Lorraine Kelly has weighed in on the debate surrounding Britney Spears’ ongoing conservatorship with her father Jamie, which she has been under since 2008.
Speaking in a column for The Sun on Friday, the presenter, 61, claimed that ‘it must be time for her to be free’ from the constraints of her conservatorship, which has once more become a hot topic following the documentary Framing Britney Spears.
Although Jamie, 68, no longer holds the conservatorship over Britney’s ‘person’ he does over her estate thereby restricting her ability to make financial decisions.
‘It must be time for her to be free’: Lorraine Kelly reflected on Britney Spears’ conservatorship battle with her father Jamie in a column on Friday
Giving her thoughts on the matter, Lorraine said that having Britney be ‘constantly coddled and insulated’ would only serve to infantalize her.
She said of Jamie: ‘Of course we have no idea what goes on behind closed doors and by all accounts her father is doing the best he can to protect and take care of his daughter, but to us on the outside it all seems utterly bizarre.’
Lorraine went on: ‘I’m sure her father has tried his best, but unless there’s something we don’t know, it must be time for her to be free to lead her own life.’
‘What she doesn’t need is to remain constrained like some sort of Regency debutante who isn’t allowed to be her own woman and who has no voice, apart from when she’s on stage.’
Weighing in: Lorraine said that having Britney be ‘constantly coddled and insulated’ would only serve to infantalize her, and she said the singer should be allowed to ‘lead her own life’
Lorraine’s comments come as the Toxic artist’s conservatorship case was once again heard, with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny ruling that wealth management firm Bessemer Trust Company will continue to serve as co-conservators with her father Jamie.
Britney appeared to address the case and the recent documentary earlier this week, posting a throwback video to Instagram of herself performing Toxic during her Las Vegas residency.
She wrote: ‘Can’t believe this performance of Toxic is from 3 years ago !!! I’ll always love being on stage …. but I am taking the time to learn and be a normal person ….. I love simply enjoying the basics of every day life !!!!
‘Each person has their story and their take on other people’s stories !!!! We all have so many different bright beautiful lives !!! Remember, no matter what we think we know about a person’s life it is nothing compared to the actual person living behind the lens !!!!’
Co-conservators: Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny ruled wealth management firm Bessemer Trust Company will continue to serve as co-conservators with her father Jamie
On Tuesday, she used Twitter to seemingly suggest that there is much more to her story than what Framing Britney Spears provided – and warned that people do not know everything about ‘the actual person living behind the lens.’
Although she did not reference it specifically, Britney sent a clear message about its content, telling fans: ‘Remember, no matter what we think we know about a person’s life it is nothing compared to the actual person living behind the lens.’
She appeared to address reports that she is refusing to work until her father Jamie is removed as her conservator, insisting in a second tweet that while she loves being on stage, she is ‘taking the time to learn and be normal’ and to ‘enjoy the basics of everyday life’.
Breaking her silence: Britney appeared to address the case and the recent documentary earlier this week: ‘Each person has their story and their take on other people’s stories !!!!’
Along with her words, Britney shared a throwback video of herself performing Toxic at the 2018 New Years Rockin’ Eve ball drop in Times Square, writing: ‘Can’t believe this performance of Toxic is from 3 years ago!!!’
‘I’ll always love being on stage …. but I am taking the time to learn and be a normal person ….. I love simply enjoying the basics of every day life!!!’
Though she made it seem like her hiatus was strictly personal, Britney’s lawyers have previously said she refuses to perform while dad Jamie is ‘in charge’ of her career through her conservatorship.
Britney’s last live performance took place on October 21, 2018, ten months after the end of a year-long residency in Las Vegas.
Speaking out: She recently appeared to break her silence on the documentary Framing Britney Spears, which discussed her controversial conservatorship – providing more ammunition for the #FreeBritney movement
Reflecting: Along with her words, Spears shared a throwback video of herself performing Toxic at the 2018 New Years Rockin’ Eve ball drop in Times Square, writing: ‘Can’t believe this performance of Toxic is from 3 years ago !!!’
She was due to start a second residency at the Park Theater in the Park MGM Hotel and Casino in February 2019, however the singer cancelled all performances just a few weeks before the first date, after her father nearly died from a ruptured colon.
At the time, Britney stated that she was taking an ‘indefinite work hiatus’, explaining that she wanted to ‘dedicate her focus and energy to [caring] for her family’.
‘We have a very special relationship and I want to be with my family at this time just like they have always been there for me,’ she concluded.
However, in November, her lawyer told the court that Britney is scared of her father and is refusing to perform again until he is removed as her conservator.
Conflicting statements: Though she made it seem her hiatus was strictly personal, Britney’s lawyers have previously said she refuses to perform while dad Jamie is ‘in charge’ of her career
She has asked that his co-conservator, Jodi Montgomery, her longtime care manager, become her permanent conservator.
‘My client has informed me that she is afraid of her father,’ Britney’s attorney Samuel D. Ingham told a judge during a hearing to determine whether another conservator should be appointed.
‘She also stated that she will not perform as long as her father is in charge of her career.’
The judge declined the request for Jamie’s removal from the conservatorship but said she would consider it in the future.
Jamie, has been Britney’s conservator since 2008, when he took control of her business affairs amid fears for her mental health.
In September 2019, he temporarily relinquished his powers to Montgomery due to ‘personal health reasons’ but he remains in control of her finances.
The singer’s conservatorship struggle is now under fresh scrutiny following the release of the New York Times-produced documentary, which was released on Friday and sparked much public outcry about Britney’s situation.
The film explored her meteoric rise to fame, treatment by the media, very public struggles with mental health and ongoing conservatorship battle with father.
Public apology: Her ex Justin Timberlake, 40, whom she notably dated from 1999 to 2002, recently broke his silence after many blamed him for stoking the flames after their split (pictured in September, 2000)
Her ex Justin Timberlake, 40, whom she notably dated from 1999 to 2002, recently broke his silence after many blamed him for stoking the flames after their split.
He also took the opportunity to apologise to Janet Jackson, 54, after the infamous wardrobe malfunction during their Super Bowl halftime performance in 2004, which resulted in unfavorable press for her.
The Cry Me a River artist wrote in his Instagram statement: ‘I specifically want to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually, because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed.
‘I also feel compelled to respond, in part, because everyone involved deserves better and most importantly, because this is a larger conversation that I wholeheartedly want to be part of and grow from.’
Statement: Justin apologised to Britney and Janet Jackson in his post