Britney Spears's father remains her conservator, despite singer's attorney saying she's 'afraid’ of him
Britney Spears’s father, Jamie, will not be ousted as her conservator — at this point.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda J. Penny declined to suspend Jamie from his role in the pop star’s conservatorship after attorneys for Britney and her mom, Lynne, both tried to make a case. The judge said she would consider future petitions for his suspension or full removal — and Britney’s attorney, Samuel D. Ingham III, said they would be filing one.
In Wednesday’s court session, Ingham told the judge, “My client has informed me that she is afraid of her father.”
And that wasn’t the only revelation. Ingham also said Spears “will not perform again if her father is in charge of her career.” (Britney called off her Las Vegas residency in January 2019, her last big gig, saying at the time she was doing so to help Jamie recover from "life-threatening health issues” after he suffered a ruptured colon, noting, “It's important to always put your family first.” Things seemingly changed by September after Jamie had an altercation with Britney’s teen son.)
Ingham also said that Britney and her dad have no "viable working relationship" and have not spoken in a "long while.”
Jamie’s attorney Vivian Lee Thoreen defended him staying on as conservator, a role he’s held for 12 years. She said he’s turned around her business, noting Britney was in debt when he took over and that now her empire is worth $60 million.
Thoreen declared, “I don’t believe there is a shred of evidence to support my client’s suspension,” adding that Jamie has always had Britney’s best interests at heart. She claimed the reason father and daughter haven’t spoken is because Britney’s lawyer advised her against it.
Britney's mother, Lynne, also attended as an interested party and urged her ex-husband to step down, TMZ reported.
Lynne’s attorney Gladstone N. Jones said in a statement that while Britney is thankful for her father’s work all these years — he collects a paycheck for his role — it’s time for him to relinquish the role. The relationship between Britney and Jamie is “toxic,” the attorney said. Jones added that Britney is basically being forced to go on strike while she waits for Jamie to step down.
“It has broken Lynne’s heart that things have come to this point,” Jones said.
TMZ also reports that Britney is upset with Jamie for approving a deal with her business manager, from the Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group, that paid them a commission she feels is unreasonable. She thinks he should have negotiated a better deal.
The family drama was only one part of the hearing, which was attended virtually by the attorneys and by Britney’s parents. (The star did not attend at all.) It was also to appoint Bessemer Trust Company as a co-conservator, which the judge approved. (In August, Britney signed off on having Bessemer Trust Company be her full conservator. For now, the job will be shared with Jamie.)
Britney also has a conservator over her body and that role is filled by Jodi Montgomery. Montgomery will retain the job — overseeing her health and who has access to her at her home— into at least next year.
All this is playing out amid the "Free Britney" movement, which is a group of the superstar’s fans believing she is being held prisoner by her family and team. Every time Brit posts on Instagram, it’s viewed as a hidden message. Yesterday, after the hearing she posted this — about “JUMPING towards your dreams.”
Despite this, Britney recently posted a video saying, "I know that there have been a lot of comments and a lot of people saying a lot of different things about me, but I just want to let you guys know that I am fine. I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life.”
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