Britney Spears’ father James “Jamie” Spears has been suspended from his position as conservator of his daughter’s estate, The New York Times reports. Judge Brenda Penny granted Britney Spears’ lawyer’s petition: “The current situation is not tenable,” Judge Penny said. Jamie Spears petitioned for the conservatorship to come to an end earlier this month. The next hearing is on November 12.
At a press conference after the hearing, Britney Spears’ lawyer Matthew S. Rosengart said that he expected Jamie Spears’ suspension to result in additional investigations into his finances and handling of the conservatorship. Though he would not detail Britney’s feelings on the ruling, citing attorney-client privilege, Rosengart noted, “I think she's got a great future ahead of her.” In a statement to Pitchfork, Rosengart added: “Monumental win for Britney, and for justice.”
The New York Times’ new documentary Controlling Britney Spears, which debuted last week, highlighted allegations that Britney was under surveillance. The documentary featured an on-camera interview with former security employee Alex Vlasov, who claimed that Britney’s phone was monitored and home bugged by a security company hired by Jamie Spears. In a court filing, Rosengart called for Jamie’s suspension, citing The Times’ reporting.
Britney Spears has lived under the terms of the conservatorship since 2008. In recent years, fans protested the conservatorship as part of a wide-ranging movement dubbed “#FreeBritney.” Documentaries and podcasts followed Spears’ story as she remained conspicuously silent about her private life.
In June, Spears gave a rare candid testimony about the conditions of the conservatorship, claiming she was being denied reproductive autonomy and was forced to work. She also said she wanted to sue her family and said they should be investigated. Spears’ longtime manager and court-appointed lawyer both resigned following the hearing. Her father Jamie announced he would step down from the arrangement in August.
Jamie Spears’ alleged behavior as his daughter’s conservator has been widely reported in recent months. A New Yorker investigation claimed that Jamie took control of the conservatorship early on, and former Spears family friend Jacqueline Butcher claimed that Jamie called Britney “fat.” Butcher also outlined his bullying behavior and claimed he isolated Britney from anyone she was close to. “He would get all in her face—spittle was flying—telling her she was a whore and a terrible mother,” Butcher said.
Read “A Timeline of the Connections Between Britney Spears’ Music and Her Conservatorship Fight” on the Pitch.
