LOS ANGELES — Britney Spears’ father agreed Thursday to step down from the conservatorship that has controlled her life and money for 13 years, according to reports.
Several outlets including celebrity website TMZ and CNN reported that James Spears filed legal documents saying that while there are no grounds for his removal, he will step down. The decision comes after months of public and legal wrangling by his daughter and, and in recent weeks, her new attorney.
The documents say that he is “the unremitting target of unjustified attacks” but “he does not believe that a public battle with his daughter over his continuing service as her conservator would be in her best interests.”
The filing says James Spears will fight the petition to force him out, but will work with the court and Britney Spears’ attorney Matthew Rosengart to “prepare for an orderly transition to a new conservator.”
The conservatorship has been in place since 2008 and for years has come under fire from Britney Spears supporters who rallied behind the hashtag #FreeBritney. James Spears oversaw his daughter’s personal affairs and money. In 2019, he stepped down as the so-called conservator of her person, and maintained control of her finances.
At a hearing in June, Britney, for the first time spoke on her own behalf, urging a judge to end the “abusive” conservatorship.
“I want to end this conservatorship without being evaluated,” the 39-year-old Spears told the court. “This conservatorship is doing me way more harm than good,” she said. “I deserve to have a life.”
James Spears was fighting to remain in control in court filings as recently as last week.
In his statement Thursday, Rosengart added: “We are pleased that Mr. Spears and his lawyer have today conceded in a filing that he must be removed. We are disappointed, however, by their ongoing shameful and reprehensible attacks on Ms. Spears and others.
“We look forward to continuing our vigorous investigation into the conduct of Mr. Spears, and others, over the past 13 years, while he reaped millions of dollars from his daughter’s estate, and I look forward to taking Mr. Spears’s sworn deposition in the near future.”
Contributing: Miriam Di Nunzio