Britney Spears' father wants to step down as guardian

Britney Spears has been under her father’s tutelage since 2008. She has been fighting it for a long time, supported by celebrity friends and fans. Now an end to this regulation is in sight for the singer.

Los Angeles – Jamie Spears, the father of pop singer Britney Spears (39), has announced in a court declaration that he will step down as guardian.

At the right time, he will do so, according to the document filed with the Superior Court in Los Angeles on Thursday (local time), which was published by US media. The 69-year-old’s lawyers further stated that a “proper transition” to the appointment of a new guardian was a condition. Britney’s supporters cheer.

Britney Spears’ lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, also rated the development as a great victory for his client. Jamie Spears should, however, immediately resign as guardian, he said in a message published by the industry journal “Variety”.

Dispute between the lawyers

In July, Rosengart had applied to the court to replace her father as guardian of the famous daughter. He held Jamie Spears “shameful and reprehensible attacks” on Britney, according to the announcement. They wanted to continue to check whether the father, as a guardian, had unlawfully enriched his daughter’s fortune in the past few years, said Rosengart.

Jamie Spears’ lawyers stressed that the father acted in the best interests of the daughter from the start. There are no real reasons to remove Spears as guardian, the court records say. However, he was the target of “unjustified” attacks and wanted to avoid a public fight with his daughter for guardianship.

The singer has been under her father’s tutelage since 2008 after she collapsed psychologically due to personal and professional problems. At first, Jamie Spears managed his daughter’s wealth and personal affairs. In 2019 he stepped down, but remained responsible for finances. The singer’s personal needs, including medical issues, are handled as co-guardian Jodi Montgomery.

“#FreeBritney”: Supporters delighted

Supporters reacted euphorically to the surprising development. Reality star Paris Hilton (40), who has been friends with Spears for a long time, was enthusiastic: she was “so happy,” wrote the 40-year-old on Twitter. “It was so long overdue.” She was glad “that Britney is on her way to finally being free”. Hilton provided her tweet with the well-known hashtag “#FreeBritney” and a link to a report in the “New York Times”. Numerous fans of the singer celebrated the news on social networks.

Britney Spears herself posted a painted picture on Instagram without further comment showing a woman from behind. She wears flowers in her hair and a butterfly flies over her shoulder. A user commented on the picture with the words “We are one step further on the way to your freedom”. Another commented: “She is free”.

At two court hearings in June and July, the singer violently attacked her father in emotional speeches and raised allegations against her family, carers and lawyers. She feels that her family and managers have taken advantage of her. She is controlled by everyone and cannot determine her own life, explained the singer of hits like “Oops! … I Did It Again” or “Baby One More Time”. She was threatened and was very afraid of her father. In places, the pop star broke out in sobs.

In mid-July, the court allowed the 39-year-old to designate her own lawyer. As her new representative, Rosengart immediately applied for her father to be replaced as guardian. According to the petition, Jamie Spears is to be replaced by an interim guardian – certified auditor Jason Rubin. The next hearing in the legal dispute is scheduled for the end of September.

Many celebrities and fans have sided with the singer under the hashtag “#FreeBritney” over the past few months. During hearings, supporters often go to court and use chants and posters to demand freedom for Spears. dpa