Amid the controversy surrounding Britney Spears’ conservatorship case, her mom, Lynne Spears, doesn’t quite know what to think.
“I got mixed feelings about everything,” Lynne told the New Yorker in June. “I don’t know what to think … It’s a lot of pain, a lot of worry.”
Britney, who has been under a conservatorship since 2008, joined the court hearing about her conservatorship via phone on June 23, during which she gave a 24-minute long testimony and alleged that her father, Jamie Spears, and other conservators have maintained a tight rein over her finances, her career, her personal life and even her reproductive decisions.
Calling her conservatorship “abusive,” she claimed that she had been coerced to do her 2018 tour. “He handed me a sheet of paper as I got off the stage in Vegas and said I had to sign it,” she said of the business manager over seeing her career. “It was very threatening and scary and, with the conservatorship, I couldn’t even get my own attorney. So, out of fear, I went ahead and I did the tour.” She also claimed that she is forced to have an IUD so that she cannot have more children and has not been permitted to marry.
Jamie, who is one of Britney’s co-conservators, has been responsible for her personal and financial affairs for more than a decade. However, he noted that he has not managed her personal or medical affairs in the past two years. He’s since asked for an investigation of Britney’s “serious allegations regarding forced labor, forced medical treatment and therapy, improper medical care, and limitations on personal rights.”
Jodi Montogmery, who is conservator of Britney’s person, also issued a statement saying that she and her team’s “one primary goal” is “to assist and encourage Britney in her path to no longer needing a conservatorship of the person.” She also refuted Britney’s claims about her plans to get married and have more children is not allowed in her conservatorship. “Britney’s choice to marry and to start a family have never been impacted by the conservatorship while Ms. Montgomery has been conservator of the person.”
Wealth management firm Bessemer Trust has requested to resign as Britney’s co-conservator alongside Jamie, stating in court documents obtained by Entertainment Tonight, “As a result of [Britney’s] testimony at the June 23 hearing, however, [Bessemer Trust] has become aware that the Conservatee objects to the continuance of her conservatorship and desires to terminate the conservatorship. Petitioner has heard the Conservatee and respects her wishes.”
Bessemer Trust also stated that they believed that the singer was in the conservatorship voluntarily and had consented them to be a co-conservator. They also stated that their role as conservator is yet to take effect and are “not currently authorized to act, has taken no actions as conservator, has made no decisions as conservator, has received no assets of the estate [and] has taken no fees.”
Per the outlet, Judge Brenda Penny, who is presiding over is presiding over the conservatorship case, has approved their request to resign from the position – a hearing has been set for July 14 to formally hear their petition.
On Monday (July 5), Deadline reported that Britney’s long-time manager, Larry Rudolph, tendered his resignation. The letter was addressed to Britney’s conservators, James P. Spears and Jodi Montgomery.
“It has been over two and a half years since Britney and I last communicated, at which time she informed me she wanted to take an indefinite work hiatus,” the statement, published on July 5, read. “Earlier today, I became aware that Britney had been voicing her intention to officially retire.”
Larry has managed Britney’s career since her early days as a pop star. The pair has worked together for 25 years – except for a brief period between 2007 – 2008, per the outlet.
“I was originally hired at Britney’s request to help manage and assist her with her career. And as her manager, I believe it is in Britney’s best interest for me to resign from her team as my professional services are no longer needed,” he went on in the letter.
“I will always be incredibly proud of what we accomplished over our 25 years together. I wish Britney all the health and happiness in the world, and I’ll be there for her if she ever needs me again, just as I always have been,” he concluded.
