Music

Britney Spears’ Conservators Both Deny They’re Responsible After Mistreatment Claims

Jamie Spears has filed court documents attempting to shift the blame onto his co-conservator, Jodi Montgomery - who has swiftly hit back.

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Last week, Britney Spears spoke publicly about her life under the strict conservatorship which has effectively controlled her life since it was enforced in 2008.

In a 20 minute statement to a court in Los Angeles, Britney Spears said the situation has “traumatised” her, and that it was “abusive”.

“I’ve lied and told the whole world I’m OK and I’m happy. It’s a lie,” Spears admitted. “I’ve been in denial. I’ve been in shock. I am traumatised. Fake it ’til you make it, but now I’m telling you the truth, OK? I’m not happy. I can’t sleep. I’m depressed. I cry every day.”

In a particularly alarming moment, Spears said she wished to have children — but her conservators would not let her remove her IUD, prompting a discussion about reproductive coercion.

“I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive,” Spears said. “My request is to end the conservatorship without being evaluated like before.”

Over the past few days, Spears’ sister Jamie Lynn and her ex-husband Kevin Federline have spoken out in support of the singer — and now, Spears’ conservators have also released public statements.

Britney’s father Jamie — who up until 2019 had been the sole conservator — filed court documents this week that appear to shift the blame onto his co-conservator Jodi Montgomery. Since 2019, Montgomery has been what’s known as the conservator of the person, meaning she controls Spears’ personal affairs and medical treatment, while Jamie controls Spears’ finances (alongside a private trust company).

In the documents, Jamie Spears said he concerned about his daughter’s treatment, and an investigation into claims by Britney that the conservatorship is abusive would be appropriate.

“[He is] greatly saddened to hear of his daughter’s difficulties and suffering, and he believes that there must be an investigation into those claims,” the documents read, as seen by Variety.

Additionally, Jamie denied any involvement with Spears’ personal medical care — and he was not responsible for preventing her having more children or marrying her longterm boyfriend Sam Asghari.

“Unlike Ms Montgomery and Mr Ingham [Britney Spears’ lawyer] Mr Spears does not speak or meet with Ms Spears’ medical team, and he is not permitted to nor does he have the opportunity to provide any input into his daughter’s current medical treatment, diagnosis, or therapy,” the document reads. “Not does [sic] Mr Spears participate in or discuss Ms Spears’ personal affairs with her, such as issues related to her self-care, marriage, and reproductive desires…Mr. Spears is simply not involved in any decisions related to Ms Spears’ personal care of medical or reproductive issues.”

Montgomery hit back in a statement given by her lawyer Lauriann Wright. “Practically speaking, since everything costs money, no expenditures can happen without going through Mr Spears and Mr Spears approving them,” the statement read. “Ms Montgomery has advocated on Britney’s behalf for any expenditures that Britney has requested as well as for expenditures recommended by Britney’s medical team.

“Not every requested expenditure has been approved. Jamie Spears, as conservator of the estate, has a duty to make decisions in the best interests of the estate, and sometimes that has meant requested expenditures have been denied or limited.”

Montgomery also denied that she had prevented Spears from marrying: “Britney’s choice to marry and to start a family have never been impacted by the conservatorship while Ms Montgomery has been conservator of the person.”

Montgomery stated it was her wish that Britney “continues to make meaningful progress” so that her conservatorship of the person could end.

“Ms Montgomery looks forward to presenting a comprehensive Care Plan to the Court setting forth a path for termination of the conservatorship for Britney, and Ms Montgomery looks forward to supporting Britney through that process,” the statement concludes.

Britney Spears has yet to file an official motion to end her conservatorship.


Photo Credit: Britney Spears Instagram