time this week, as she awaits a court hearing over her conservatorship—but her experience seems to have been quite different to that of Britney Spears, whose 13-year arrangement was finally terminated last year.

The former Nickelodeon actress took to her new Instagram account on March 8 to thank fans for their support, and confirmed that her court date is imminent.

"My court date is coming up in two weeks," Bynes said in the self-shot clip. "I want to thank you so much all for your love and support. Peace out."

In February of this year, Bynes, 35, filed a petition at California's Venture County Superior Court requesting termination of her conservatorship, which has seen her personal and financial decisions controlled by a third party since 2013.

Byner's lawyer David A. Esquibias at the time of the filing said, per People, that "Amanda wishes to terminate her conservatorship. She believes her condition is improved and the protection of the court is no longer necessary."

However, Bynes' ​​attorney has said the Easy A star's efforts to end her conservatorship are not inspired by the iconic pop star's recent legal battle.

Family

While Britney Spears' father and conservator Jamie Spears long expressed the need to continue his daughter's conservatorship, Amanda Bynes' family are in agreement that the arrangement should be dissolved.

Bynes' mother, Lynn Organ, became her personal conservator after the actress was placed on a 5150 psychiatric hold, and was experiencing issues with substance abuse issues.

Organ has been overseeing the legal arrangement and supports her daughter's petition to terminate it.

A lawyer representing the family, Tamar Arminak, said Bynes' mother was "extremely happy and thrilled and proud of Amanda and ready to terminate this conservatorship based on the hard work Amanda has done."

"This conservatorship that Lynn brought has always been intended to be temporary," Arminak said in a statement per Variety, last month.

The She's The Man star's assets are part of a separate trust overseen by her father, Rick Bynes, and are not subject to the conservatorship.

Arminak also told NBC News that Bynes' parents "100 percent support" their daughter's move to end the conservatorship.

"The professionals say she is ready to make her own life choices and decisions and we are so proud of her," said Arminak. "They 100 percent support her decision to end the conservatorship."

In a further statement shared with E! News in February, Arminak said Lynn Bynes is "excited" about her daughter embarking on the "next chapter" in her life.

"Lynn is so incredibly proud of the progress Amanda has made over the last few years and is so excited about the next chapter," said Arminak. "Based on the petition, and Amanda's amazing progress, she completely supports Amanda's request to terminate the conservatorship."

Many Spears fans will note that this was not the case for the pop star when she sought to end her conservatorship, and that she actually accused her family of conservatorship abuse.

Privacy

Bynes' parents filed to place her in a conservatorship in 2013 after a period of drug-related mental health struggles and a DUI. Since then, things have been quiet and Bynes has not worked as an actress in the public eye.

Conversely, Spears worked for a number of years while under her conservatorship, releasing albums and completing a Las Vegas residency.

Bynes has been open about her past drug use that fueled that dark chapter in her life which saw her take to Twitter to share explicit and erratic tweets.

In her 2018 interview with Paper Magazine, the actress traced her addiction issues back to smoking marijuana at 16, this then progressed to her using harder drugs like ecstasy and cocaine along with misuse of Adderall.

"I definitely abused Adderall," she told the magazine.

In contrast, Spears' was placed under her father's control by the California court system in 2008, after a public breakdown captured by paparazzi. No drug use has ever been cited as a reason for Spears' mental health problems.

Media Coverage

Britney Spears' conservatorship received an intense amount of media attention, while Bynes' situation has yet to capture the same level of awareness.

The #FreeBritney movement grew and grew, with massive protests taking place, up until late last year when the arrangement ended. But, there has been no such movement of support (at least not to the same extent) for Bynes.

Bynes' opened up about the shame she felt about her past behavior in the interview with Paper Magazine. "I'm really ashamed and embarrassed with the things I said. I can't turn back time but if I could, I would."

"And I'm so sorry to whoever I hurt and whoever I lied about because it truly eats away at me. It makes me feel so horrible and sick to my stomach and sad. Everything I worked my whole life to achieve, I kind of ruined it all through Twitter..."

A hearing to end Bynes' conservatorship arrangement is scheduled for March 22 this year.

Full Article & Source:

How Amanda Bynes' Conservatorship Compares With Britney Spears'

Amanda Bynes Files to End Conservatorship

by Edna Rico

Amanda Bynes is aiming to end her conservatorship after nearly nine years. Bynes’s mother, Lynn Organ, was granted temporary conservatorship in 2013 after the actor allegedly set a driveway on fire and was hospitalized on an involuntary psychiatric hold. Organ then gained full conservatorship in 2014.

Newbusinessherald confirms that Bynes filed a petition on Feb. 23 to end her conservatorship. The actor also filed a capacity declaration on Feb. 22, as California requires all conservatees to provide updated information on their mental state from their physician or other medical practitioner. A hearing is set for March 22 in Oxnard, Calif.

Bynes’ lawyer David A. Esquibias issued a statement exclusively to People magazine, saying, “Amanda wishes to terminate her conservatorship. She believes her condition is improved and protection of the court is no longer necessary.”

A status report regarding Bynes’ health was filed and approved by a California court last September, with a future update scheduled for January 2023. Esquibias told People at the time that this status report did not mean her conservatorship was being extended through 2023 and that her conservatorship “will terminate when it is no longer convenient for Amanda.”

Esquibias has given several updates on Bynes over the years. Just before her 35th birthday in April 2021, the lawyer said Bynes was “doing great” and added, “She lives by the beach, attends school and is enjoying meditation and Soul Cycle classes.”

Full Article and Source:
Amanda Bynes Files to End Conservatorship

Amanda Bynes to remain in conservatorship to 2023

 

Click to Watch

by Taryn Ryder

Amanda Bynes will remain under a conservatorship for another year and a half — for now. A judge made the ruling after a recent status hearing. Details surrounding the decision are not part of the public record. 

According to court documents viewed by Yahoo Entertainment, the conservatorship must file its next update by Jan. 25, 2023. The next status hearing is scheduled for March 8, 2023. Amanda's mother, Lynn Bynes, serves as conservator. 

A lawyer for Amanda tells Yahoo Entertainment it's "misleading" to categorize the conservatorship as extended.

"Because Amanda's person is conserved for medical reasons only, a health status report is required to be filed every two years with the court. The recently filed status report was approved by the court," David A. Esquibias explains to Yahoo. "Should the conservatorship continue, the next status report is due in two years. This does not mean the conservatorship was extended for two years. The conservatorship can be terminated at any time for good cause."

The 35-year-old actress was placed in a temporary conservatorship in 2013 after multiple run-ins with the law. Amanda previously opened up about mental health and substance abuse challenges. She stayed mostly out of the spotlight and enrolled in the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM). In 2019, she relapsed. She met fiancé Paul Michael while at a sober living home. 

The She's the Man star celebrated 14 months of sobriety in March 2020, but had a challenging year. Amanda's lawyer confirmed she checked into a treatment facility, but denied it had to do with substance abuse.

"Any reports that Amanda is suffering from drug or alcohol addiction issues are completely false. She is seeking treatment for ongoing mental health issues," her attorney told Yahoo. "We ask for privacy during this time, and for any speculation about her personal life from the public and the media to cease so Amanda can focus on getting better."

After spending two months in treatment, Amanda returned to Instagram to tell her fans she was "back on track and doing well!" The child star "worked on coping skills to help with [her] social anxiety that caused [her] to drop out of school months ago." Amanda said she re-enrolled at FIDM. 

"I'm now living in transitional living and doing therapy during the week," she shared.

Amanda stayed mostly out of the spotlight aside from a few social media posts. She was photographed holding hands with Michael in Dec. 2020.

This story was originally published on Sept. 14, 2021, at 1:24 p.m. ET and has been updated to include a comment from Amanda Bynes' lawyer.

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Amanda Bynes to remain in conservatorship to 2023