Jamie Spears, Britney Spears’ father, stepped out publicly for the first time in over a decade this weekend, more than a year after the singer’s conservatorship ended.
He addressed the court ruling and defended his position during his daughter’s 13-year conservatorship in a Sunday interview. He also stated that he is unsure whether she would have survived without it.
“Not everyone will agree with me,” Jamie Spears stated. “It’s been a roller coaster ride. However, I love my daughter with all of my heart and soul. Where would Britney be right now if she wasn’t under conservatorship? And I’m not sure if she’d be alive. I don’t.”
The father stated that he “won’t paint any lovely pictures,” but that the court order protected Britney Spears during difficult times.
“Conservatorship was an excellent instrument for both protecting her and the children. I don’t think she would have gotten the kids back without it,” he added.
During a hearing that lasted less than 30 minutes in November 2021, an L.A. court granted a petition to dissolve the arrangement. This followed Britney Spears’ tearful testimony that summer, in which she said the conservatorship was abusive and that she wanted it to stop. Following her testimony, the singer was granted the right to hire her own attorney for the first time, resulting in an investigation into the alleged abuse.
The singer was then released from the court order after more than a decade of the #FreeBritney movement and years of fans believing that she was unhappy.
Britney Spears now resides in Los Angeles with her husband, model Sam Asghari. Britney Spears stated in April that she was expecting her first child with Asghari; the following month, she confirmed that she had miscarried. She and ex-husband Kevin Federline have two sons, Jayden and Preston.
Jamie Spears lives in rural Louisiana with his other daughter, Jamie Lynn Spears. He told the Daily Mail that he had to watch what he says since he doesn’t want to upset the artist.
“I really, really miss my two boys [Jayden and Preston],” Jamie Spears said. “I do. We were really, really close. They were of the age when you could start having fun with them. But they were building their own minds. Things happen for a purpose, according to God. I’m not sure why, but it’s been a difficult three years without them. The family is a shambles. All we can do is continue to pray.”
The conservatorship also included Britney Spears’ access to her two sons. Despite the fact that Federline was initially granted full custody, Jamie Spears stated that he worked out a deal with Federline so that they could spend time with their mother.
“They didn’t miss out on spending time with their mother. They made the most of their time with their father. That was not widely known. “The major goal was to re-establish Britney’s bond with her children,” he explained. “My friendship with Kevin gave them a sense of security and safety. Kevin would also tell you that we were the ones that reared the children. I simply performed what I was required to do or felt compelled to do.”
Jamie Spears also believes that the conservatorship assisted in developing his daughter’s finances because “she was broke” and “had no money at all.”
“My notion of a conservatorship is to assist someone restore their life, return to society, and live normally,” he continued. “I want to say that I had an impact. There were a few folks who helped me get to the point where we could help her.”
Many people, though, disagreed from afar. During a sabbatical, the singer postponed her second planned Vegas residency in January 2019. She attended a psychiatric facility a few months later, and admirers quickly speculated that her father had her admitted against her will. The #FreeBritney movement also argued that the conservatorship was limiting the singer’s freedom.
“All I can say is that most people have no idea what the truth is,” Jamie Spears replied to the charges. “Her lawyer has no idea what the truth is. The truth has not been heard by the media. They’ve heard Britney’s charges. I don’t mind receiving the smackdown since I know it’s not true and I don’t want to start something new. For my daughter to end up deeper in the hole than she was.”
