Jamie Spears has accused ex-wife Lynne Spears of ‘exploiting their daughter’s pain and trauma’ in a new court filing, as they continue to battle it out over Britney Spears’ conservatorship.
Lynne, 65, who divorced Jamie, 68, in 2002 after 30 years together, is raising questions about the fees he makes as their daughter’s conservator as well as querying the sky-high legal bills for his attorneys, said to be around $2million.
But in a new filing obtained by The Blast, Jamie has hit back at Lynne saying she has ‘not been involved in their daughter’s conservatorship until very recently’ and therefore has ‘no knowledge’ of the fees in question.
Embattled: Britney Spears, 39, has been held under the conservatorship for 13 years following her much publicized breakdown in 2008, and her parents are currently fighting in court
To make matters uglier, Jamie says in his filing that Lynne ‘is the one who exploited her daughter’s pain and trauma for personal profit by publishing a book,’ about Britney.
In 2008, following Britney’s well-documented meltdown, Lynne released Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World, a memoir that detailed their turbulent times as a family.
Jamie adds in his filing that Lynne is ‘causing undue delay and expense in the administration of the Conservatorship, and ironically, stirring up more unnecessary media attention.’
Bit rich? Britney’s father Jamie Spears has accused her mother Lynne Spears of ‘exploiting’ their daughter (the pair pictured together in 2012)
He is also claiming that Lynne inadvertently shared information with the lawyers of Sam Lutfi, Britney’s former manager who she now has a 5-year restraining order against.
‘Whether it was an intentional act or a careless error, this again evidences that Lynne Spears is not acting in the best interests of the Conservatee,’ Jamie states in his latest filing.
Per the report, the judge presiding over Britney’s controversial conservatorship is expected to give her ruling on Tuesday regarding the accounting and costs.
But Jamie maintains that he has had an impeccable track record handling his daughter’s affairs and believes court officials are aware of how Britney and her estate have benefited from his ‘steadfast and careful management for over a decade.’
Tough act: Jamie maintains that he has had an impeccable track record handling his daughter’s affairs
Last month, Jamie filed court documents that requested the singer’s estate to pay his lawyers for their time spent working to keep her conservatorship in place.
The filing asked that Jaime receives $288,000, which includes $16,000 per month for his role as co-conservator of his daughter’s estate and $2,000 per month for an office space between November 2019 and February 2021.
He’s also requested that his attorneys at Freeman, Freeman & Smiley LLP receive $574,625 and those at Holland & Knight receive $893,751.
The Baby One More Time hitmaker has been held under the conservatorship for 13 years following her much publicized breakdown – leading fans to launch the #FreeBritney movement to back her fight to have autonomy over her finances.
A judge ruled that Britney’s father and the Bessemer Trust will maintain equal power over the star’s vast $60million fortune.
Trapped: In an Instagram post last month, Britney said she cried for weeks over the documentary Framing Britney Spears that examined her meteoric rise to fame as a teenager
In the wake of the ruling, Jamie’s legal team have insisted the judge’s decision proves he isn’t out to cause any harm to his daughter.
Jaime was appointed to the role in 2008 after she was hospitalized for psychiatric treatment.
Currently his conservatorship means Britney cannot make any financial or professional decisions without her father’s approval.
In an Instagram post last month, Britney said she cried for weeks over the documentary that examined her meteoric rise to fame as a teenager.
The 39-year-old singer said she didn’t watch the entire film, ‘but from what I did see of it I was embarrassed by the light they put me in… I cried for two weeks and well… I still cry sometimes’.
Her fans have shown their support on social media under the hashtags #WereSorryBritney and #FreeBritney.
‘I have been exposed my whole life performing in front of people. It takes a lot of strength to TRUST the universe with your real vulnerability cause I’ve always been so judged… and embarrassed by the media… and I still am till this day,’ Spears wrote.
‘As the world keeps on turning and life goes on we still remain so fragile and sensitive as people …I’m not here to be perfect … perfect is boring … I’m here to pass on kindness.’