Britney Spears spoke to fans Tuesday about her intentions to move on after she was released from her conservatorship last week, thanking #FreeBritney activists for their support.
Spears, 39, posted a two-minute video on Instagram to answer questions about her life after her conservatorship. She joked in the caption that she'd give her followers a "hint" of her thoughts before she "set things square" with Oprah Winfrey, referring to speculation that she might want to do a sit-down interview about her situation.
"I'm just grateful honestly for each day, and being able to have the keys to my car and being able to be independent, feel like a woman: owning an ATM card, seeing cash for the first time, being able to buy candles," Spears said. "It's the little things for us women, but it makes a huge difference. And I'm grateful for that."
Since 2008, Spears has been under conservatorship, which legally stripped her of the power to make medical and financial decisions. Her father, James "Jamie" Spears, was conservator of her estate for the majority of her 13 years in conservatorship, until September.
A judge terminated the conservatorship Friday, about six months after Spears testified that it was traumatizing and abusive.
Representatives for Jamie Spears have repeatedly denied allegations of abuse and said he has acted only in his daughter’s best interest.
Spears’ fans launched the #FreeBritney movement on social media, and the campaign picked up national attention in 2019. She addressed the movement in her video Tuesday evening.
"Honestly, my voice was muted and threatened for so long, and I wasn't able to speak up or say anything," Spears said. "And because of you guys ... kind of knowing what was going on and delivering that news to the public for so long, you gave it awareness to all of them. And because of you I honestly think you guys saved my life in a way — 100 percent."
Spears said that she does not want to appear to be a victim and that she wants to be an “advocate for people with real disabilities and real illnesses.”
Many in the #FreeBritney movement have said they would like to continue focusing on reforming conservatorship and guardianship arrangements. Spears' case has inspired more scrutiny over the system, including a congressional hearing in September.
“I’m a very strong woman, so I can only imagine what the system has done to those people,” Spears said. “So hopefully, my little story, hopefully, my story will make an impact and make some changes in the corrupt system.”