Britney Spears’ father, Jamie, was suspended as conservator of her $60 million estate after a Hulu documentary revealed that he has had the singer under constant surveillance for years.
Hulu’s “Controlling Britney Spears” alleges that under Jamie’s purview, the “Gimme More” singer has been under heavy surveillance that recorded her every movement and conversation, even in her bedroom.
A Monday filing called for Jamie’s immediate suspension for the “horrifying and unconscionable invasions of his adult daughter’s privacy.”
“While they are not evidence, the allegations warrant serious investigation, certainly by Ms. Spears as, among other things, California is a ‘two-party’ consent state,” the document read.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny said it was in the pop star’s “best interest” to remove Jamie from his 13-year hold over her life. “The current situation is untenable,” she said at the hearing. “It reflects a toxic environment which requires the suspension of James Spears effective today.”
Jamie’s lawyer said the outcome was “all the more disappointing, and frankly, a loss for Britney” and thinks the judge was “wrong” to suspend his client. In addition to a bad day in court, Jamie could be looking at a criminal complaint for surveilling his famous daughter.
Britney’s lawyer accused that “Mr. Spears has crossed unfathomable lines,” and because of California’s consent laws, he likely crossed legal lines too. The FBI is reportedly examining the claims to decide if an investigation should be opened against the elder Spears.
After Jamie’s removal, a temporary financial conservator has been appointed in his place, but Sen. Ted Cruz (TX-R) thinks there are better options than conservatorships and called for a reform of the law on Tuesday.
“Even though she’s a mother, to this day she can’t make basic decisions about her own life, her own career, her own health or her own finances.” He remarked. “It seems that at each critical juncture, the legal system has been designed not for her benefit but to trample on her rights.”
He said a possible alternative could be forming a trusted support network that conservatees would consult with prior to making decisions, rather than being under the control of a single person.
wpDiscuz