Britney Spears and her mother, Lynne Spears, have had a tumultuous relationship over the years.
"I yearn to reclaim my life, as it has been a daunting 13 years. My financial autonomy has eluded me for far too long," expressed the "Stronger" artist during a heartfelt court testimony in June 2021. "My fervent desire is for all of this to conclude without further examination. ... To be completely honest, I even contemplate taking legal action against my own family. Moreover, I aspire to share my narrative with the world, shedding light on the injustices inflicted upon me, rather than keeping it cloaked in secrecy for their benefit."
She further articulated, "My discontent consumes me. Sleep evades me, leaving me perpetually indignant. The situation is unfathomable, and it has plunged me into a state of depression."
Britney's conservatorship came to an end in November 2021, however, the strained relationship between her and her family continues. In a now-deleted video posted on YouTube in August 2022, the former Mouseketeer claimed that a woman suggested the conservatorship to her father, with her mother assisting in making it a reality. Britney asserted that there were no drugs or alcohol in her system during that time and described the experience as pure abuse.
Britney expressed her frustration, questioning how they were able to escape consequences and questioning the existence of a higher power. She described her vulnerability and fear, emphasizing her humanity and the need to address these issues openly. Additionally, she claimed to be more upset with her mother for not providing assistance, as she believed her mother had the capability to do so.
"The aspect that truly perplexed me was that while these individuals from the #FreeBritney movement were out on the streets fighting for me, my sister Jamie Lynn Spears and my mother seemed to be doing nothing," Britney expressed in her shocking recording. "It felt as though they secretly preferred me being the troubled one - as if my struggles pleased them. Otherwise, why weren't they standing outside my door, telling me, 'Baby girl, get in the car. Let's go.' That was the main thing that deeply wounded me. I couldn't comprehend how my own family could go along with it for such a long time. Their only response was, 'We didn't know.'"
In August, Lynne addressed her daughter's allegations through an Instagram post, stating, "Britney, throughout your entire life, I have always done my best to support your dreams and desires. Additionally, I have made every effort to assist you during difficult times!"
Britney has maintained her distance from her family, including Lynne, Jamie, and the former star of "Zoey 101". None of them were invited to her wedding with Sam Asghari in June 2022. Here is a timeline of Britney's relationship with her mother.
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Britney Spears and Mom Lynne Spears' Ups and Downs Through the Years: A Timeline
Ups and downs. Britney Spears and her mother, Lynne Spears, have had a rocky relationship through the years.
Britney Spears rose to fame with her debut single, "Baby One More Time," nearly a decade ago. However, in February 2008, she was placed under a conservatorship, which was initially managed by her father Jamie Spears, due to a series of public personal struggles. Jamie had control over Britney's estate and personal affairs for several years until Jodi Montgomery took over in 2019. In 2020, Britney's mother, Lynne, became involved in the legal battle, seeking to have a say in financial decisions on behalf of the singer. Throughout this ordeal, Britney has expressed her dissatisfaction with how her parents have managed her affairs.
During an emotional court testimony in June 2021, Britney stated, "I just want my life back. It's been 13 years, and it's enough. It's been a long time since I've had control over my own money. It is my wish and my dream for all of this to end without any further tests or trials. I honestly want to sue my family, to be completely honest with you. I also want to be able to share my story with the world, to reveal what they have done to me instead of it being a secret that benefits them all."
She expressed, "I am filled with unhappiness. Sleep eludes me, and my anger is overwhelming. The situation is beyond comprehension, and it has caused me to sink into a state of depression."
Despite the termination of the conservatorship in November 2021, the strained relationship between Britney and her family continues to persist.
"A woman brought up the idea of the conservatorship to my father, and my mother played a role in making it happen," claimed the former Mouseketeer in a now-deleted video from August 2022, which was shared on YouTube. She insisted that the entire setup was orchestrated, with no presence of drugs, alcohol, or any other substances in her system. She described it as pure abuse.
At that time, Britney expressed her disbelief, questioning how they were able to get away with it and pondering the existence of a higher power. She admitted feeling incredibly vulnerable, scared, and shattered. She chose to share her experience to demonstrate her humanity and emphasized the importance of discussing these issues in order to find healing.
In her powerful statement, the Grammy winner expressed her deeper resentment towards her mother rather than her father, as she believed her mother had the ability to help her but chose not to. She revealed her confusion regarding the #FreeBritney movement, acknowledging the support she received from strangers fighting for her freedom, while criticizing her sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, and mother for their lack of action. Britney felt that her family secretly enjoyed her troubled state, as they failed to intervene and offer her the support she needed. This lack of support from her family deeply hurt her, leaving her bewildered by their prolonged silence and their claim of ignorance.
Lynne, on the other hand, addressed her daughter's allegations through a post on Instagram in August. She expressed, "Britney, throughout your entire life, I have always made an effort to support your dreams and desires! Additionally, I have done my utmost to assist you during difficult times."
Since then, the "If U Seek Amy" artist has maintained a distance from her family, which includes Lynne, Jamie, and the former cast member of Zoey 101. None of them received an invitation to her wedding with Sam Asghari in June 2022.
Scroll below for a timeline of Britney’s relationship with her mother:
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December 1981
Four years after Lynne and Jamie welcomed son Bryan Spears, the A Mother’s Gift author gave birth to the pop star.
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May 2000
Lynne played a significant role in supporting Britney's entry into the pop scene in 1999 with the release of "Baby One More Time." In fact, the mother-daughter duo went on to co-write the book "Britney Spears' Heart to Heart," which hit the shelves a year later.
However, when Britney faced the conservatorship following her divorce from Kevin Federline eight years later, Lynne's participation remained discreet and away from the public eye.
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May 2019
Amid Britney’s pleas to end the conservatorship, a source told We that Lynne wanted to see her daughter back in treatment, which “angered” Britney.
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As the legal battle of Britney persisted, Lynne made a motion to have a say in the financial decisions of the Glee alum. However, the court ultimately denied the petition made by the Mississippi native.
July 2020
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June 2021
Following Britney's courtroom revelation about the conservatorship's conditions, Lynne's lawyer, Gladstone Jones, stood up for her, emphasizing her role as a deeply worried mother.
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November 2021
According to Britney's Instagram post following the end of the conservatorship, she revealed that her mom was the one who actually came up with the idea for it, even though her dad may have been the one to initiate it 13 years ago. Britney expressed her frustration, stating that she will never be able to regain those lost years and blaming her mom for secretly ruining her life. She also claimed that her dad wasn't capable enough to handle the conservatorship without her mom's guidance.
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June 2022
After a source confirmed to Us that Britney’s parents and siblings did not make the guest list at her wedding to the Hacks star, Lynne shared her well-wishes via Instagram.
“You look absolutely stunning and filled with joy,” she commented on Britney’s ceremony photos on Instagram. “Your wedding is like a fairytale come true! And having it at your own home adds an extra layer of sentiment and significance. I am genuinely overjoyed for you! Lots of love!”
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August 2022
In August, Britney unveiled an audio recording where she made a startling accusation against her family, stating that they had "literally killed" her through the conservatorship. She expressed her deep dedication and passion for her work, emphasizing the meticulous attention she paid to even the smallest details, such as the number of rhinestones adorning her costumes. With great emotion, she lamented how her family had essentially discarded her, feeling as though they had thrown her away.
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August 2022
Lynne responded to Britney’s allegations via Instagram, noting she remains in her corner.
"Throughout your entire life, I have always made it a priority to support your dreams and desires. Additionally, I have consistently made efforts to assist you during difficult times," she expressed in her message. "I want you to know that I have never and will never abandon you. However, your continual refusal to acknowledge my countless visits and phone calls leaves me feeling helpless. I have exhausted all possible options. My love for you is immeasurable, but this conversation needs to happen between you and me alone, face to face, in complete privacy."
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October 2022
Lynne expressed deep remorse for the pain Britney has endured and apologized for her actions, stating that she has been sorry for years. In an Instagram comment, Lynne professed her love and longing for Britney, urging her to unblock her so they can have a personal conversation. She acknowledged Britney's understanding of her genuine love and longing, and extended an apology for any and all harm caused.
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October 2022
Britney responded to her mother’s requests to “unblock” her from social media, noting via Instagram that Lynne can “take your apology and go f—k yourself.”
She added: “I pray you all burn in hell!”
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October 2022
According to a post on Instagram, the singer of "Toxic" revealed that her mother had slapped her on one occasion when she arrived home late at night. She further explained that this incident occurred after being dropped off at her beach house by Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan.
She went on to say, "While my mother was taking care of my sons, Jayden and Preston, I stayed out partying until 4am. When I returned home, she was furious. As soon as she laid eyes on me, she slapped me with such force that the memory will forever be etched in my mind!"
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May 2023
"My mother surprised me by appearing at my doorstep yesterday after a gap of 3 years... it feels like an eternity," Britney shared on Instagram. "With family, there are always unresolved issues... but time has a way of healing all wounds!"
She went on to say, "After finally expressing what I've kept bottled up for far too long, I feel incredibly fortunate that we could make an effort to mend things! I love you so much!"
The musician concluded her post by expressing her desire to have coffee with her mom, a simple pleasure that was denied to her throughout her lengthy conservatorship. A month later, an exclusive source revealed that the reunion was not prearranged.
In a surprising turn of events, Britney was completely unaware of her mother's impending visit to town. The intention behind keeping it a secret was to ensure that Britney would not decline the invitation, as her team believed it was crucial for her well-being. Remarkably, they were able to have a heartfelt conversation, leading Britney to experience a profound sense of understanding that had eluded her for quite some time.