Troubled Britney plots her shock Oprah tell-all
Insiders say Meghan and Oprah Winfrey’s explosive interview has convinced Britney Spears to agree to her own in-depth chat
As Meghan and Harry’s explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey continues to dominate the headlines, insiders say it’s encouraged Britney Spears to follow suit and break her own silence, as the fight over the star’s controversial conservatorship continues in court this week. After drawing parallels between the singer and Meghan, who claims she “broke free” after being silenced by the Palace, one fan Tweeted, “Oprah to do Britney Spears next”, which garnered over 200,000 likes, while another added, “Me waiting for Oprah’s interview with Britney” alongside a meme of a woman glued to a TV screen.
SILENCED
But as many pointed out, the singer’s 13-year conservatorship – a legal order that gave her father, Jamie, full control over her $60 million estate, career, medical care and almost every aspect of her day-to-day life following her highly publicised 2007 breakdown – could prevent her from being able to freely open up about her troubled past.
One fan said, “As long as she has no control of her own life, there is no safe way for her to voice her experience outside of the courtroom.”
In the past, Britney has likened her situation to “prison” – saying in 2008, after the first ruling was made, “Even when you go to jail, y’know, there’s the time when you’re gonna get out… I never wanted to become one of those prisoner people. I always wanted to feel free. I think I’ve learnt my lesson now and enough is enough.”
And the singer is back in court this week, as she fights to have her dad – who she recently claimed she is “scared of” – removed as her guardian, instead preferring her trusted care manager Jodi Montgomery, who is also a counsellor and activist, to take over.
It comes as two Republican congressmen last week demanded a hearing over the use of conservatorships in the US, calling Britney’s legal control “questionable”. Jamie – who lost sole control of the singer’s conservatorship in February, as a judge ordered a private company to share the power – hit back at their claims, insisting he is “dedicated to protecting” his daughter.
Now pals say Meghan’s bold move has inspired the star to tell her side of the story once she is finally free to do so.
The source says, “Britney was incredibly moved by Meghan’s interview, as she likened her own feelings of entrapment as well as her struggles with mental health, which she thought was incredibly brave. With her dad still acting as co-conservator, Britney has every aspect of her life controlled, so she too feels like she has been forced into silence. But as her fight to have her dad removed shows, Britney is finally fighting to take back control of her own life. That includes having her say and addressing all the rumours about her when she can.”
HEAVILY MONITORED
While the exact terms of Britney’s conservatorship have never been confirmed, she reportedly cannot speak publicly about its details or do interviews that have not been scripted or been approved by her father.
She does use her social media accounts, however, and has made cryptic references to her situation – most notably when she Tweeted, “Each person has their story” last month, hinting she’s keen to speak out further.
The source adds, “Oprah has been reaching out to Britney about doing a tell-all for some time through mutual contacts. The problem is, Britney is heavily monitored, so only when – and if – she gets her father removed as her guardian
can details be fully thrashed out. If it does go ahead, the public can imagine it will be as shocking – if not more – than the one we have just witnessed with the Sussexes.”
It wouldn’t be the first time Oprah – who reportedly spent three years trying to get Meghan to agree to her explosive expose – would have interviewed Britney. In 2002, the former child star turned pop princess made a series of confessions to the chat show host, including how she regretted publicly stating she would remain a virgin until marriage as she gushed about her then-boyfriend and childhood sweetheart, Justin Timberlake.
However, after her infamous 2007 breakdown, she was put under the legal care of her dad. Thirteen years on, her fight to regain her independence has reached fever pitch, as her fans claim she is a “prisoner being held captive”, sparking the #FreeBritney movement, which spread like wildfire on social media and led thousands to protest on the streets of Los Angeles last year. The campaign saw the release of Framing Britney
Spears last month, which broke records as Sky’s most-watched documentary – with Netflix now working on an exploration of the star’s troubled life. And with Britney back in demand – her 2005 perfume, Fantasy, has sold out in the UK – pals say she hopes the tell-all will also help launch her big comeback.
The source adds, “Britney’s ready to get back out there and do what she loves most – making music and performing for her fans – but she’s petrified of failure and not living up to expectations.
“She hopes she could use the interview as a launch pad to move forward with her life and in her career, without the reins attached.”
STARTING A FAMILY
Last week, the star’s long-term boyfriend, personal trainer Sam Asghari, 27, revealed he wants to start a family with Britney.
“I want to take my relationship to the next step,” he said.
“I want to be a young dad.”
While she is already mum to Sean Preston, 15, and Jayden James, 14, with her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, it’s been reported that Britney is not allowed to have children or marry again under the strict rules of her conservatorship.
And friends say Sam’s desire for a family is another reason Britney is fighting so hard for independence.
The source adds, “Sam’s been the driving force behind Britney’s attempts to regain control over her life and he’s made it clear that he wants a baby with her. With her
40th birthday coming up in December, she’s holding on to hope that the order will be lifted before then, and they can finally live without the constraints that have been holding them back from furthering their relationship for so long – and she can fulfil her much longed-for dream of a happy future.”
By Daisy McLure
❛ SAM HAS BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND HER ATTEMPTS TO REGAIN CONTROL OVER HER LIFE ❜