Amanda Bynes has revealed that she's in the process of removing her face tattoo, as she awaits a court hearing over her conservatorship.
The Hairspray star, 35, took to her new Instagram account on March 9 to give her followers an update on her quest to erase the face inking, a heart on her cheek.
In a video selfie captioned "tattoo removal process," the actress removed her spectacles and brought the camera closer to her face to show the fading tattoo, which she debuted on her old Instagram account back in December 2019.
On March 8, Bynes shared what appeared to be her first post on her new Instagram account, in which she thanked fans for their support and revealed that her court date was approaching.
"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 the last week of February, Bynes filed a petition at California's Venture County Superior Court requesting the termination of her conservatorship, which has seen her personal and financial decisions controlled since 2013.
Her mother, Lynn Bynes, became her personal conservator after the actress was placed on a 5150 psychiatric hold and was dealing with substance abuse issues. Her father, Rick Bynes, oversees her financial assets, per NBC News.
The She's the Man star's attorney, David A. Esquibias, said in a statement to People at the time of the filing: "Amanda wishes to terminate her conservatorship. She believes her condition is improved and protection of the court is no longer necessary."
Tamar Arminak, an attorney for the star's parents, told NBC News that they "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 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 that 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 in Amanda's life," said Arminak. "Based on the petition, and Amanda's amazing progress, she completely supports Amanda's request to terminate the conservatorship."
According to Arminak, Amanda Bynes' parents will not be attending the virtual conservatorship hearing, which is scheduled to take place on March 22.
Britney Spears' recent victory in her fight to be freed from her 13-year conservatorship shone a spotlight on the arrangements, which are typically put into place for people deemed unable to make their own decisions.
Fans of the pop superstar started the #FreeBritney movement on social media, as they drew attention to the "Toxic" singer's desire to manage her own affairs.
In June 2021, Spears alleged in a court testimony that she was forced to perform, take medication and wear a contraceptive device under her conservatorship.
By November—two months after Spears' father, Jamie Spears, was suspended from the conservatorship—a judge ruled that the court-ordered arrangement should be dissolved altogether.
Amanda Bynes' lawyer has insisted that the timing of her own bid to end her conservatorship was in no way influenced by Britney Spears' case.
Esquibias told Vanity Fair: "Any similarities between the timing of Britney's conservatorship termination are Amanda are purely coincidental."
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Ryan Smith is a Newsweek Senior Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on ... Read more
