The Life And Times Of Britney Spears

In early 2021, a documentary called Framing Britney Spears gave the public a detailed account of the pop star’s career and conservatorship. It shed much light on her relationship with her father, who has prevented her from accessing her own money since 2008.

After the documentary’s release, a social media campaign of #FreeBritney gained major traction, as people realized that Britney’s sometimes erratic off-stage behavior was rooted in a deep backstory. With all this new information, here’s an updated look at Britney’s life…

Princess Of Pop

Britney Spears’ career has been nothing short of remarkable. To date, she has has sold over 100 million records worldwide, and over 70 million just in the United States. Billboard ranked her as the eighth-biggest artist of the 2000s decade and she was listed by Forbes as the highest-paid female musician of 2002 and 2012.

Britney’s climb to fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s certainly influenced the revival of teen pop during that time, earning her the nickname the “Princess of Pop.” As much as she seemed to come out of nowhere, she actually started performing at a very early age.

Early Ambition

As early as age three, Britney started dance lessons in her hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana. She was even given a solo at the annual recital. At the age of five she debuted onstage singing “What Child Is This?” at her own kindergarten graduation. 

She took voice lessons and gymnastics throughout her childhood, winning awards at various state competitions and talent shows. She clearly had childhood ambition, and Britney has said, “I was in my own world. I found out what I’m supposed to do at an early age.” Clearly, she knew she was going to be a star from the beginning. 

First Steps To Fame

Britney’s first brush with big-time fame came at the age of eight, when her mother took her to Atlanta to audition for the revival of The Mickey Mouse Club. The casting director dismissed her as being too young for the show, but did  introduce Britney to talent agent, Nancy Carson, who took Britney under her wing and began mentoring her.

Impressed with the raw talent Britney had, Carson recommending having the future starlet enrolling in New York’s Professional Performing Arts School, where she would end up attending. Britney’s mother Lynne, her sister, Jamie Lynn, and Britney moved to a sublet apartment in New York.

Big Break

After moving to New York, she was cast as an understudy in the lead role of an off-Broadway musical. She  gained attention as a contestant on the popular TV talent show Star Search. At the end of 1992, at age 11, she finally landed The Mickey Mouse Club and was able to join the ranks as an esteemed cast member.

The lineup of her other cast-mates was a who’s who of future showbiz stars. Her fellow Mouseketeers included Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, Christina Aguilera, and Keri Russell. It was on that show where she quickly gained fame and attention from fans and execs alike.

Getting Noticed

While only on The Mickey Mouse Club for a few seasons before it was canceled in 1994, the show afforded Britney plenty of national exposure. After the show though, she moved to Mississippi to attend Parklane Academy in McComb, and lived the normal high school life, but Britney still felt the need for something more.

In the summer of 1997, Jive Records signed her, sensing the drive and motivation she had to be a star. They ordered a full album with the direction of it having a pop focus. She flew to Stockholm, Sweden and recorded “Hit Me Baby One More Time.” Little did Britney know that this single would catapult her to superstardom.

World Tour Whirlwind

After recording the song and album that would make her a household name, Britney was convinced by record label executives to go on a world tour across malls to promote the album, where she would open up for popular boy band NSYNC in a different city every night. The constant travel was undoubtedly exhausting, but she powered through. 

The album was released in January 1999, debuted as #1 in the U.S., was certified twice platinum after a month, and sold over 10 million copies that year. It’s still the best-selling album ever by a teenage singer. Jive Records initially wanted to do an animated music video, but Britney suggested the Catholic schoolgirl concept, and the rest was history. 

She Did It Again

In the middle of 2000, her second album, Oops!…I Did It Again, came out and was another megahit. It became of the best-selling albums ever and led to a tour that grossed over $40 million.

That album would top the charts in Europe and receive Grammy nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. That same year, she had released her first book, which was co-written with her mother, entitled, Britney Spears’ Heart to Heart. More details of her life were being made public as she grew in fame.

Expanding To Beyond Music

The early 2000s was when Britney Spears’ fame would really hit its stride. She would end up hosting as a performer and singer on Saturday Night Live. Later that same month, she released her debut film, Crossroads.

While the movie didn’t receive the kind of critical acclaim that her music did, she was still a huge superstar, and would be a name everyone would talk about for years to come.  By 2003, she already had a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, at the age of 21. 

Pop Star Romance

In September of 2000, just after Oops I Did It Again, Britney announced she had been dating NSYNC frontman and fellow former Mouseketeer Justin Timberlake. Her association with NSYNC was common knowledge having performed with them during the tour around malls.

Aside for the book’s release much of her personal and private life wasn’t something discussed in the media. Her relationship with the boyband front man was eaten up by paparazzi and talked about often, leading to to invasive questions about their dating life.

A Voice Of A Generation

In 2001, Britney performed as a guest during the Super Bowl halftime show, which was headlined by Aerosmith and NSYNC. She had recently signed a deal with Pepsi, and had one of the most-remembered Super Bowl ads featured. Her ad displayed her ability to blend in different generations and musical styles, and had extremely positive reviews. 

Shortly after, she had released her second book, which she had co-written with her mother, titled A Mother’s Gift. Her third album also came out that year, but it was her performance at that year’s MTV Video Music Awards that caused the biggest stir. 

Too Hot To Last

While Britney’s relationship with Timberlake was highly-publicized from the moment she announced it, these two media darlings burned bright and fizzled fast. In the summer of 2002, reports close to Justin and Britney confirmed that the relationship was over.

After four years of dating, but the two still had an amicable relationship. Timberlake would record the song “Cry Me A River,” which he later would admit was about his breakup with the pop star.

From Frontman To Choreographer

After things ended between Britney and Justin Timberlake, she had dated NSYNC choreographer named Wade Robson for about a year. There has been heavy speculation that she was actually seeing Robson while still dating Timberlake.

Robson happens to actually be one of the men who accused the late singer Michael Jackson of sexual abuse. Ironically like Britney in having a documentary bring a story to the public sphere, 2019’s Leaving Neverland was based on Robson’s claims and shed a perspective on some of Jackson’s past.

Having Fun

Aside for Timberlake, Britney has been romantically involved with her share of other A-list celebrities as well. In 2003, she was spot attended the premiere of the movie The Recruit with star of the movie, actor Colin Farrell.

This naturally created a huge buzz in the press. They were also spotted kissing on the balcony of his hotel. The two never were declared an official item, and Farrell just said that the two weren’t serious, and were just “having fun.”

A Very Short Marriage

2004 was when the public started noting more of the personal life decisions Britney was making. At the beginning of that  year, to the shock of the entertainment world, she married her childhood friend Jason Alexander at a small chapel in Las Vegas.

The marriage lasted a grand total of 55 hours and was annulled after the singer filed a petition that stated that she “lacked understanding of her actions.” She was 22 at the time and would likely regret that choice of wording more than the marriage itself. 

Back In A Wedding Dress

Also in 2004, just 9 months after her first marriage, Britney ended up getting married to backup dancer Kevin Federline. Less than a month later, tensions between Britney and longtime manager Larry Rudolph grew to an all-time high before she ended their 25-year working relationship, citing emotional abuse. Britney tried to take control over her own affairs. 

Britney and Federline were even more in the spotlight when there was a reality show about their relationship called Britney and Kevin: Chaotic. In later interviews, Britney would later call the show “probably the worst thing I’ve done in my career.” With the back-t0-back marriages, as well as the reality show it started to make some question her decision-making.

New Mother In The Spotlight

Britney quickly had two children with Federline, giving birth to their first son, Sean Preston, in September 2005, and then to Jayden James in the September 2006, just a year later.  She received a lot of negative criticism in the media in early 2006 when she was photographed driving with her 5-month-old son Sean on her lap instead of in a carseat. 

The driving incident caused many to question her abilities as a mother, and led to an investigation by family services advocates. It became more and more apparent that the pop star had something more that was looming in the background. 

 A Drastic Turn

Things started to really take a turn for the singer’s personal life starting in 2006. In November of that year, Britney would file for divorce from Federline just two months after their second son was born. Just a few months later, in January 2007, Britney’s aunt, who she was very close with, had passed away from ovarian cancer.

In February 2007, she would check into a rehab facility, but then check herself out one day later. The night after that, she famously went to an LA hair salon and shaved off all of her hair. Over the next weeks, she admitted herself to other treatment centers, but it was obvious something was going on.

Downward Spiral

In the summer of 2007, Britney’s divorce with Federline became finalized. And a little over a month later, she performed her song “Gimme More” at the MTV Video Music Awards. While in previous years at the show, Britney created a positive buzz for with her outfits and performances, this time she received criticism for lip-syncing and looking not like herself.

Later that year, she would lose a custody battle of her kids with ex-husband Federline. A few months later, she would lose visitation rights with her children after a police encounter. In February 2008, she would also be committed to a psychiatric ward in LA for a five days, before being released.

The Conservatorship

It was while she was under psychiatric care in February 2008 that Britney’s father, Jamie Spears, filed for a conservatorship, and was granted a temporary one by an LA court. A conservatorship is the appointment of a guardian by a judge to manage the financial affairs and/or the daily life of another person due to physical or mental limitations.

Usually conservatorships are created in cases of people who are much older, with often declining mental capacity. Her conservatorship was divided into two parts, one for the singer’s estate and financial affairs, and the other for her personal life. Jamie was in charge of both parts of the conservatorship starting in 2008.

Extended Indefinitely

After Britney’s release from the hospital in 2008, her parents  issued a statement saying, “We are deeply concerned about our daughter’s safety and vulnerability and we believe her life is at risk. We ask only that the court’s order be enforced so that a tragedy may be averted.”

While the conservatorship was set to expire at the end of 2008, in October of that year it was extended indefinitely. Just a month later, Britney had hinted at the arrangement being similar to a prison sentence. Despite not being found fit to handle her own career and affairs, Britney would continue touring. Starting in 2013, she would hold a concert residency in Las Vegas for four years.

Complicated Family

In 2019, Britney announced that she was going to be taking a break from performing to “focus on family issues,” citing that her father was ill. Jamie had been hospitalized for months, and despite the tumultuous nature of their relationship, Britney supported his return to health. 

Britney did also attempt to take legal action against her father at this time. She had retained legal counsel to remove him from the conservatorship. In September 2019, Jamie stepped down as primary conservator of Britney’s multimillion dollar estate, due to his health issues, and appointed her manager Jodi Montgomery to replace him. 

Speaking Out

Britney only started becoming more vocal about the harsh experience she was going through relatively recently. Records would reveal some of the specific details of the conservatorship, such as Britney being restricted from choice in various areas of her life from who she could date to the color of her kitchen cabinets. In 2020, a lawyer said that Britney was “afraid of her father.”

Britney had been trying to push an end to it for years, but to no avail. She appeared in front of a judge on June 23, 2021 to speak out against the situation that had been formed around her. She carefully and deliberately described the “abuse, manipulation, and control” that she had been subject to at the hands of her father for years. 

Support Pours In

Just hours after her emotional testimony on the stand, Hollywood friends spoke out in support of the traumatized Spears. Music and Hollywood star Justin Timberlake, whom she had dated from 1999-2002, expressed anger about the way that Spears had been treated.

Timberlake’s old bandmate during his time with NSYNC, Lance Bass, also vocally demanded that Britney’s father to be called to task. He said in an interview, “if she wants out of her dad controlling it, then we should listen to her.”

Friend From The Past

Singers from far and wide expressed their solidarity with Britney in the wake of her revelation. Fellow former Mouseketeer and pop star in her own right, Christina Aguilera also publicly was outraged over the situation.

Aguilera said, “It is unacceptable that any woman, or human, wanting to be in control of their own destiny might not be allowed to live life as they wish. My heart goes out to Britney.”

A Lucrative Empire

While under her father’s control, Britney earned an impressive $138 million with her 4-year Las Vegas show.  She performed regularly yet had very little say over what happened to her rapidly expanding empire.

There had been points that she had been performing to the point of exhaustion. She was essentially the powerless face of her own brand, and the gears were finally in motion for something to change. 

A Huge Win

September 2021 ended up being a real turning point for Britney and her case. In that month, after tons of public pressure had mounted, Jamie Spears had finally filed a petition to end the conservatorship.

A few weeks later, the judge ruled to suspend her father as the conservator of Britney’s estate, and had her accountant John Zabel replace him on a temporary basis. In November 2021, the judge will evaluate whether to terminate the conservatorship entirely.

Aftermath

While the case is not completely over, the removal of Jamie Spears from being in charge of Britney’s financial situation is certainly an enormous step for the singer. For the first time in 13 years, it looks like Britney may have control over her own affairs.

As much as the tide has turned in Britney’s favor, in an Instagram post in October 2021, she expressed concerns that her life may go back to the media frenzy it had been before, and any misstep will become a headline.

Social Media

With so much conversation discussing what Britney has and doesn’t have control of, fans were concerned when on September 14, the singer deleted her Instagram account. As the legal battle raged, Instagram happened to be one of the most candid ways, fans felt they could hear the real thoughts of what was going on with the singer.

She then reassured people a few days later saying that she was taking a break from social media to announce she was engaged to longtime boyfriend Sam Asghari.

Celebrating The News

A couple weeks after her engagement post, Britney once again took to social media. This time, just a couple days after her father’s removal from his control, she posted pictures of herself on a deserted beach and in the bathroom in celebration.

She enthusiastically posted the pictures of herself without clothing, clearly jubilant about the recent news. It wouldn’t be the first time that she has shocked the public with what she chose to wear (or not wear).

Legendary TV Moments

At the height of her stardom, at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, Britney had caused quite a stir.  She stunned the audiences and viewers halfway through a performance when she ripped off her black suit and had a flesh-colored bodysuit underneath.

The provocative performance would be topped the next year at the 2001 show, when  came out wearing a huge white python draped around her neck, and little else. Critics remarked it as one of the most “striking visuals in the 27-year history of the show.” Somehow, she would top this moment as well, two years later. 

Continually Raising Eyebrows

At the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, Britney would leave people with mouths agape yet again. Her and fellow pop star Christina Aguilera performed Madonna’s “Like A Virgin” before the legendary singer came onto the stage. 

After emerging, Madonna went over to Britney, and gave her a long, memorable kiss, shortly before locking lips with Christina. The moment had people talking about it all over the world, and was listed as the most eye-opening moment in the history of the awards show.

Jamie Lynn

It seems that Britney’s relationship with her younger sister, Jamie Lynn, also happens to be a complex one. While Jamie Lynn has said she supported her sister, Britney has said during her June 2021 testimony that she would like to sue her family.

In October 2021, Jamie Lynn revealed in her upcoming book that when she was 16, her parents tried to coerce her into getting terminating the pregnancy, which she didn’t do. Some Britney fans have felt that the younger Spears is trying to use Britney’s situation to her advantage with her book that will be out in January 2022. It seems though that Jamie Lynn also has some insight into her parent’s actions.

Britney Spears isn’t the only celebrity that has had an awkward and ugly situation arise between her and her family. Much like Britney, many celebrities have had to take their immediate family members to court, often to take control over their own lives again.

Rihanna

Pop star Rihanna was forced to take her father, Ronald Fenty, to court in 2019, relating to a dispute over the use of their last name. 

Fenty had allegedly misused the singer’s name for the benefit of an entertainment company he owns. Rihanna had additional allegations of false advertising and invasion of privacy. The case was set to go to trial in September 2021, but Rihanna settled the case out of court. 

Mariah Carey

Another music legend, Mariah Carey, has had some disputes with her sister, like Spears. Carey released a memoir in September of 2020 called The Meaning of Mariah Carey. In February of 20201, Carey’s sister Alison filed a lawsuit for $1.25 million.

According to Alison Carey, Mariah inflicted “emotional and mental distress” on her for including her in the book. The lawsuit cites that in Mariah’s book, there are allegations that Alison abused Mariah by throwing boiling water on her, giving her Valium, and trying to “pimp her out.”

Ariel Winter

Ariel Winter, the actress best known for playing the intelligent Alex on the award-winning show Modern Family, became emancipated at the age of 17. Winter’s mother decided that her daughter would become a child star at age 4.

Because of that early start, her childhood was centered around acting roles, and missed out on many school experiences. Winter ended up living with her sister Shanelle since she was 14, citing “emotional and physical abuse” at the hands of her mother.

Leighton Meester

Leighton Meester, who made it big from the show Gossip Girl, ended up suing her own mother in 2011. Meester had been sending her mother $7,500 a month for her younger brother’s medical care, who needed to have brain surgery.

Rather than using the money for her son’s recovery, Meester’s mother had apparently used on herself. Court documents revealed that she ended up using it on hair extensions, Botox, and plastic surgery.

Frank Ocean

Singer Frank Ocean was the unfortunate recipient of a lawsuit by his estranged father, Calvin Cooksey, who accused him of libel in a Tumblr post. In 2017, Ocean ended up willing the libel case that his father had brought against him.

Cooksey had sued Ocean for $14.5 million in damages in response to the post. Ocean had mentioned a story when he was six years old and his father made them leave a diner because of a transgender waitress. Ocean’s lawyer mentioned that the case was “super sad” and that it’s a shame his client had to go through it.

Dane Cook

Comedian and actor Dane Cook had no real choice when it came to the situation with his half-brother. His half-brother Darryl McCauley was earning $12,500 a month as the comedian’s business manager. But it seems that McCauley also had a side gig buying properties and business opportunities with the comedian’s money. 

Between 2004 and 2008, he had embezzled millions of dollars from the comedian, and had forged over $3 million in checks as well. McCauley was sentenced to over five years in prison, with his wife also being sentenced as well.

 LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes started her music career when she was quite young, making it necessary for her parents to be intimately involved in her affairs. The teenage country star became a huge star at that early age. 

By the time LeAnn was 16, her father had netted almost $7 million off of her efforts. She filed a lawsuit at age 17 against her dad Wilbur, and co-manager Lyle Walker. She alleged that the two of them had stolen about 30 percent of her income. 

Mischa Barton

Mischa Barton, who made a name for herself on the show The O.C., ended up taking her mother to court in 2015, suing her for $25 million. She referred to Nuala as a “greedy stage mother.” Barton’s mother was acting as her daughter’s manager, when her Mischa entered into a verbal contract at the age of 8.

Nuala had allegedly given herself half-ownership of the house Mischa had bought, and started side businesses from Mischa’s image. After citing multiple instances of bullying and verbal abuse at the hands of her mother, she was eventually able to reconcile and drop all legal action.

 Billy Unger

Disney star Billy Unger sued his father William after reportedly “losing” over $400K in earnings. One incident alleges that William spent $120,000 of the money trying to impress his girlfriend by paying her rent and going on fancy vacations.

Aside for all of that, William had taken out a $1 million life insurance policy on the actor, and made himself the sole beneficiary. He also had the gall to take a 33% commission on his son’s earnings. Billy asked for his dad to repay money as well as damages, but it is not clear what the resolution will be. 

 Macaulay Culkin

Macaulay Culkin, one of the biggest child stars of the 1990s, had an issue like many others mentioned here with his parents managing his career. Culkin appeared in many movies in the decade, but supposedly requested taking some time off, though his father, Kit, booked him for more work. 

In 1994, his parents got divorced and he was able to use that time to take control over his financial affairs and have himself emancipated, learning that he was worth around $50 million. That same year he also decided to retire from acting. 

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore was a notable child star of the 1980s. She had been known at even as young as 7 years old to hang out at clubs, such as Studio 54, rather than go to school.  Barrymore was able to petition juvenile court for emancipation from her parents when she was only 14 years old, giving her legal rights as an adult.

Barrymore’s mother had her institutionalized at the age of 13, so the next year, she wanted to start her life over. On the day of the hearing, the judge looked at the teen actress and said “I can turn the clock forward, but I can never turn it back. Are you ready for that?” After Barrymore said she was, he said, “I hereby pronounce you an adult.”

 Edward Furlong

Edward Furlong, the child star of the hit ’90s movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day, came from a single-parent home, where he had never met his father. At one point, Furlong was living with his mother’s siblings, who eventually would try to seize control of the young actor’s estate.

He had become legally emancipated at the age of 15 from his aunt and uncle, having entered into a relationship with his former tutor, who was twice his age. While the relationship with her didn’t last, the legal action taken did Furlong took to be in control of his own affairs did. 

Rose McGowan

Actress Rose McGowan had been born in Italy to parents that were part of the Children of God cult. She had memories of cult members  beating her when refusing to say she had taken God into her heart.

She initially split time living with her father and her mother, who dated abusive men and had Rose committed as a drug addict. She had escaped from the facility and was living on the street before living with her aunt in Seattle. 

Aaron Carter

Aaron Carter, the popular pre-teen singer, and brother of Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter, filed for legal emancipation from his mother at the age of 15, claiming issues of theft, emotional and mental abuse. 

At 16, his parents, who were co-managers of his career, ended up separating. He at first died with his father and requested the emancipation from his mother, alleging that she stole over $100,000 from him. He later withdrew filing it, and would unfortunately file for bankruptcy in 2013.

Jena Malone

Actress and musician Jena Malone sued her mother, hoping to be emancipated from her when she was 15 years old. She wanted to be “fully in control” of her life. Malone had some major roles in the ’90s, in the movies Contact and Stepmom.

In 1999, Malone had been nominated for a Golden Globe, and shortly after filed the suit against her mother Debbie, citing that she had been living off Jena’ money for many years, had mismanaged her money, emptied her fund for college, and owed $20,000 in unpaid taxes. She was granted emancipation in 2000.

Bijou Phillips

Bijou Phillips was granted freedom from her famous father, John Phillips of Mamas and Papas fame when she was 14 years old. She wanted to follow the example of her mother, South African model Genevieve Waite, and pursue a modeling career as well.

She secured success on her own, moving to New York, though that came with its own set of challenges. At such a  young age, she would frequent clubs, which did help lead to regular appearances onscreen and in modeling, particularly for Calvin Klein. It also led to an early drug addiction, which she worked on by the age of 21. 

Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams first got attention as an actress as one of the stars of the hit drama Dawson’s Creek. She had been working as an actress before her breakout role, and requested to be emancipated at the age of 15.

Rather than citing abuse or mismanagement of her career, this decision was because she didn’t want to be subject to child labor laws, which capped a working day at eight hours. Williams reasoned that casting directors would be more prone to book her for a role if she was emancipated.

Corey Feldman

Corey Feldman was certainly one of the biggest child stars of the1980s. He most notably starred in movies such as The Goonies, Stand By Me, and Lost Boys. Like some others on this list, he claimed his parents mismanaged his career and finances.

When he was 15 years old, he filed for emancipation from his mother, who he says was abusive and addicted to drugs, and made his life  “a living hell.” He released a book entitled Coreyography that details much of what he went through, including finding out that all that his bank account had been drained mostly, except for $40,000 of his hard-earned money.

Frances Bean Cobain

Frances Bean Cobain is the one and only daughter of famous rock couple Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love. After Kurt Cobain’s tragic suicide in 1994, Love ended up raising her daughter on her own. 

In 2009, at the age of 17, a California court appointed Frances’ paternal grandmother and aunt to be her temporary co-guardians. Love received a restraining order against her daughter a few days later. Less than a year later, Cobain inherited 37% of her late father’s estate.

Courtney Love

Apparently, emancipation runs in the family. Just like her daughter would do at the age of 17, free-spirited rocker Courtney Love would also file for emancipation when she was still a minor. 

Previously, her parents had gotten divorced when she was just five years old, and her mother had them living on a commune in Oregon. Her stepfather legally adopted her, but got divorced from her mother when Love was 12. Her mother then moved her to New Zealand, but she would end up back in Oregon with her former stepfather. She would late go to different foster homes before her emancipation at 16.

Juliette Lewis

Similar to Michelle Williams when it comes to reasons for legal action, actress Juliette Lewis did not harbor any particular feelings of ill will toward her parents. Her parents were even in favor of the emancipation and helped her with the process.

At the age of 14, she filed to be emancipated so that she could further her acting career. Citing the similar reason as Williams regarding the child labor law restriction, she wanted to be able to work longer hours if needed. She happened to say that her parents are fantastic.

Alicia Silverstone

Alicia Silverstone, who was one of the biggest young actresses of the 1990s, got started in Hollywood at a young age. She is best-known for her portrayal in the hit movie Clueless, but she was first cast in the movie The Crush, which earned the actress her first big break. 

Understanding the same things that Juliette Lewis and Michelle Williams did regarding a demanding production schedule, Silverstone became emancipated at age 15 to be able to work the long hours without child labor issues.

Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino

Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino of Jersey Shore fame sued his father in 2011 after he posted videos of himself talking about his son’s “selfish ways.”  “The Situation” claimed his that his father was illegally using his name and stardom on his website. 

The actor’s company filed a $75,000 lawsuit for copyright infringement against their client’s father. The actor was concerned that his father’s comments would jeopardize his reputation. The two later mended fences and dropped the suit.

Dominique Moceanu

At the age of 14, Dominique Moceanu was the youngest member of the gold-medal U.S. gymnastics team in the 1996 Olympics. Even while receiving the medal, she was worried that her father would fault her for missing a landing twice on her vaults, mentioning that he was emotionally and physically abusive. 

Just after her 17th birthday, in 1998, Moceanu was granted emancipation by a Houston court. She had previously run away from her home, and accused her parents of using $4 million of her money to build a gymnastics training center, which would close two years later. 

 Chris Warren

Chris Warren of High School Musical fame turned 18 and looked forward to newfound personal and legal freedom, only to find out he was broke. He would put his earnings in a family loan-out company that his parents created in 2001. 

In 2012, he sued his parents for tapping into his trust fund without his knowledge. After they would not answer their son’s complaint, a judge ordered the couple to pay back $337,000 plus interest in 2013.

Kobe Bryant

Before basketball icon Kobe Bryant’s tragic passing in 2020, he had had a tricky relationship with his parents and sisters. His sisters were at one point financially dependent on the NBA star, but he eventually cut them off.

Aside for the personal issues that Kobe had had with his parents, things got worse when in 2013, they were found to be selling his memorabilia, such as Championship rings and old uniforms, at an auction house. Bryant won his suit and donated the money he won to charity. He would later write a letter to his younger self advising young Kobe to never mix business and family. 

Gary Coleman

The late former child star Gary Coleman of Diff’rent Strokes fame, had his parents acting as his business managers while he was in the prime of his career. Unfortunately, this was not in the actor’s best interests. A documentary estimated that after paying his parents, lawyers, advisers, and taxes, he was only left with about a quarter of his earnings from the sitcom. 

They reportedly misspent nearly $18 million, and although a bitter court battle ensued, Coleman was only able to recover $1.3 million. He had said in a 1993 interview that he had made two attempts to end his life. 

Jackie Coogan

Late actor Jackie Coogan was known to be America’s first child star. He starred in  Charlie Chaplin’s 1921 movie The Kid, making an estimated $4 million, which would be over $44 million translated to today’s standards. 

His career took off after that, but unfortunately, when he turned 21, his mother and stepfather had no intention of giving Jackie his rightfully-earned millions. He ended up suing them a few years later, but only received a small portion of the money, with reports saying that he received less than $126,000.