Unearthed Interview Reveals Britney Spears’ Axed Conservatorship 8 Years Later

Britney Spears Revisits Conservatorship in Long-Lost Jonathan Ross Interview

An engaging clip of Britney Spears discussing her conservatorship has resurfaced, eight years after it was filmed. Back in 2016, the pop icon appeared on Britain’s “The Jonathan Ross Show” to promote her album “Glory.” During her appearance, she touched on her restrictive conservatorship, revealing that it often hindered her creative expression. However, at the time, Spears’ team had prohibited her from addressing the topic publicly, leading to these crucial remarks being omitted from the aired episode.

The rediscovered footage premiered recently during a special ITV program highlighting iconic moments from the beloved talk show. In the segment, Ross inquired about Spears’ increased involvement in her music. He asked her why it took so long for her to gain control over her creative output. With some hesitation, the then-34-year-old singer responded, “Well, um, there’s a lot of reasons, but I won’t get into the whole story.”

Jonathan Ross, aware of Spears’ past struggles, reassured her that the audience was already familiar with much of her history, including her very public breakdown in 2007. He encouraged her to avoid discussing any uncomfortable details. Relaxing slightly, Spears expressed, “Since the conservatorship… I felt like a lot of things were planned for me to do and, you know, being told what to do. And I was just like, for this [album], I want to make it my baby, and I want to do it myself, and I was very strategic about the way I did it. Yeah, that’s why it means so much to me.” When asked if she was “happy” and in a “good place,” Spears simply smiled and replied, “Yes, sir.”

Her father, Jamie Spears, established the conservatorship in 2008, placing her personal and financial affairs in his control for 13 years. The fan-driven #FreeBritney movement gained momentum, ultimately leading to the conservatorship’s termination in 2021. Spears had not publicly addressed her conservatorship until a court hearing in 2021, where she referred to it as “abusive,” accusing her father of exerting excessive control over her life.

Fans have long clamored for the release of the lost clip, ever since an audience member revealed on social media that Spears had made comments about her conservatorship during filming. In her 2023 memoir, “The Woman in Me,” Spears reflected on the incident, stating, “I even mentioned the conservatorship on a talk show in 2016, but somehow, that part of the interview didn’t make it to the air. Huh. How interesting.”

ITV has yet to comment on its choice to air this previously unseen footage of the iconic pop star.