Lynne Spears Shares New Details About Britney's Relationship With Her Dad
Unless you've been living under a rock lately, you've likely seen Britney Spears' ongoing battle to end her conservatorship make headlines just about every other day. On July 14, the pop star gave a rare testimony in front of a Los Angeles judge, breaking down in tears and pleading with the court to remove her "abusive" father, Jamie Spears, from her conservatorship, which she's been under since 2008.
"I'm here to get rid of my dad and charge him with conservatorship abuse. I want him investigated ... This conservatorship has allowed my dad to ruin my life," Spears emotionally revealed (via E! News), adding that every part of her life has been controlled for nearly a decade and a half — including her diet and the fact that she has been forced to work up to 70 hours a week. "That's more than a regular job," she testified. "Their goal was to make me feel crazy and I'm not and that's not okay."
"[Jamie] would love nothing more than to see Britney not need a conservatorship," his attorney, Vivian Lee Thoreen, previously told CNN in March. "Jamie is not suggesting that he is the perfect dad or that he would receive any 'Father of the Year' award. Like any parent, he doesn't always see eye-to-eye on what Britney may want. But Jamie believes every single decision he has made has been in her best interest."
Lynne Spears dropped some serious bombshells about Britney's relationship with her dad
According to official documents obtained by E! News, Britney Spears' mom, Lynne Spears, fully backs Britney in her request to remove Jamie Spears from the singer's conservatorship. She also revealed that she would testify against her estranged husband if she was called as a witness. "I became involved in this conservatorship during what I will term a 'time of crisis' that began at the end of 2018 and continued into 2019," Lynne, who finalized her divorce from Jamie in 2002 after 27 years of marriage, wrote in the document, adding that Jamie has had "absolute control" over his daughter's healthcare and money decisions since 2008.
Lynne also wrote that the singer's feelings "dwindled to nothing but fear and hatred" of him, citing his "complete control" over Britney. "His mistrust of her, his coercion of her, his 'bartering' with her over what she can and cannot do for whatever reward or punishment he is willing to mete out, his constant threats, and his decision-making over all aspects of her life" are just a few factors that play into how Britney feels about her father, she added.
"I've been in shock. I am traumatized," Britney said during a June court hearing (via Page Six). "I'm not happy. I can't sleep. I'm so angry. It's insane. And I'm depressed. I cry every day. I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive. It's my wish and my dream for all of this to end."
Lynne Spears revealed the event that catapulted the family into a 'time of crisis'
"Of the actions that solidified the failure of my daughter's and Mr. Spears' relationship, the physical altercation between Mr. Spears and [Britney's] minor children, my grandchildren, was perhaps the most appalling and inexcusable, and understandably destroyed whatever was left of a relationship between them," Lynne Spears wrote in the document (via E! News). Lynne is likely referring to a 2019 incident in which Britney's ex-husband, Kevin Federline, who she shares kids Sean and Jayden with, filed a police report alleging that physical altercation occurred between Jamie and Sean, who was 13 years old at the time.
"There was a disagreement that occurred while Britney and the children were visiting with Jamie at his home that led to a physical altercation that was observed by Jayden," Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, told People at the time. "Britney did the right thing and removed the children and took them out of there, but the trauma to the kids is nonetheless."
According to The Blast, Sean and his grandfather got into an argument, and Jamie allegedly got so mad that he kicked down a door and "violently shook" the then-13-year-old boy. In September 2019, a few weeks after the alleged altercation, E! News reported that Jamie wouldn't face charges, as the Ventura County District Attorney's Office was not moving forward with the investigation due to "insufficient proof that a criminal offense was committed by Mr. Spears."
Lynne Spears revealed other shocking details about Britney's relationship with her father
In the document, Lynne Spears also revealed that Jamie Spears allegedly had household staff members, her medical team, security team, and more keep tabs on Britney's every move, writing that they were to "report back to him each and every detail of every action that takes place" (via E! News).
Lynne also voiced concerns about her daughter's medical team — particularly, a "sports enhancement doctor," who Lynne refers to as a psychiatrist, hired by Britney's father — who allegedly prescribed the former "X-Factor" judge medicine she did not want to take. "I witnessed my daughter be compelled by that doctor, with the knowledge and encouragement of Mr. Spears, to enter a health facility that she did not want to enter, where she was threatened with punishment if she did not stay for medical treatment that she did not want to endure," Lynne wrote.
Lynne finished by saying that her estranged husband is "incapable of putting my daughter's interests ahead of his own on both a professional and a personal level," adding that him being in control of Britney's $57 million estate is "not in the best interests of my daughter."