Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
The Battle of Britney
Singer to finally speak of dad’s control over her finances during US court showdown
AFTER years of silence Britney Spears will finally speak out about the controversial legal order that gave her father control over her £43million fortune.
America’s pop princess will appear at a Los Angeles court in June to talk about her longstanding conservatorship.
For 13 years, it has been overseen by dad Jamie, who controlled every aspect of her wealth.
She was placed into the courtordered arrangement, typically for the elderly or ill, after a breakdown that led to multiple hospitalisations.
Her exact medical diagnosis has never been revealed.
On Tuesday, LA Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny scheduled Britney’s appearance for June 23 to let her speak on the status of the conservatorship.
Potentially addressing the court would represent a shift for the normally secretive mother of two, 39.
The conservatorship has been under the spotlight ever since the explosive New York Times documentary Framing Britney Spears was released in February.
When a family member needs special care, families need to step up JAMIE SPEARS ON HIS EFFORTS TO PROTECT TO POP STAR DAUGHTER
EMBARRASSED
The film, which made Jamie the villain of the #Freebritney movement, gave voice to fans who have raised concerns about whether the court’s orders have been in the singer’s best interests.
On Instagram last month, Britney said the programme left her in tears.
She said: “I didn’t watch the documentary but from what I did see of it, I was embarrassed by the light they put me in. I cried for two weeks and well... I still cry sometimes.”
Britney made her singing debut on Star Search in 1992 and went on to appear in Disney’s The All-new Mickey Mouse Club with future singers Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera.
But she found global stardom when she released smash hit ...Baby One More Time in 1998, aged just 16.
She soon developed the provocative side of her public persona, earning tens of millions of dollars from her image.
But Britney struggled with her mental health and in 2007 famously shaved off her long blonde hair.
The incident took place when her ex-husband Kevin Federline refused to let her see their children Sean and Jayden after she had left rehab.
The now twice-married, twicedivorced singer has not released music since 2016 and stopped touring in 2018.
And despite her earnings, she leads far from an extravagant life as her money is drip-fed to her.
The strain of her relationship with her father, 68, was laid bare last November by her lawyer Samuel Ingham.
He told Judge Penny: “My client has informed me she is afraid of her father.
“She will not perform again if her father is in charge of her career.”
At the hearing, the star was hoping to remove her dad as her conservator.
But Jamie’s lawyer Vivian Lee Thoreen defended his control, claiming Britney was in debt before the conservatorship.
For years, fans have questioned why the singer was in the legal arrangement and many argued she was being taken advantage of and held against her will.
On social media, fans and conspiracy theorists claimed Jamie was unfairly profiting from his daughter. They alleged
the star, through online videos, was trying to express she was being abused.
Previously, she rarely spoke of her legal situation but early this month she assured fans about her well-being, saying she was “totally fine”.
Britney added: “I’m extremely happy, I have a beautiful home, beautiful children. I’m taking a break right now because I’m enjoying myself.”
In court, Mr Ingham said the singer was “strongly opposed” to her dad, a former chef, returning as conservator.
Jamie serves as a co-conservator of the singer’s estate alongside Bessemer Trust.
Previously, he had also served as Britney’s personal conservator, helping arrange her medical and mental health care and security. He stepped down from that role in 2019, citing health problems.
Last year, Jamie claimed the pair had a cordial relationship until the summer but it changed when she hired a lawyer to represent her over her estate.
He alleged Britney’s mental health remains an issue and suggested others may not be acting in her best interests.
Jamie said: “I love my daughter, and I miss her very much. When a family member needs special care and protection, families need to step up, as I have done for the last 12-plus years, to safeguard, protect and continue to love Britney unconditionally.”
The singer had requested Jodi Montgomery, a professional conservator, remains in the role that she has held temporarily since 2019.
Britney’s mother Lynne, 65, has also raised questions regarding £640,000 in legal fees for Jamie, which her lawyers have called “procedurally improper” and “utterly excessive”.
I’m taking a break right now because I am enjoying myself BRITNEY SPEARS IN MESSAGE TO HER FANS