Britney Spears’ father Jamie Spears is speaking to tell his version of the story, through his lawyer, Vivian Thoreen, about his daughter’s guardianship in an exclusive interview for “Good Morning America”.
The guardianship, established in 2008, has put Jamie in control of Britney’s financial affairs for the past 13 years, as well as her personal affairs until 2019. The case has dominated the headlines lately, largely due to the release of “Framing Britney Spears” , a documentary by The New York Times and the now famous #FreeBritney movement.
MORE: Britney and Jamie Spears’ lawyers discuss co-guardianship in court
“I understand that every story wants to have a villain, but people misunderstand here,” Thoreen told “GMA” on Thursday. “This is a story about a fiercely loyal, loving and dedicated father who rescued his daughter from a life-threatening situation. People were harming and exploiting her.”
Last November, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda J. Penny named the Bessemer Trust co-conservative in Britney’s estate, but refused to remove Jamie from the post of co-conservative.
Earlier this month, Penny again ordered Jamie to remain in custody, despite Britney’s lawyer Sam Ingham telling the court “it’s no secret that” the singer “doesn’t want her father to be a conservative.”
MORE: Britney Spears’ father will remain a co-conservator of her property
The documentary “Framing Britney Spears” describes the singer’s legal battle over who should control her guardianship – which the fan-led #FreeBritney movement thinks is no longer necessary for the singer. The intense media and paparazzi attention she has received over the years is also examined.
Although several figures throughout Britney’s career offered their opinions in the episode, the singer’s family – including father Jamie, mother Lynne, sister Jamie Lynn and brother Bryan did not respond to requests for comment or refused to be interviewed. for the cameras, according to The New York Times.
The New York Times noted that they tried to contact Britney, but it was not “clear” whether she received the orders.
Thoreen suggests that Jamie “saved” Britney’s life, having “worked tirelessly to protect her” since being appointed conservative.
MORE: Britney Spears seems to recognize the #FreeBritney movement, wants to make public the battle of guardianship, new archiving programs
“He collaborated with her to help her recover custody of her children. He brought her finances back from the disaster,” she explained. “And he created a safe environment for her to live her life the way she wants, away from the media that causes her so much pain.”
Thoreen said the court “carefully reviewed the tutelage through a dedicated, trained and highly experienced court investigator” over the years and “kept the tutelage in place”. She said Jamie’s goal “always” was to do what’s best for Britney.
“Prior to guardianship, it was reported that Britney was earning $ 40 million a year. When Jamie entered as a conservative in 2008, court records show that Britney’s assets were worth $ 2.8 million and she was in debt and facing lawsuits in the worth millions of dollars, “said Thoreen. “So it is under Jamie’s supervision for the past 13 years that he has managed to restore Britney’s finances to where they are today, to almost $ 60 million.”
MORE: Britney Spears’ sister seeks to move the singer’s assets
“Thanks to Jamie’s efforts,” she continued, “Britney’s estate is now able to look after Britney and her children for the rest of their lives, as long as no one is allowed to explore or take advantage of her again.”
Thoreen said Jamie fulfilled his role as Britney’s conservative with “the kind of dedication and diligence that only a family member – that only a father who loves his daughter unconditionally – can”.
“Britney makes decisions all the time,” she noted. “If she wants to perform, if she wants to record an album, if she wants her name and image to be used, or if she just wants to live her life like a normal person, Jamie collaborates with Britney to make it happen.
Although unable to provide an update on how the singer is today, Thoreen said Britney and Jamie “had a lot of conversations” over the past year and none involved asking him not to be her conservative.
“At the beginning of the pandemic, they spent two weeks with other family members, crouched in Louisiana and spent a lot of time together,” she said. “Britney and Jamie took long trips together. They played and worked in the family garden. And every night, Jamie prepared homemade southern food that the family ate and enjoyed together.”
MORE: Britney Spears takes a stand against bullies who send her offensive comments
“At that time, Britney never expressed those words to her father,” continued Thoreen. “She never asked him to stay away.”
Thoreen, who admittedly has worked for many conservators, said he knows how seriously the court reviews these cases year after year and “wouldn’t have named Jamie or kept him if Jamie hadn’t been a loving father and grandfather, and if he hadn’t been.” is a responsible conservative – and he is all of those things. “
As to why the singer did not go directly to the public to end all the drama and speculation surrounding her tutelage, Thoreen does not know. She replied, “You are going to have to ask Britney.”
When contacted by ABC News, Britney’s lawyer Sam Ingham said he could not comment on a pending case.
For now, Thoreen said Jamie “expects” to work with the Bessemer Trust in managing Britney’s estate and, if the singer wants to end her guardianship, she is fully capable of doing so.
MORE: Britney Spears wants to remove her father as the only conservative
“Whenever Britney wants to end her guardianship, she can ask her lawyer to file a petition to end it,” said Thoreen, saying the singer “always had that right” but “never exercised it”.
“Britney knows that her father loves her, and that he will be there for her when and if she needs him,” she added. “As always – guardianship or not.”
Jamie Spears ‘lawyer talks about Britney Spears’ tutelage: ‘People get it so wrong’ originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com