A series of huge bombshells about Britney Spears’ troubled life under her notorious conservatorship have made headlines worldwide in recent weeks, with claims the order even prevented her from having a baby.
Last month, the star told a court hearing that the guardianship – overseen by her dad, Jamie – was “abusive” and she felt “bullied”. She claimed to have been forced to go on tour, as well as ordered to take the drug lithium against her will. She pleaded with the judge that she “just wanted her life back” – but her appeal was denied.
Britney’s next court hearing – in which she will attempt to have Jamie removed from her conservatorship – is scheduled for this week, on 14 July. But in another dramatic twist, her long-term lawyer, Samuel Ingham, resigned last week after Britney criticised his handling of her case.
Shortly before, a fresh scandal erupted when a family friend claimed the singer had been the victim of cruel taunts made by her father, soon after he became her conservator in 2008.
In an investigative report, Jacqueline Butcher – who was with Britney, 39, when she was released from hospital following her tragic breakdown in 2007 – claimed, “Her dad Jamie was sitting at a desk. He said, ‘Baby’ – and I thought he was going to say, ‘We love you, but you need help.’ But what he said was, ‘You’re fat. Daddy’s gonna get you on a diet and a trainer and you’re gonna get back in shape’.”
She also claimed that, over the following weeks, Jamie, 58, became aggressive with his daughter – who at the time had lost custody of the two sons she shares with ex-husband Kevin Federline, Sean Preston, 15, and Jayden James, 14 – adding, “He would get all in her face, spittle was flying, telling her she was a ‘wh*re’ and a terrible mother. Lynne [Britney’s mum] was just like, ‘Obey Daddy and they’ll let you out’.”
Britney had fiercely criticised her dad during her recent court hearing, saying, “My dad and anyone involved in this conservatorship… They should be in jail.” She added, “The control [he] had over someone as powerful as me… He loved the control to hurt his own daughter.”
She also lashed out at her mum, Lynne, and her wider family, saying, “She made me feel like my dad does. Very similar, her behaviour and my dad… My whole family did nothing. And I would honestly like to sue my family.”
The huge fallout with her parents and family is in stark contrast to her early life. Growing up in Louisiana, Britney had previously been very close to both her parents.
However, Lynne and Jamie had a volatile relationship, which was fuelled by Jamie’s reliance on alcohol. They divorced in 2002, with Britney later calling it “the best thing that’s ever happened to my family”.
In 2004, she urged her dad to seek help for his alcohol dependency, but they maintained a good relationship. In her 2008 MTV documentary, Britney: For the Record, Jamie can be seen preparing her favourite breakfast and admitting he “spoils” her.
But since Jamie was granted the conservatorship in 2008, their relationship has slowly disintegrated. Now, a source tells Closer that, as Britney and her dad were inseparable at one point, they are now both saddened by the turn of affairs.
The source says, “Britney used to be so close to her dad and grew up doting on him. She was the ultimate daddy’s girl – until the conservatorship began. He went from being a loving, protective father to – in her eyes – taking it too far.
“Over time, she started to resent him for the decisions he made for her and the control he had. She feels like she has lost her dad, and she is still grieving for him. It’s sad for them both.”
In response to the claims made by Britney, Jamie’s lawyer has said, “He is sorry to see his daughter suffering and in so much pain. Mr Spears loves his daughter very much.”
As for Lynne, after being accused by Britney for “letting” the conservatorship happen, last week she filed a request to the judge saying her daughter should be allowed to choose her own lawyer and is now “”able to care” for herself.
It’s taken Britney 13 years to talk about her conservatorship, as her anger and desperation has reached a peak. Last month, insiders told Closer she’s grown more confident in speaking out, after witnessing the support for her from fans and celebrities around the world.
Closer recently reported that pal and trainee lawyer Kim Kardashian offered her legal expertise to help Britney’s fight to regain independence, and the likes of Miley Cyrus and Courtney Love have also voiced their support.
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But it is her boyfriend, Sam Asghari – who called Jamie a “total d**k” and said he was “constantly throwing obstacles our way” – who is her biggest champion.
And the insider tells Closer that Britney has Sam to thank for helping her seek freedom at last. “Sam opened Brit’s eyes to what was really going on and assured her that she had nothing to feel guilty about amid her own self-doubt,” says the source.
“Sam wants her to one day have a civil – and normal – relationship with her family, especially if they have children.
“But as it stands, Britney has vowed to never talk to her father again. She’s so fired up and angry at the moment, which means she’s determined that, whether he stays as her conservator or not, they will never have a father/daughter relationship again. That is something she’ll have to deal with for the rest of her life.”