#FreeBritney: Jamie Spears Agrees To Step Down As Conservator
Jamie Spears, father to Britney Spears, has reportedly stepped down as her conservator. Based on reports, his lawyer is in the midst of filing the necessary legal documents but has continued to insist on his innocence throughout.
View this post on Instagram
The prolonged legal row gained renewed attention in 2021 following the release of Framing Britney Spears, a documentary which centred on the conflict over the singer’s guardianship.
According to his attorney, the reason behind Jamie’s decision to step down is that the “public battle with his daughter” is not in Britney’s best interests.
“There are, in fact, no actual grounds for suspending or removing Mr Spears as the Conservator of the Estate under Probate Code section 2650. And it is highly debatable whether a change in conservator at this time would be in Ms Spears’ best interests,” reads the court filing.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, a conservatorship is granted by a court for individuals who are unable to make their own decisions, like those with dementia or other mental illnesses.
The singer’s career has been in the hands of legal guardians in this arrangement since 2008 when she faced a public mental health crisis. The court-ordered agreement gave her father control over her estate and other aspects of her life.
But the singer later sought to dismiss her father from the role, and has called for him to be charged with “conservatorship abuse“. She later told a judge that she had been drugged, forced to perform against her will and prevented from having children.
Jamie Spears has consistently denied any accusations of wrongdoing and has expressed concern for his daughter’s wellbeing.
Britney’s lawyer, Mathew Rosengart cooly countered the sentiments shared in the filing, giving a statement to TMZ which reads: “We are pleased but not necessarily surprised that Mr Spears and his lawyer finally recognise that he must be removed. We are disappointed, however, by their ongoing shameful and reprehensible attacks on Ms Spears and others.”
“We look forward to continuing our vigorous investigation into the conduct of Mr Spears, and others, over the past 13 years, while he reaped millions of dollars from his daughter’s estate, and I look forward to taking Mr Spears’s sworn deposition in the near future,” he continues. “In the interim, rather than making false accusations and taking cheap shots at his own daughter, Mr Spears should step aside immediately.”
I’m so happy to hear this news. 👏❤️ It’s been so long overdue but I’m so glad that Britney is on her way to finally being free. Sending so much love! 👸🏼💕✨ #FreeBritney https://t.co/VVDg6cdtGu
— Paris Hilton (@ParisHilton) August 12, 2021
While there is still much work to be done, there is still cause to celebrate—this is a huge breakthrough in Britney’s case. Needless to say, the support is overflowing at the moment, with friends and fans alike chiming in to congratulate Spears on her huge win.