Britney Spears' father agrees to step down from conservatorship
13 August 2021, 06:15 | Updated: 13 August 2021, 06:18
Britney Spears' father has agreed to step down from his role as her conservator, according to US media reports.
Jamie Spears will work on an orderly transition for his replacement in overseeing the singer's finances, showbiz outlet TMZ said.
It comes after the 39-year-old pop star demanded her father be stripped of the role, alleging the complex legal arrangement controlling her life and career was abusive.
The singer's personal affairs are currently being overseen by Jodi Montgomery on a temporary basis.
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Mathew Rosengart, Spears' new lawyer, welcomed the news of Jamie's departure and described it as "vindication" for his client.
He said in a statement: "I announced in Court on 14 July that, after 13 years of the status quo, it was time for Mr Spears to be suspended or removed as conservator and that my firm and I would move aggressively and expeditiously for that outcome.
"Twelve days later, my firm filed a petition for Mr Spears' suspension and removal based on strong, insurmountable legal grounds, which were unequivocally supported by the law and all parties involved, including Jodi Montgomery, Britney Spears, and her medical team.
"We are pleased that Mr Spears and his lawyer have today conceded in a filing that he must be removed. It is vindication for Britney. We are disappointed, however, by their ongoing shameful and reprehensible attacks on Ms Spears and others."
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He added: "We look forward to continuing our vigorous investigation into the conduct of Mr Spears, and others, over the past 13 years, while he reaped millions of dollars from his daughter's estate, and I look forward to taking Mr Spears' sworn deposition in the near future.
"In the interim, rather than making false accusations and taking cheap shots at his own daughter, Mr Spears should remain silent and step aside immediately."
Spears delivered explosive courtroom testimony in June, making a series of claims about the conservatorship, including she was being prevented from getting married and having more children.
Jamie, 69, had resisted calls to stand down and this week the judge in the case denied a request from Spears' legal team to bring forward a hearing on his status.
He was in charge of his daughter's estate, a role he had held since 2008 after a court deemed her incapable of looking after herself following a series of mental breakdowns.
The father also oversaw Spears' personal affairs but stepped down from that position in 2019, citing ill health.
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Jamie's reported departure marks the latest significant milestone in the conservatorship case, which has attracted renewed interest following the release of the documentary Framing Britney Spears earlier this year.
It explored her career and struggles under the tabloid glare, as well as her father's role in her life.
The #FreeBritney movement of supporters has long called for Jamie to be ousted, accusing him of abusing his position.
His lawyers had argued there were no grounds for his dismissal and said his shrewd management of his daughter's estate saved her from financial ruin.
Spears has recently stepped up her attempts to force her father's removal, which could pave the way for the conservatorship to be terminated.
She made headlines around the world following her stunning testimony on 23 June, when she emotionally told Los Angeles judge Brenda Penny the toll the conservatorship had taken on her life.
She said: "This conservatorship is doing me way more harm than good. I deserve to have a life, I've worked my whole life. I deserve to have a two to three-year break."
A month later she addressed the court again and demanded her father be charged with conservatorship abuse.
She said: "My dad needs to be removed today and I will be happy with Jodi helping me."
In July, Mr Rosengart replaced Samuel Ingham, who had been the singer's court-appointed lawyer since 2008, and promised to take a more aggressive approach.
Spears previously told the court she was afraid of her father and would not return to the stage while he oversaw her career and multimillion-dollar estate.
The pop star has been active on social media, sharing updates with fans and opening an often remarkable window into her thinking on the conservatorship.
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After the judge denied her request to bring the hearing on her father forward this week, Spears wrote on Instagram the public "only know half" of what is going on.
Spears has not performed since 2018.
She is currently in a relationship with fitness expert and actor Sam Asghari, 27.
Spears has two sons - Sean, 15, and Jayden, 14 - with ex-husband Kevin Federline.
The pop star was taken to hospital in January 2008 amid a custody battle with Federline and the following month Jamie was granted what was at the time described as a "temporary" conservatorship for his daughter.
