Britney Spears has hit out at her father and management, claiming she was “forced” into doing her 2003 interview with Diane Sawyer.
In a since-deleted Instagram post, Spears referenced the controversial ABC sit-down talk during which she broke down in tears over questions relating to her recent split with fellow pop star Justin Timberlake.
Sawyer, who was criticised by some at the time over her line of questioning, also came under fire more recently when resurfaced clips showed that she asked 21-year-old Spears about her sex life. She also informed the singer that Kendel Ehrlich, wife of Maryland’s former governor Robert Ehrlich, said she would shoot her if she had the opportunity.
“Do we dare forget the Diane Sawyer interview in my apartment almost 20 years ago???” Spears wrote in her deleted post.
“What was with the “you’re in the wrong” approach ?? Geeze … and making me cry ???”
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The Baby One More Time singer then described how “in shock” she was after her public breakup with Timberlake – so much so, that she “couldn’t talk afterwards,” and “never spoke to anyone for a very long time (sic).”
“Pretty lame of my dad and three men to show up at my door when I could hardly speak... two days later they put Diane Sawyer in my living room... they forced me to talk!” she claimed.
Spears then referenced a question where Sawyer asked if she had a “shopping problem.”
“My manager put that woman in home and made me talk to her on national television and she asked me if I had a shopping problem. When did I have a problem with shopping? When I never left my apartment?
“I should spend a thousand dollars if I want everyday of my life and she can kiss my white ass,” Spears declared.
A ruling last month meant the controversial conservatorship Spears was under came to an end after almost 14 years. Her father Jamie Spears oversaw her affairs for the majority of that time.
Now that the 40-year-old finally has gained some financial independence, she’s expressed feeling “embarrassed” at how her family were able to control her access to her own money for so long, and for the state of California to enable her father to work her so hard.
“Anyway I’m able to have cash now so I went to an ATM and was so proud of my 300 dollars…and no I’m not embarrassed to share this, well maybe a little,” she continued.
“But I’m more embarrassed for my family for condoning the fact that I wasn’t allowed to have cash for so long when I worked my little ass off for them.
“I’m embarrassed for the state of California for permitting my father to have me work as hard as he worked me all those years.
“I’m sad for all of them because I know my value and worth now and they LOST ME!”
With her money, the hitmaker detailed how she spent it on Christmas presents and wished her fans well.
“I bought chocolate, Christmas socks and a bottle of white wine with my cash, it was great,” she said.
“I felt so independent when I came home. Hope you’re all having a wonderful Christmas.”
Since making those revelations in the now-deleted post, Jamie Spears’s lawyer Alex Weingarten denied his client’s involvement with the Sawyer interview.
He told People in a statement: “Mr Spears has no idea what Ms Spears is talking about. Jamie never set up any interview with Diane Sawyer and was not present for any such interview.
“He had nothing to do with Britney’s career at this point and was completely uninvolved in this interview. Jamie loves Britney very much, wishes Britney nothing but the best and hopes that she continues to seek the help that she needs to stay safe and healthy.”
