Jamie Lynn Spears, younger sister of Britney Spears, said she's proud of the pop superstar for speaking out about her life under the conservatorship overseen by their father and supports whatever would make the singer happy.
In a video posted on her Instagram Stories on Monday, Jamie Lynn said she felt she can now comment publicly about the situation because her sister testified about it in court.
"Since the day I was born, I've only loved adored and supported my sister," Jamie Lynn said.
"I'm so proud of her for using her voice," she said. "I am only concerned about her happiness" and "have nothing to gain or lose either way".
Last week, Britney, 39, told a Los Angeles judge the conservatorship has been abusive and she's been prevented from removing a birth control device so she could try to have a baby.
"I don't care if she wants to run away to a rain forest and have a zillion babies in the middle of nowhere, or if she wants to come back and dominate the world," Jamie Lynn said.
The younger Spears, an actress who appeared in Netflix series Sweet Magnolias, said she would support Britney "ending the conservatorship or flying to Mars or whatever else she wants to do to be happy".
The legal arrangement began in 2008 when Britney suffered a mental health breakdown. A year later she made a comeback, released new albums and performed live for 10 years until late 2018.
In 2020, Britney began the legal process to remove her father, Jamie Spears, from handling personal affairs ranging from her medical care to who visits her secluded villa outside Los Angeles. Jamie is also a joint conservator of the singer's finances.
Britney's passionate, and at times emotional, address last Wednesday to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny was the first time in 13 years she has spoken in open court on the conservatorship, which she called "abusive" and "stupid".
The conservatorship was put in place as Britney, hounded by paparazzi and media scrutiny while a new mother, underwent a very public mental health crisis in 2008.
Britney revisited the speech in an Instagram post on Thursday, apologising "for pretending like I've been OK the past two years".
"I did it because of my pride and I was embarrassed to share what happened to me," she said. Britney later also said: "believe it or not pretending that I'm OK has actually helped."
In court, Britney said she is forced to keep using an intrauterine device for birth control and take other medications, is prevented from getting married or having another child, and is not allowed to have her own money.
She condemned her father and the others who control it.
Christina Aguilera tweets her support
Fellow pop star and former Mickey Mouse Club co-star Christina Aguilera has penned her support for Britney through a lengthy Twitter thread posted on Monday evening.
“These past few days I’ve been thinking about Britney and everything she is going through,” Aguilera wrote while sharing a photo of the two from their younger years. “It is unacceptable that any woman, or human, wanting to be in control of their lives own destiny might not be allowed to live life as they wish.”
She continued: "To be silenced, ignored, bullied or denied support by those 'close' to you is the most depleting, devastating and demeaning thing imaginable. The harmful mental and emotional damage this can take on a human spirit is nothing to be taken lightly.
"Every woman must have the right to her own body, her own reproductive system, her own privacy, her own space, her own healing and her own happiness."
"While I am not behind the closed doors of this very layered and personal yet public conversation – all I can do is share from my heart on what I've heard, read and seen in the media," she added. "The conviction and desperation of this plea for freedom leads me to believe that this person I once knew has been living without compassion or decency from those in control."
Aguilera concluded: "To a woman who has worked under conditions and pressure unimaginable to most, I promise you she deserves all of the freedom possible to live her happiest life. My heart goes out to Britney. She deserves all the TRUE love and support in the world."
The Beautiful singer isn't the first celebrity to speak out on Britney's conservatorship hearing. Exes Justin Timberlake and Kevin Federline as well as singers Mariah Carey and Halsey have also voiced their support.
– Additional reporting by AP and Reuters
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Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
Orlando Crowcroft
Zed Books
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
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Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
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