1 00:00:01,480 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: Trust me? Do you trust me? 2 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 2: Right? 3 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 3: Ever? Lead you astray tr us. 4 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 2: This is the truth, the only truth. 5 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 4: If anybody ever tells you to just trust them, don't 6 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:17,240 Speaker 4: welcome to trust me. The podcast about cults, extreme belief 7 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 4: and manipulation from two babies one more time Who've actually 8 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 4: experienced it. I'm Lola Blank and I'm Megan Elizabeth, and 9 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 4: today we are interviewing Jenny Ellis, Q journalist, radio host 10 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 4: and producer who's produced documentaries like Britney Versus Spears, which 11 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 4: covered Britney spears infamous conservatorship. She'll explain how britney struggles 12 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 4: in two thousand and eight were used to justify a 13 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 4: permanent conservatorship, despite the contradiction of her being deemed too 14 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 4: incapacitated to control her life yet well enough to tour 15 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:51,239 Speaker 4: record and generate massive income that her father, whom she 16 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 4: barely had a relationship with, was in charge of. 17 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 5: She'll talk about the severity of the conservator ship that 18 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 5: stripped Britney of the right to use her phone and 19 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 5: make medical decisions or even have a say, and who 20 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:06,839 Speaker 5: her lawyer was going to be, and where Britney's fight 21 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 5: to end the conservatorship finally landed and. 22 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 4: Before we do this interview with Jenny Megan, can you 23 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 4: tell me your cultiest thing of the week. 24 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 1: Sure. 25 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:18,119 Speaker 5: My cultiest thing of the week has just been kind 26 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:22,680 Speaker 5: of deep diving into Brittany, you know. And I think 27 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 5: celebrity in and of itself is a cult and we 28 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,199 Speaker 5: should really make it illegal. 29 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 4: Just no one can know who anyone is a legalized celebrity. 30 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 5: In every way, I think it does something that cults 31 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 5: do very intentionally, where it isolates people. You really can't 32 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 5: connect that well to people. Maybe some people can, but 33 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 5: like once you reach that Britney Spears level, it's just 34 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 5: kind of you're isolated. 35 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: Let's be real. Yeah, it's interesting. 36 00:01:57,520 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 4: I mean, I don't think you have to be, but 37 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 4: I think it's it seems like it's a very easy, 38 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 4: like fast track to being surrounded only by people who 39 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 4: care about how much money you're making. 40 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 1: Yes, men, you're on tour. 41 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 4: You're not like at home with your family being grounded 42 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 4: or you know, you're like just like constantly going, going, going, 43 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 4: Which it makes sense to me that so many people 44 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 4: do struggle with mental health when they reach those high heights, 45 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 4: especially because you know, I'm sure we've. 46 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 1: Talked about this before. 47 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 4: But like, you just hear so many stories of people 48 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 4: who like finally get the thing they wanted their whole life, 49 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 4: like the Oscar or the Grammy or whatever it is, 50 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 4: and then they're like the next day they're like, wait, 51 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 4: that's it. That was this thing I was working for 52 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 4: my whole life, and there's nothing on the other side, 53 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 4: like I'm just still myself and the emptiness that can 54 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 4: come from that as well, Like, I think there's a 55 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:49,919 Speaker 4: lot there that can really push people to their breaking point. 56 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 4: And of course it must be said that while it 57 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 4: can probably be very difficult to be a celebrity a 58 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:58,079 Speaker 4: lot of the time, there of course are people who 59 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 4: are actively seeking out that status because of the power 60 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:05,080 Speaker 4: that it affords them, and there are many people in 61 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 4: those positions that do abuse that power. So that's the 62 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 4: flip side of the coin. But you know, for just 63 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 4: like the average nice person who ends up a megastar 64 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 4: when they weren't prepared for it, I think it can 65 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,800 Speaker 4: be also very damaging to one's mental health. 66 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 5: I just think it's a very destabilizing process for people. 67 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 5: And obviously I have been not successful in my attempts 68 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 5: to illegalize celebrity it's just getting worse every day. But 69 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 5: I don't see it as something that really works out 70 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 5: well for most people. 71 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, and for the fans too, Like I don't know. Obviously, 72 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 4: being a fan of something or someone is great. It's 73 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 4: great to have passions and interest. But I was talking 74 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 4: about this with someone this week where we were like, 75 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 4: I can't think of a time where I've like looked 76 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 4: at a public figure and been like, I don't care 77 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 4: what they do. I will love them no matter what. 78 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 4: We're like, no, like if they do something shitty, like 79 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 4: that's shitty, you know. 80 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: But there's there's a level. 81 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 4: Of like you know, super fandom where it's like I 82 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 4: don't care. I mean, you see this with a lot 83 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 4: of Donald Trump supporters. I don't care what they do. 84 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 4: I'm going to follow them no matter what, just because 85 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 4: I have this like really intense parasocial relationship with this 86 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 4: public figure. 87 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: Yeah. 88 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 4: I probably have that with like Danny DeVito, honestly the 89 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:36,720 Speaker 4: healthiest one I can think of. 90 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: That sounds perfect. He like has no bad takes for me. 91 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: I just like him. 92 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 4: Oh, I don't think I have it. I don't think 93 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 4: I have it. But also I think, you know, the 94 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 4: upbringing that I had, which involved a lot of like 95 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 4: putting people on pedestals. Obviously, maybe that's a contributing factor 96 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 4: to why that isn't sure how I operate, But in 97 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:03,920 Speaker 4: high school, when I was thirteen, I loved the Misfits 98 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 4: a lot. I'll tell you really, I would go hard 99 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 4: for the Misfits, and in elementary school I would have 100 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 4: gone hard for any spice girl. But then, you know, 101 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 4: it kind of just falls away before we get to 102 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,320 Speaker 4: your cultist thing. I will say, you did write a 103 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 4: Britney Spears song, so we just got to always represent Yeah, yes, lovely, 104 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 4: did we will write a Britney Spears song? I did? 105 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 4: So cool? 106 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:28,279 Speaker 1: Did we will to be? 107 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 4: And we'll tell you which one in the interview once 108 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 4: the interview begins, What is your cultius thing? Uh, it's dumb, 109 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 4: it also feels it also feels so silly, all of it, 110 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 4: given how crazy America is right now. But you know, 111 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 4: we're just it's just not that episode. We're just not 112 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 4: going to talk about that this episode. America's in a 113 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 4: cult But Okay, I rewatched Fight Club and I forgot 114 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 4: I didn't really register in my memory that Tyler Jrden 115 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:56,600 Speaker 4: was fully a cult leader in that movie that's like 116 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 4: one was happening. 117 00:05:58,120 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: Fight Club is a cult. 118 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:03,360 Speaker 4: Everything that he says, you know, the people in Fight 119 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 4: Club just like repeat it like robots, you know, and 120 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,280 Speaker 4: they do whatever he says, and when he changes his mind, 121 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 4: they're like, yes, there must be a reason. And I'm like, 122 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 4: oh my god. I just never realized the Fight Club 123 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 4: was like fully about a cult. I never put it together. 124 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 4: And it's a great movie and it holds up. 125 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:19,360 Speaker 5: I will say, yeah, And then what's the thing about 126 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 5: how like the book was just written ironically about how 127 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 5: many are the author was like pointing out, I think 128 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 5: he's gay. 129 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 1: I think the author is gay. 130 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 5: And he was pointing out how men's only emotion is 131 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 5: anger and how easily they can be manipulated through that. 132 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 1: Please please fact check me on that he is gay. Wow. 133 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 5: Yeah, it's it's supposed to be ironic, almost American psycho level. 134 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:51,039 Speaker 5: But much like American psycho. People were like, I'm I'm inspired. 135 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, wow. I never I had no idea Chuck Palinik 136 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:57,720 Speaker 4: was gay. I didn't know any of that. It all 137 00:06:57,760 --> 00:06:59,359 Speaker 4: makes sense like watching it now, but you know, I 138 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 4: just had this like high school idea of this movie, 139 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 4: and it was like the movie that boys in high 140 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:06,159 Speaker 4: school loved, you know, it was like just like a 141 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,280 Speaker 4: cool guy movie. And I'm like, oh my god, no, 142 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 4: it actually is saying so much more than I ever 143 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 4: realized about masculinity and consumerism and capitalism. And listen, go 144 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 4: rewatch fight Club. This is a Fight Club commercial. 145 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 5: Yeah, even if you like already thought Fight Club was 146 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 5: you know, very layered and saw that happening. Also, I 147 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 5: just think knowing that it's a book, kind of making 148 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 5: fun of how much people would like that movie and 149 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 5: be inspired by it is also funny. And gwennebar Turner, 150 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 5: who wrote American Psycho, was a guest on this podcast, 151 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 5: and that is another amazing movie about kind of a 152 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 5: culty guy in my opinion, and celebrity kind of. 153 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 2: I know. 154 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 5: Nah, I'm like, you know, tried, I did try. I 155 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 5: really tried to circle back. And that's fine. 156 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 1: You're just how it doesn't work. 157 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 4: Just trying to shout out one of your turner because 158 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 4: we love her and I always shout her out, but 159 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 4: she is unreally but it did not. 160 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 5: It did not tie back. But do you know what 161 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 5: does tie back tell? Our conversation with Jenny should we 162 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 5: get into it. 163 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: With her, Let's do it. Welcome Jenny ELISQ to trust me. 164 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:33,839 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me. It's great to meet you. 165 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:36,079 Speaker 4: Thank you for being here. I've been watching your face 166 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:40,319 Speaker 4: for the last twenty four hours. Oh Dad, you are 167 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 4: here with us to talk about Britney Spears, a topic 168 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 4: you happen to know quite a bit about. Can you 169 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 4: tell us when you first interviewed Brittany and how that went. 170 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 2: Yeah. So I first met and interviewed Brittany when I 171 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 2: was working at Rolling Stone as a writer and had 172 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 2: been assigned a cover story on her, and that would 173 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 2: have been wow gee. So I'm going to guess it 174 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:07,559 Speaker 2: was the year two thousand. It was in the year 175 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 2: two thousand ish. You probably know better than maybe in Brittany. Yeah, 176 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:18,079 Speaker 2: and I love her, I mean, you know, I will 177 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 2: say at the outset, I'm coming from the perspective of 178 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 2: deep love for her, having with that first meeting then 179 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 2: many many encounters with her over the years since. So 180 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 2: we really hit it off well. And you know, that 181 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 2: was during a period in her life when everything was 182 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 2: going great and subsequent to that, because we had gotten 183 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 2: on well, like you know, I would be assigned to 184 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 2: her for things of various sizes for the magazine from there, 185 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 2: which you know is kind of standard thing like if 186 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:50,960 Speaker 2: you have a good relationship with someone, when there's a 187 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 2: year People of the Year Q and A, or there's 188 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 2: a Women in Rock issue or there's a whatever, it 189 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 2: would be me. And then, you know, separate from that, 190 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 2: like I was doing some freelancing and so then it'd 191 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 2: be like I got a sign to write about her 192 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 2: for teen Vogue or something, and so there was everywhere, 193 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 2: and yeah, yeah, lots of opportunities to build a rapport 194 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,360 Speaker 2: over the years. You know, we at one point we're 195 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:18,200 Speaker 2: getting together separately to talk about like me helping her 196 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 2: write a memoir, you know, long long, long before she 197 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 2: actually did write a memoir. I wrote the liner notes 198 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 2: for her my prerogative greatest hits. I was in her 199 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 2: behind the music, like she would send me thank you 200 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 2: gifts like, you know, so we had a you know, 201 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 2: a true relationship. 202 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 4: Yeah, I didn't realize how deep that went from from 203 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 4: the doc it sounded like for when you first interviewed 204 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 4: her for Rolling Stone, you were like, this isn't really 205 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 4: my kind of music particularly, but what was it about 206 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 4: her that charmed you? 207 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:45,320 Speaker 1: What was. 208 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 2: I mean, the same thing I think that charms everybody 209 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 2: about Brittany, about the sort of what I guess is 210 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 2: seen as her original persona, her aura, you know, of 211 00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 2: just sweetness and you know, innocence. I feel like as 212 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 2: a loaded her, especially in the context of Brittany. But yeah, 213 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 2: I mean, I you know, I just really appreciated how 214 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 2: humble and friendly she was. And she was a superstar, 215 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 2: you know, at the peak when I met her, and 216 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 2: you know, although she's younger than me, it was like 217 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:17,959 Speaker 2: I was closer in age to her than a lot 218 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 2: of other folks at big publications who'd been sent to 219 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 2: interview her. And that was something that we chatted about 220 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:25,679 Speaker 2: in our first interview, is she's like, oh, you're young, 221 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 2: Like she was relieved not to have like an old 222 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:32,840 Speaker 2: man coming to interview her, and at that exactly, and 223 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 2: she just she was just so sweet and accessible and 224 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 2: down to earth, and I was surprised and refreshed by it. 225 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 2: So as you say, even though I wasn't into pop music, 226 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 2: I've always been more of just like an indie person, 227 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:47,680 Speaker 2: but I just got it immediately, like this is why 228 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:50,439 Speaker 2: this person is so magnetic. 229 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: Had you interviewed many pop stars. 230 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 2: No. I mean I was still pretty new at Rolling Stone, 231 00:11:57,480 --> 00:11:59,960 Speaker 2: and I had come from like an independent music magazine 232 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,680 Speaker 2: and was doing like indie rock stuff. So I had 233 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:06,800 Speaker 2: only really done a couple of bigger pieces before that. 234 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 2: Like my first cover story was with the band Stained 235 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 2: It's remember that. Yeah, So that was like not that 236 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 2: long before, you know. I had just gotten to Rolling 237 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:18,719 Speaker 2: Stone in ninety nine, like shortly after the Britney Teletubby 238 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 2: covers when I started there, So it was like, okay, yeah, 239 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 2: I'm going to write about pop people now. So I 240 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:26,719 Speaker 2: think she Proba had done shorter you know, Q and 241 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 2: A type things with like Cisco Thong song guys. 242 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 1: Like, yeah, what a cool career, I like you. Yeah. 243 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 5: Really. 244 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 4: So for folks who like maybe weren't following the trajectory 245 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:43,959 Speaker 4: of this conservatorship, like, can you kind of explain when 246 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 4: it began and how and why it happened? 247 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 2: Yeah? Yeah, So the conservatorship began after the era that 248 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 2: everyone knows as famously chaotic for Brittany, you know, after 249 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:00,320 Speaker 2: all of the months in two thousand and seven of 250 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 2: people seeing these outbursts in public of her seeming to 251 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 2: be in a roller coaster phase of her life, the 252 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 2: famous head shaving and you know, driving with the kid 253 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 2: on her lap without the seat belt. You know, all 254 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:17,600 Speaker 2: these things that were just thing after thing after thing, 255 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 2: and people were like, what will let Brittany do next? 256 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 2: What do you think she'll be? You know, there was 257 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 2: a crescendo leading up to her being put in this conservatorship, 258 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:30,440 Speaker 2: including two separate instances when she was brought to the 259 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:33,320 Speaker 2: hospital on a psychiatric hole to fifty one to fifty 260 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 2: and after the first one the wheels got set in motion. 261 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 2: The research, you know, theoretically began then with quote marks 262 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 2: I'm doing with my fingers, because it's believed that her 263 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 2: family had actually begun looking into how to do this 264 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 2: kind of thing even before that, because so much of 265 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 2: the story, as we'll get into, it's about the family. 266 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 2: You know, the conservatorship system is a whole other issue. 267 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 2: But to me zooming out for a minute, it's like 268 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 2: Britney's story and and all of the trauma that's been 269 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:05,959 Speaker 2: inflicted on her is a result of toxic no unintended 270 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 2: family dynamics, and the conservatorship system is already messed up 271 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:14,560 Speaker 2: enough that it could be wielded as a weapon by 272 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 2: her family against her. But to me, ultimately it's a 273 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 2: story of if you have family issues, if your family 274 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 2: is not coming from a good place in terms of 275 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 2: their motives, there's lots of ways they can kind of 276 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 2: mess with you. So yeah, so that was sort of 277 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 2: like after she was hospitalized the first time, it's like 278 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 2: the wheels were set in motion. The research was happening 279 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 2: for how to get a conservatorship, and then after she 280 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 2: was soon again hospitalized, it was like, okay, this is 281 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 2: when we got the temporary, temporary conservatorship and all the 282 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 2: legal processes were underway that eventually later that year in 283 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 2: two thousand and eight, it became permanent. 284 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 1: So can you explain how a conservatorship works. 285 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 3: Yeah. 286 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 2: Conservatorship, which is also known as guardianship, is, you know, 287 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 2: something that is sought to look out for the interests 288 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 2: of a person who is incapable of handling aspects of 289 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 2: their life. And sometimes it's just their finances, sometimes it's 290 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 2: their health decisions, sometimes it's you know, their sort of 291 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 2: their whole life. And the way it was with Brittany, 292 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 2: and this is the kind of thing that you might 293 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 2: seek for a family member if you have an older 294 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 2: family member who has dementia, and there are various bureaucracies 295 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 2: and things you might want to do for that family 296 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 2: member that you need to have a guardianship in order 297 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 2: to be able to do. You know, I'm sure a 298 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 2: lot of folks know. You can get power of attorney 299 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 2: and you can get an advanced directive healthcare proxy for someone, 300 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 2: but sometimes that's not enough. Sometimes that's not enough in 301 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 2: order in the eyes of bureaucracies and the law to 302 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 2: be able to do the person's taxes or you know, 303 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 2: you need in some cases you need a step up 304 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 2: from that legally, and so that might be in the 305 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:05,120 Speaker 2: sort of most innocuous version where you're like, I'm just 306 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 2: trying to help my aging parent with their stuff and 307 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 2: they have Alzheimer's or whatever, where it's like, unfortunately, for 308 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 2: certain things, power of attorney and healthcare proxy aren't enough. 309 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 2: Then you've got to seek a conservatorship or a guardianship, 310 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 2: right that would give you the power to do so. 311 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 5: The typical person under the system is not able to 312 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 5: probably like work or. 313 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, I have a family member who's under conservatorship 314 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 4: because of memory issues from a brain injury. It's because 315 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 4: he is like completely incapable of you know, like handling 316 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 4: his affairs or holding a job or anything like that. 317 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 4: How do you have any sense of like how frequent 318 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 4: like someone's under conservatorship, not for a memory issue, but 319 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 4: for just like mental illness. 320 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it's very common. Yeah, you know, I 321 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:00,880 Speaker 2: think it's very common for so, I mean it can 322 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:04,680 Speaker 2: be any number of things, you know, mental health, schizophrenia, 323 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 2: you know, these kinds of things, or any number of 324 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 2: different more physical ailments that impede their ability to take 325 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 2: care of everything that they need to in their life 326 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:19,920 Speaker 2: or understand how to. Yeah, I think we associate it 327 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 2: with older people, and I don't know the actual stats 328 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 2: on what percentage are geriatric population. I'm sure that's a 329 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 2: large portion of I imagine that's a large portion of it. 330 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:33,239 Speaker 2: But you know, it can be any any range of 331 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 2: folks who would otherwise be legally allowed to make their 332 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:39,199 Speaker 2: decisions but aren't. So if you're a child, you know, 333 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 2: you're you're sort of automatic conservatorship. 334 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, I mean it makes sense if somebody is 335 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 4: having a psychotic repeated psychotic episodes and they're unable to 336 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:53,439 Speaker 4: take care of themselves or are engaging in risky behavior, 337 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:55,720 Speaker 4: it totally makes sense as a thing that. 338 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:57,160 Speaker 1: Exists as a theory. 339 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 5: Yeah. 340 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, and I'm sure much of the time 341 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:04,080 Speaker 4: it's necessary, but of course you run into trouble, particularly 342 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 4: when somebody is very, very wealthy and there's a lot 343 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:09,159 Speaker 4: of money involved and power. 344 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:10,399 Speaker 1: Yeah. 345 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:16,840 Speaker 4: Yeah. Can you explain what was her relationship with her 346 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 4: dad like before the conservatorship to your understanding. 347 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, the well documented the relationship with her 348 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:27,199 Speaker 2: dad was not good, and that he was sort of 349 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 2: the secondary parent in terms of during her childhood. He 350 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:34,400 Speaker 2: was an alcoholic and that was the sort of active 351 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 2: problem in the household, and so he was not around 352 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:39,960 Speaker 2: and parenting in the same way that her mom was. 353 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 2: And all of the kind of early getting into the 354 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:46,120 Speaker 2: entertainment business stuff for her was with her mom. Her 355 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:48,879 Speaker 2: mom was the person who was with her traveling, you know, 356 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,960 Speaker 2: as her chaperone and guardian and parent, you know, on 357 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:55,400 Speaker 2: site for everything. So and in addition to that fact 358 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:57,440 Speaker 2: that she was traveling with her mom, not her dad, 359 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:00,199 Speaker 2: her dad also was you know, an alcoholic and that 360 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 2: was a problem in the household during her childhood. 361 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:06,120 Speaker 5: I remember Lynn and her traveling around her mom and 362 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:09,399 Speaker 5: being like, what a life that looks like the perfect life. 363 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:14,159 Speaker 5: Just interestingly, why did he end up being the person? 364 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 2: Well, I mean he he has a take control energy 365 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 2: about him. 366 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:20,959 Speaker 1: He's so scary. 367 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, and the parents, you know, Lynn and Jamie had 368 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:29,639 Speaker 2: split up before the conservatorship happened. They were separated or 369 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:34,399 Speaker 2: I don't know if they were divorced then or frankly 370 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 2: if they ever legally got divorced, but I think they 371 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:40,639 Speaker 2: probably did. But he's the guy who rules with the 372 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 2: with the iron fist, you know. And I think probably 373 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 2: that Lynn thought, oh, I don't want to be the 374 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 2: bad guy, and he can be the bad guy. M 375 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:53,360 Speaker 2: and he you know, at the time that they got 376 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:58,480 Speaker 2: the conservatorship, they had good reason to be concerned about 377 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 2: folks who were in her life who might be not 378 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 2: the best people to have around during this era and 379 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:08,640 Speaker 2: in general. And so Jamie is the one who could 380 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:13,120 Speaker 2: scare off any unsavory characters who might be lingering at 381 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:16,679 Speaker 2: you know. And he is he is a very very 382 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:18,080 Speaker 2: intimidating man. 383 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:20,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, you can say that again. 384 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 4: He's very scary to me, like very scary. 385 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 1: And who was Lou Taylor? 386 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:31,879 Speaker 2: And Lou Taylor was Britney's basically like business manager and 387 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:35,520 Speaker 2: is a very sort of big time business manager for 388 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:38,919 Speaker 2: celebrities and artists and stuff like that, and you know, 389 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:40,640 Speaker 2: famously works with the Kardashians. 390 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:43,920 Speaker 5: It was interesting, like Luke, you know, had this very 391 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 5: Christian oriented take on everything, you know, like Britney's family 392 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:52,159 Speaker 5: wants and Jesus wants the best for her, and it 393 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 5: was like, you can't just throw that in the mix, 394 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 5: like that's not fair. 395 00:20:57,200 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 1: I wondered if you had any thoughts on that. 396 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:01,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean that that kind of that kind of 397 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 2: Christian religious stuff had been a part of her life 398 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 2: and her family life and belief system, like from her 399 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 2: childhood for sure, So it definitely was part of the 400 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:11,920 Speaker 2: family culture even before lou Taylor got in the mix. 401 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 2: And for whom that's an important value system as well. 402 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 2: I think that that exacerbated the tensions and the inappropriateness 403 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,880 Speaker 2: of the people who were on top being the ones 404 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:26,320 Speaker 2: who were on top, because that wasn't the value system 405 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:29,439 Speaker 2: really that was most important to Brittany in her life 406 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 2: at that point, you know, So they really were again 407 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 2: sort of imposing their value system on her that should 408 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 2: not have been. 409 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 5: Yeah, and once you have that value system, it's a 410 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 5: very narcissistic value system almost because you're like, well, I 411 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:48,159 Speaker 5: have the right answer and I'm working with God, so yeah, 412 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 5: you don't have. 413 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:52,679 Speaker 1: God wants this according Yeah, yeah, because I said so. 414 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 2: And also just like again like as you've said, it's like, no, 415 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:58,960 Speaker 2: God wants us to make your money, Brittany. God wants 416 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:01,639 Speaker 2: it to be us. Sort of like that you can't 417 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 2: have you can't have it both ways. I mean they did, 418 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:19,359 Speaker 2: but you shouldn't. The three prongs of what really trapped 419 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:24,040 Speaker 2: Brittany are the family, the original captors in a way, 420 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:28,159 Speaker 2: and then the business which also trapped her whoever that 421 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 2: might be Lou Taylor or any number of people who 422 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 2: came along who made decisions that exacerbated her vulnerability. And 423 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:38,479 Speaker 2: then the legal system, you know, ultimately as the final 424 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:42,120 Speaker 2: pin in the puzzle. For the legal system to support 425 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:47,040 Speaker 2: this conservatorship and support what the family and business folks 426 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 2: were insisting on is what actually made the nightmare go 427 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 2: another level for her. Yeah, but you know, she had said, 428 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 2: she was always saying in that period leading up to 429 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:01,680 Speaker 2: the conservatorship, like one day they're gonna burst through that door, 430 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:04,920 Speaker 2: they being her family, and they're gonna they're gonna lock 431 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 2: me up. You know, they're going to take over. They're 432 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:09,720 Speaker 2: gonna come for me. That was what she believed, and 433 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 2: she was right. They did well. 434 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:15,840 Speaker 1: She tried to have it, not beat her father initially, right. 435 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 2: The idea of her trying anything in that phase is like, 436 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:23,920 Speaker 2: it's problematic because no one was listening to her and 437 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 2: they were able to not listen to her because they 438 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:31,840 Speaker 2: characterized her as being unable to make decisions and they 439 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:35,000 Speaker 2: were able to get the conservatorship in place and bat away, 440 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:38,640 Speaker 2: you know, like a cat that's knocking your frickin' glass 441 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:41,800 Speaker 2: off the table. You know, any attempts by her to 442 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 2: say this isn't what I want. I want to pick 443 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:47,440 Speaker 2: my own lawyer, you know, anything like that, by saying, well, 444 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 2: she doesn't have the capacity, and just look at her. 445 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:51,439 Speaker 2: She doesn't have the capacity, and. 446 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:54,400 Speaker 5: Even saying she has like dementia, correct, like she has dementia. 447 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 1: She can't choose her own lawyer. And it's like. 448 00:23:57,200 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 2: What, yeah, And this I imagine must be a problem 449 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 2: for other folks who get into this conservatorship predicament where 450 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 2: you know, you say they need a conservatorship because they 451 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 2: don't have the capacity to handle their affairs but they say, 452 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 2: I want to pick my own lawyer. And then they say, 453 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 2: but as we've established, they don't have the capacity. Right, 454 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 2: It's like say, blah blah, you know, so then what 455 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 2: well then if you then what yeah, right, Like that's 456 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:24,639 Speaker 2: a trick. 457 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:27,120 Speaker 1: That's a trick, that's a closed bloop. Not fair. 458 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:29,120 Speaker 4: It's like the movie scene where someone gets put into 459 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:31,439 Speaker 4: a psych word and they're like, no, but I'm not crazy. 460 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 4: And the more they say they're not crazy, they're like, well, 461 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 4: that's exactly what a crazy person would just yeah, there's 462 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 4: just no way to win really, which I mean not 463 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:41,959 Speaker 4: either here nor there. But I'm just so curious how 464 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:44,480 Speaker 4: that is different state to state, because you have to 465 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:49,520 Speaker 4: imagine there's some someone some states somewhere has some method 466 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 4: to be like I disagree with hamsure or something. 467 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:56,520 Speaker 2: I mean, I'm sure there's variation state to state, but 468 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,280 Speaker 2: you know, the best case scenario for the way it's 469 00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 2: supposed to work is that the courts impose the least 470 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 2: restrictive option on the person, so that if and there 471 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:12,480 Speaker 2: are levels of conservatorship, you know, so if you're thinking 472 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:15,159 Speaker 2: of good faith, you know, in the legal system, like 473 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:19,679 Speaker 2: the good faith outcome is that the courts and the 474 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:23,680 Speaker 2: people who are asking for conservatorship are offering the least 475 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:26,119 Speaker 2: restrictive option where the person still retains as many of 476 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:28,639 Speaker 2: their rights as possible. But we're truly just here to 477 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 2: help with blank this one thing. And again, it sort 478 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:35,240 Speaker 2: of comes down to this combination of how fucked up 479 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:39,199 Speaker 2: the legal system is in whatever state or county, whoever 480 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:42,280 Speaker 2: is petitioning for it, how problematic they are in relation 481 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:45,960 Speaker 2: to the person, and then the person's individual situation. But 482 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:50,119 Speaker 2: the courts are supposed to advocate for the person to 483 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:52,119 Speaker 2: retain as many of their rights and as much of 484 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:55,800 Speaker 2: their autonomy as possible. And you know, I think in 485 00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:58,400 Speaker 2: the case of Brittany, two of the factors that we're 486 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 2: huge with the timing of this and in general, one 487 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:05,639 Speaker 2: is we all remember that Brittany was creating chaos in 488 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:09,480 Speaker 2: and around her home here in Los Angeles. By it's 489 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:13,119 Speaker 2: not her fault. Paparazzi were hounding her, but because she 490 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 2: was willing to take them on high speed chases around 491 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:19,639 Speaker 2: the mountains, that was a problem for the area. That 492 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:21,359 Speaker 2: was a problem. You know, that would be a problem 493 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:25,639 Speaker 2: for taxpayers, right, It's scary, it's dangerous, there's a political 494 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:29,680 Speaker 2: pressure on judges who are elected officials to keep their 495 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:33,359 Speaker 2: constituents happy. And if you're wealthy constituents who are like that, 496 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:35,920 Speaker 2: Brittany's got to be taken off the streets. You're more 497 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:38,280 Speaker 2: likely to take her off the streets by the pup and. 498 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:40,960 Speaker 5: She needs to be taken off the streets because the 499 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:44,040 Speaker 5: way they were attacking her and hounding her. I mean, 500 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:47,400 Speaker 5: I couldn't live a single day of my life like that. 501 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:51,320 Speaker 5: And it's so reminiscent of Princess Diana. Yeah, you know, 502 00:26:51,680 --> 00:26:57,040 Speaker 5: it's just wild how every step was a problem, I mean, 503 00:26:57,240 --> 00:26:57,960 Speaker 5: just attacked. 504 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly, No, And no one would argue that the 505 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:03,240 Speaker 2: paparazzi should be put in a conservatorship, even though what 506 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:06,440 Speaker 2: they're doing de uys logic. But you know, the other 507 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:09,120 Speaker 2: problem is just and this continues to be a problem, 508 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:13,399 Speaker 2: is us the audience is. 509 00:27:13,359 --> 00:27:15,240 Speaker 1: Us, Oh, no, we're doing it right now. 510 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:18,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, the I mean, you know, not what we're doing 511 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:21,119 Speaker 2: right now. But the thing everyone else does all the time, 512 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:24,480 Speaker 2: even after she's gotten out of the conservatorship and leading 513 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 2: up to it long before, is to put this lens 514 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:29,880 Speaker 2: on her, that is this unfair lens that strips her 515 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:33,919 Speaker 2: of free will and you know, doesn't credit her with 516 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:39,080 Speaker 2: intelligence and autonomy, and that just objectifies her to an 517 00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:42,160 Speaker 2: extent that we can be like, no, I'd rather have 518 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:44,679 Speaker 2: I'd rather have her dad pulling the strings than a 519 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:47,760 Speaker 2: free Brittany, you know, because I don't know if I 520 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:50,840 Speaker 2: understand this woman who shaved her head or who is this? 521 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:53,399 Speaker 2: This isn't what we signed up for, This isn't what 522 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:55,639 Speaker 2: we want her to be. So if this is going 523 00:27:55,720 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 2: to make her blonde, and then I guess we'll just 524 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:04,000 Speaker 2: accept that she really needed it. And I still even 525 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 2: getting ready to meet with you all, I was like 526 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:09,439 Speaker 2: reading some you know, Reddit bored about her memoir and 527 00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:11,640 Speaker 2: people reacting and I see this stuff all the time 528 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:15,520 Speaker 2: of people saying, well, she she needed this, or she 529 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:19,680 Speaker 2: she still needs somebody to you know, everyone has these opinions, 530 00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:22,840 Speaker 2: not everyone, but you know that the conservatorship she did 531 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:26,040 Speaker 2: need something to happen, And I don't know. I still 532 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:30,159 Speaker 2: feel like there's this level of us pathologizing her that 533 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:34,600 Speaker 2: is disturbing to me. And I think that people, even 534 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:37,959 Speaker 2: with the best intentions, don't see how fucked up it 535 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:40,240 Speaker 2: is that when they look at her, they think she's 536 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:43,840 Speaker 2: something's wrong with her? Like what something's wrong with you 537 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:46,920 Speaker 2: that you look at a person that is a stranger 538 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:49,920 Speaker 2: that you don't know, and you're willing to just believe 539 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 2: all of the narrative that's been constructed by folks who 540 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:57,960 Speaker 2: don't wish her well to decide, oh, yeah, something's wrong 541 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:01,320 Speaker 2: with her though, like no, are she's kind of like 542 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:04,440 Speaker 2: like because we have had guests on before who well 543 00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:07,080 Speaker 2: one guest who is like part of a fandom, and 544 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:09,400 Speaker 2: she found herself to be in kind of a cult, 545 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:10,440 Speaker 2: remember that guest? 546 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 5: Is it kind of like we as a as a 547 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:18,840 Speaker 5: society need to stop making figures and pop culture are 548 00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 5: cult leaders because then we lose perspective on what is 549 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 5: right what is wrong And I'm putting quotation marks you know, 550 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:30,680 Speaker 5: what they should do, and then it's an unfair placement 551 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:32,480 Speaker 5: on them and we don't know them. 552 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:34,080 Speaker 1: Is that kind of the Yeah, some of it. 553 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:37,640 Speaker 2: I mean, I just think it's this objectification ultimately that 554 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:40,680 Speaker 2: we you know, if only we would treat them like 555 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:45,000 Speaker 2: cult leaders almost because then you know, we would listen 556 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:47,600 Speaker 2: to them when they say, hey, I want to be 557 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:51,080 Speaker 2: free or something. You know, it's that we strip them 558 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:53,920 Speaker 2: of any free will, and we make them into these 559 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 2: like you know, Barbie dolls that we can move around 560 00:29:57,280 --> 00:29:58,920 Speaker 2: and be like I want them to be doing this 561 00:29:59,040 --> 00:29:59,760 Speaker 2: for that now. 562 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:02,280 Speaker 4: And I mean, I think there are a lot of 563 00:30:02,280 --> 00:30:04,720 Speaker 4: fans who are just genuinely concerned for her safety. Like 564 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:07,000 Speaker 4: I you know, we've seen a lot of people online 565 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:08,760 Speaker 4: who are who like, yeah, for sure want her to 566 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:10,680 Speaker 4: be free and also want her to be safe. I 567 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:13,040 Speaker 4: just want to speak like those people definitely exist, you 568 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:13,880 Speaker 4: know what I mean, Like. 569 00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:16,000 Speaker 2: Right, I just would push back on that. Why do 570 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:17,080 Speaker 2: we think she's unsafe? 571 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:20,640 Speaker 4: I think I think it's hard for people to look 572 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:25,280 Speaker 4: at behavior that seems different from you know, how someone 573 00:30:25,280 --> 00:30:28,200 Speaker 4: would typically act online or whatever, and not think that 574 00:30:28,240 --> 00:30:31,560 Speaker 4: there's like something happening mental health wise, you know what 575 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:35,320 Speaker 4: I mean, Like we don't know, but like hopefully whatever 576 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:38,200 Speaker 4: help she needs, if she needs it, she's getting it. 577 00:30:38,280 --> 00:30:40,040 Speaker 4: I'm not the one to say what that is or 578 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:42,760 Speaker 4: what that looks like. It's certainly not her father having 579 00:30:42,760 --> 00:30:44,400 Speaker 4: a concernship over her. 580 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:49,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, am I being Devil's advocate a tiny bit? 581 00:30:49,400 --> 00:30:52,640 Speaker 2: But but no, I just think that any other person 582 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:56,080 Speaker 2: on social media who were to post videos that Britney 583 00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:58,960 Speaker 2: posts that we don't have some elaborate backstory about. We 584 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:02,360 Speaker 2: would not necessarily look at it and say, I hope 585 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:04,520 Speaker 2: she's safe. I hope she's getting help. We might say, 586 00:31:04,840 --> 00:31:11,040 Speaker 2: ooh spicy or quirky, or like, you know that interesting, 587 00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:13,440 Speaker 2: Oh she seems like fun. You know, there's different ways 588 00:31:13,480 --> 00:31:15,280 Speaker 2: we would look at it. It's because we know too 589 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:17,880 Speaker 2: much or we think we know too much about what's 590 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 2: quote unquote really going on, that people project this thing 591 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:24,840 Speaker 2: onto her that I hope she gets help or she 592 00:31:24,920 --> 00:31:29,800 Speaker 2: needs help when possibly and again, we don't know her diagnoses, 593 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:32,640 Speaker 2: whatever they may or may not be, although people like 594 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:37,120 Speaker 2: to speculate about that, what if she's just neurodivergent? And 595 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:40,240 Speaker 2: if she's neurodivergent? Don't we want her to have the 596 00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:44,920 Speaker 2: same autonomy and freedom from our perceptions and assumptions that 597 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:49,080 Speaker 2: any other neurodivergent nor me would get from us. But 598 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:53,400 Speaker 2: because we've co opted her and her brand so much, 599 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:58,200 Speaker 2: people feel perfectly comfortable saying like some I don't know, 600 00:31:58,280 --> 00:32:01,320 Speaker 2: I wonder what's wrong with her? Like, yeah, the whole 601 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:07,800 Speaker 2: the whole way it's framed to me is so judgmental 602 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:10,800 Speaker 2: in a way that I thought, you know, as a society, 603 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:14,720 Speaker 2: we're not judgmental about neurodivergence, like we everyone is free 604 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:16,720 Speaker 2: to be who they are, and it doesn't you can't 605 00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:19,200 Speaker 2: just come in and take someone's rights away because they're different, 606 00:32:19,240 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 2: And we can't force people to take medication they don't 607 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:24,680 Speaker 2: want to take, just so that they are who we 608 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 2: thought we wanted them. 609 00:32:25,520 --> 00:32:27,360 Speaker 1: To be, right right, you know what. 610 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:31,080 Speaker 5: It reminds me of a little bit the documentary Mother God. 611 00:32:31,280 --> 00:32:31,959 Speaker 1: Have you seen it? 612 00:32:32,040 --> 00:32:33,360 Speaker 2: I haven't and you haven't. 613 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:35,080 Speaker 1: Oh do you remember it? Lola? 614 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:38,040 Speaker 5: Yeah. Well she's kind of like put in this position 615 00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:41,280 Speaker 5: and they're like you are God, you are everything. And 616 00:32:41,320 --> 00:32:43,440 Speaker 5: then she's like, actually, I don't. I don't think that 617 00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:45,520 Speaker 5: I am, and they're like, no, you are and you 618 00:32:45,640 --> 00:32:47,920 Speaker 5: will be. And it's it's kind of like once you 619 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:50,120 Speaker 5: get into this point and it's like, guys, you can 620 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:52,320 Speaker 5: kind of be like, you know what, I'm shaving my head. 621 00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:53,680 Speaker 1: I don't want to do it anymore. 622 00:32:53,920 --> 00:32:57,560 Speaker 5: I'm out, and the people are like, no, you're gonna 623 00:32:57,640 --> 00:32:58,840 Speaker 5: You're gonna be what we need. 624 00:32:59,400 --> 00:32:59,680 Speaker 1: Yeah. 625 00:32:59,720 --> 00:33:01,520 Speaker 2: I mean people always do this thing where they say, 626 00:33:01,560 --> 00:33:04,760 Speaker 2: like with celebrities or whatever, if they complain at all 627 00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:07,920 Speaker 2: or they fight back against it, like this is what 628 00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 2: you signed up for, you know kind of thing. Yeah, 629 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:13,080 Speaker 2: and then you want to say like, no one knows 630 00:33:13,120 --> 00:33:15,120 Speaker 2: what they signed up for, you know. It's not like 631 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:18,239 Speaker 2: when you signed up to be a bartender and you're like, well, 632 00:33:18,280 --> 00:33:19,320 Speaker 2: you knew you were going to have to be here 633 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:23,400 Speaker 2: a little close, Like, no matter how ambitious you might be, 634 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:27,800 Speaker 2: especially as legitimately a fucking child, like exactly, but anyone 635 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:30,400 Speaker 2: who pursues fame, you don't. You can't know until you 636 00:33:30,440 --> 00:33:34,400 Speaker 2: get it how disturbing it can be, especially if you 637 00:33:34,440 --> 00:33:36,480 Speaker 2: have a certain kind of nervous system, or you have 638 00:33:36,560 --> 00:33:40,280 Speaker 2: any neurodivergence or anything else going on that you're like, 639 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:43,120 Speaker 2: I wasn't expecting it to be so. 640 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:44,480 Speaker 1: Scared, so regulated. 641 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:47,440 Speaker 4: Wanting to be in movies or be a singer doesn't 642 00:33:47,640 --> 00:33:50,760 Speaker 4: necessarily mean that you want people staring at you and 643 00:33:50,800 --> 00:33:52,720 Speaker 4: scrutinizing your every move every single. 644 00:33:52,440 --> 00:33:53,520 Speaker 1: Hour of every day. 645 00:33:53,720 --> 00:33:57,560 Speaker 4: Like those are different things, Like they can go hand 646 00:33:57,600 --> 00:33:59,680 Speaker 4: in hand, but it doesn't mean you want the second thing. 647 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:00,680 Speaker 2: I don't know. 648 00:34:01,120 --> 00:34:03,720 Speaker 5: Yeah, and then it just becomes like kind of a 649 00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:07,400 Speaker 5: parent thing, like I do see it more and more now, 650 00:34:07,880 --> 00:34:11,160 Speaker 5: kids who are young people who are pursuing a career 651 00:34:11,160 --> 00:34:13,520 Speaker 5: and are successful and you just don't see them outside 652 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:17,919 Speaker 5: of that atmosphere, like they're not paparazzi as much. 653 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:23,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think the paparazzi economy like is dwindled because 654 00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:25,880 Speaker 2: of you know, social media and the fact that people 655 00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:28,319 Speaker 2: document themselves and so there's not as much of that, 656 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:30,359 Speaker 2: Like the only the only way you're going to get 657 00:34:30,360 --> 00:34:32,399 Speaker 2: a pick of Ariana is if you follow her. It's 658 00:34:32,440 --> 00:34:34,640 Speaker 2: like if you know, I think folks have figured out 659 00:34:34,640 --> 00:34:37,160 Speaker 2: like if I post enough of myself, there's not that 660 00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:40,080 Speaker 2: desperation to to get that stuff. 661 00:34:40,120 --> 00:34:42,520 Speaker 5: How much was the picture of Britney Spears going for 662 00:34:42,719 --> 00:34:43,640 Speaker 5: like a good picture? 663 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:46,359 Speaker 2: Oh snap, I don't, I don't. I don't actually know. 664 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:48,720 Speaker 2: I would be making up some impressive figures. 665 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:50,920 Speaker 5: I mean I do, I do believe in and the 666 00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:53,040 Speaker 5: duck it's set up hundreds of thousands of dollars. 667 00:34:53,200 --> 00:34:55,279 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that would probably have been right when. 668 00:34:55,200 --> 00:34:57,080 Speaker 4: It was like, yeah, when it was like the most 669 00:34:57,080 --> 00:35:01,000 Speaker 4: controversial era where everyone wanted now was the Internet. 670 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:02,399 Speaker 2: It's just Internet, yeah, yeah, But. 671 00:35:02,400 --> 00:35:04,879 Speaker 5: I did like the reference of the paparazzi who said, 672 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:09,120 Speaker 5: like this attracts adrenaline junkies and gambling addicts, and I 673 00:35:09,160 --> 00:35:11,200 Speaker 5: was like, oh, that makes a lot of sense that 674 00:35:11,239 --> 00:35:14,640 Speaker 5: these are the kind of people that are swarming totally exeatally. 675 00:35:14,800 --> 00:35:17,759 Speaker 2: I mean, it's all men, and it just to think 676 00:35:17,800 --> 00:35:21,040 Speaker 2: about how scary it must be for any non man 677 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:26,319 Speaker 2: to be harassed by these aggressive, greedy men who are 678 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:29,000 Speaker 2: chasing you and pushing and screaming at you, trying to 679 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:31,480 Speaker 2: get a reaction. Yeah, just trying to get a reaction. 680 00:35:31,960 --> 00:35:36,279 Speaker 2: And if you have any traumatic history with aggressive men, 681 00:35:36,520 --> 00:35:38,640 Speaker 2: and now there's a bunch of aggressive men yelling at 682 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:39,640 Speaker 2: you and chasing you. 683 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:44,400 Speaker 5: Oh yeah, it didn't really alcoholic dad, Yeah, tell us 684 00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:45,640 Speaker 5: about the bathroom signature. 685 00:35:46,680 --> 00:35:49,959 Speaker 2: Yes. So, as I was saying earlier, like she tried 686 00:35:49,960 --> 00:35:51,840 Speaker 2: to get her own lawyer in the early days of 687 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:55,319 Speaker 2: the conservatorship, that was maybe one way she was going 688 00:35:55,360 --> 00:35:57,200 Speaker 2: to be able to get out of it. Was like, 689 00:35:57,440 --> 00:36:00,680 Speaker 2: if she can choose her own lawyer rather than having 690 00:36:00,719 --> 00:36:04,200 Speaker 2: a lawyer designated by the court and her parents signing 691 00:36:04,200 --> 00:36:07,240 Speaker 2: off on it, then she can convey to that lawyer 692 00:36:07,719 --> 00:36:10,359 Speaker 2: I don't want this, this is unfair, I don't need this, 693 00:36:10,960 --> 00:36:14,000 Speaker 2: and that person would advocate for her because she chose them, 694 00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:17,520 Speaker 2: and so there were multiple attempts by her, except that 695 00:36:17,600 --> 00:36:20,720 Speaker 2: everyone in charge was trying to keep her from doing 696 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:23,960 Speaker 2: these things, keeping her from having a phone, keeping her 697 00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:27,239 Speaker 2: from being monitoring all of her communications, so that they 698 00:36:27,280 --> 00:36:30,480 Speaker 2: could prevent something like that, and ultimately say, well, she 699 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:33,120 Speaker 2: doesn't have again, she doesn't have the capacity to choose 700 00:36:33,120 --> 00:36:36,400 Speaker 2: a lawyer, so this is invalid. Even though she somehow 701 00:36:36,440 --> 00:36:38,800 Speaker 2: got away and met up with Adam streisand one of 702 00:36:38,800 --> 00:36:41,120 Speaker 2: the lawyers who was up for representing her and taking 703 00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:44,400 Speaker 2: it on, and you know, sort of instantly they would 704 00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:46,680 Speaker 2: find a way to get it thrown out. And so 705 00:36:47,680 --> 00:36:49,880 Speaker 2: that had happened a few times in early two thousand 706 00:36:49,920 --> 00:36:53,040 Speaker 2: and eight, And in two thousand and eight, I wrote 707 00:36:53,040 --> 00:36:55,920 Speaker 2: another Rolling Stone cover story about Brittany. When I was 708 00:36:55,920 --> 00:36:59,360 Speaker 2: trying to set up the interviews, sort of I hadn't 709 00:36:59,640 --> 00:37:01,920 Speaker 2: followed that closely. I had sort of taken a break 710 00:37:01,960 --> 00:37:05,000 Speaker 2: from paying attention to what was going on because the 711 00:37:05,040 --> 00:37:08,239 Speaker 2: minutia of it. As someone who really like even though 712 00:37:08,239 --> 00:37:11,560 Speaker 2: we just had this journalistic relationship, I really cared about 713 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:13,719 Speaker 2: her and I didn't like seeing the way she was 714 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:16,440 Speaker 2: being treated, and so I just if I wasn't on assignment, 715 00:37:16,480 --> 00:37:18,839 Speaker 2: I didn't need to be like in the ins and 716 00:37:18,880 --> 00:37:21,360 Speaker 2: outs of it. And then I got assigned to do 717 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:23,120 Speaker 2: another cover story with her, and she was going to 718 00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:27,439 Speaker 2: have her album come out, her her Circus album, and 719 00:37:28,160 --> 00:37:29,800 Speaker 2: I was like, Okay, we're doing it. Me and Brittany, 720 00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:32,040 Speaker 2: we're going to do the thing. I reached out to 721 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:35,440 Speaker 2: the people at the label, the publicist, let's set up 722 00:37:35,440 --> 00:37:39,040 Speaker 2: some time, and I started hearing, Oh, there's this conservatorship, 723 00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:42,200 Speaker 2: so things that I had never had to do before 724 00:37:42,239 --> 00:37:44,839 Speaker 2: with someone who again, I had had all of these 725 00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:47,560 Speaker 2: interactions with her, I had been with her on our 726 00:37:47,600 --> 00:37:50,840 Speaker 2: own talking about these other projects. They're like, oh, you 727 00:37:51,120 --> 00:37:54,160 Speaker 2: have to submit your questions ahead of time at Rolling 728 00:37:54,160 --> 00:37:58,560 Speaker 2: Stone back then, that was unheard of, baby, And then 729 00:37:58,640 --> 00:38:00,719 Speaker 2: well it was just truly on journalist stick, like you 730 00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:03,360 Speaker 2: don't you're not allowed to see my questions, Like it 731 00:38:03,560 --> 00:38:05,680 Speaker 2: goes against all of the rules of journalism. You don't 732 00:38:05,719 --> 00:38:08,879 Speaker 2: see your questions ahead of time. And I reached out 733 00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:10,359 Speaker 2: to my editor and I was like, well, you're going 734 00:38:10,400 --> 00:38:11,960 Speaker 2: to need to talk to them because they're saying this 735 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:15,200 Speaker 2: crazy talk. And he was like, yeah, you're going to 736 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:17,680 Speaker 2: have to do that, and I was like what Because 737 00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:21,600 Speaker 2: Britney sells magazines. They wanted to get the cover, so 738 00:38:21,640 --> 00:38:24,120 Speaker 2: they were willing to accommodate it. And then the next 739 00:38:24,120 --> 00:38:27,759 Speaker 2: thing was okay, you're gonna and they would strike some 740 00:38:27,880 --> 00:38:30,120 Speaker 2: questions from the list, you know. I remember I was 741 00:38:30,120 --> 00:38:33,279 Speaker 2: going to ask her about the presidential election, actually for 742 00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:35,120 Speaker 2: the two thousand and eight presidential election. That was one 743 00:38:35,120 --> 00:38:37,000 Speaker 2: of the things. They're like, no, don't ask with that. 744 00:38:37,920 --> 00:38:39,759 Speaker 2: I wouldn't love to know that answer. I know, right, 745 00:38:41,200 --> 00:38:43,720 Speaker 2: her manager has to be in the room for the interview. Again, 746 00:38:43,800 --> 00:38:46,600 Speaker 2: that's not allowed. You're not allowed to insist on that 747 00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:49,600 Speaker 2: in true journalism, you know. So I was like, oh, well, 748 00:38:49,600 --> 00:38:50,920 Speaker 2: this is going to be the one my editor is 749 00:38:50,920 --> 00:38:53,120 Speaker 2: not going to say yes to that. They said yes 750 00:38:53,160 --> 00:38:55,239 Speaker 2: to that. So at every turn I'm like, but. 751 00:38:55,200 --> 00:38:57,480 Speaker 1: It's me and Brittany, We've done this, she as me. 752 00:38:58,120 --> 00:39:00,480 Speaker 2: At every turn they would be like, sorry, concerned, it's 753 00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:03,239 Speaker 2: not me, it's the conservatorship. And that made me feel like, 754 00:39:03,239 --> 00:39:05,800 Speaker 2: what the fuck is the conservatorship? I need to figure 755 00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:08,279 Speaker 2: out what's going on here, and did a bunch of 756 00:39:08,320 --> 00:39:10,360 Speaker 2: research and ended up writing this cover story that was 757 00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:12,920 Speaker 2: sort of, you know, not to say it was critical 758 00:39:12,960 --> 00:39:15,440 Speaker 2: of the conservatorship, but it was sort of raised some 759 00:39:15,560 --> 00:39:18,719 Speaker 2: questions about whether it was over the top, and how 760 00:39:18,719 --> 00:39:21,720 Speaker 2: could someone who was unwell enough to need a conservatorship 761 00:39:21,760 --> 00:39:23,719 Speaker 2: be well enough to be putting out an album. You know, 762 00:39:23,760 --> 00:39:26,960 Speaker 2: that's the central problem with the conservatorship is that if 763 00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:29,480 Speaker 2: you're sick enough to need one, you're too sick to work, 764 00:39:29,719 --> 00:39:33,200 Speaker 2: and they kept making her work. So in reporting that story, 765 00:39:33,760 --> 00:39:36,800 Speaker 2: I had developed relationships with some of my sources, including 766 00:39:36,880 --> 00:39:42,400 Speaker 2: the exiled, disgraced former manager Sam Lutfi, who say what 767 00:39:42,440 --> 00:39:46,279 Speaker 2: you will, Yes, very problematic, definitely shady, definitely did some 768 00:39:46,360 --> 00:39:51,920 Speaker 2: things that were beyond unprofessional, but also was a scapegoat 769 00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:56,800 Speaker 2: and did have Britney's best interests at hard in some ways, 770 00:39:57,360 --> 00:40:00,960 Speaker 2: and had some compelling information about thisttempt to get lawyers 771 00:40:00,960 --> 00:40:03,040 Speaker 2: and how that would have been good for her and 772 00:40:03,080 --> 00:40:04,839 Speaker 2: why it was fucked up that they wouldn't let her. 773 00:40:04,920 --> 00:40:08,440 Speaker 2: So in early two thousand and nine, he was sort 774 00:40:08,480 --> 00:40:10,640 Speaker 2: of still hearing from her and reaching out to her 775 00:40:10,840 --> 00:40:13,520 Speaker 2: and trying to find a lawyer who would take the 776 00:40:13,560 --> 00:40:17,080 Speaker 2: case even though it had been ineffective previously, and found 777 00:40:17,120 --> 00:40:19,840 Speaker 2: a lawyer who was up for it, and all that 778 00:40:19,880 --> 00:40:22,600 Speaker 2: had to happen was that Brittany had to sign this 779 00:40:23,000 --> 00:40:26,480 Speaker 2: legal document saying I want this person to be my lawyer, 780 00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:29,480 Speaker 2: this guy John Anderson. And how were we going to 781 00:40:29,560 --> 00:40:31,839 Speaker 2: get we because I was in the mix, like just 782 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:34,600 Speaker 2: being like I kind of try and help her to 783 00:40:35,480 --> 00:40:37,880 Speaker 2: sign this thing when no one could reach her. You couldn't. 784 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:39,560 Speaker 2: There was no way to get access to her. 785 00:40:39,840 --> 00:40:42,040 Speaker 1: No telephone, no telephone. 786 00:40:42,040 --> 00:40:44,160 Speaker 2: They would have to sneak her at telephone. Someone would 787 00:40:44,160 --> 00:40:45,400 Speaker 2: have to slip it in her bag. 788 00:40:45,480 --> 00:40:49,200 Speaker 5: At the from going to like the biggest pop star 789 00:40:49,360 --> 00:40:51,240 Speaker 5: to no car, no phone. 790 00:40:51,360 --> 00:40:53,520 Speaker 1: It's so wild, like living in jails. 791 00:40:54,360 --> 00:40:56,800 Speaker 2: Meaning yeah, there was one moment where she had gotten 792 00:40:56,840 --> 00:40:59,000 Speaker 2: someone had slipped her a cell phone, and then she 793 00:40:59,160 --> 00:41:00,880 Speaker 2: was talking on the cell phone, but she had the 794 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:05,399 Speaker 2: baby monitor on and the the nanny or something heard 795 00:41:05,440 --> 00:41:07,480 Speaker 2: Brittany talking on a phone on the baby monitor and 796 00:41:07,560 --> 00:41:09,719 Speaker 2: ratted her out to her dad, and so they took 797 00:41:09,719 --> 00:41:11,719 Speaker 2: the phone away. You know, she was on her way 798 00:41:11,719 --> 00:41:13,080 Speaker 2: out of the house and they grabbed the purse and 799 00:41:13,120 --> 00:41:15,879 Speaker 2: they opened the purse and they take the phone. It's like, okay, 800 00:41:15,920 --> 00:41:20,480 Speaker 2: got to get her another phone. So anyway, Lutvey coordinated 801 00:41:20,520 --> 00:41:23,319 Speaker 2: this meeting, you know through some phone that had been 802 00:41:23,320 --> 00:41:26,200 Speaker 2: snuck to her that you know Jenny Ellisk you remember her, 803 00:41:26,280 --> 00:41:29,319 Speaker 2: She's going to meet you at whatever day it was. 804 00:41:29,320 --> 00:41:31,399 Speaker 2: That she was going to this hotel. Okay, that's where 805 00:41:31,440 --> 00:41:34,240 Speaker 2: the meat's going to happen. You'll go and that she'll 806 00:41:34,280 --> 00:41:36,880 Speaker 2: you'll see her. You'll go meet her in the bathroom. 807 00:41:37,040 --> 00:41:39,600 Speaker 2: She'll have these papers to get this lawyer and you'll 808 00:41:39,640 --> 00:41:40,120 Speaker 2: sign them. 809 00:41:40,680 --> 00:41:42,800 Speaker 1: You were you were in a Britney Spears heist. 810 00:41:43,280 --> 00:41:46,840 Speaker 2: Honestly it felt very heisty. Yeah, I was like, am 811 00:41:46,880 --> 00:41:47,520 Speaker 2: I in a movie? 812 00:41:47,520 --> 00:41:48,200 Speaker 1: This is insane? 813 00:41:48,320 --> 00:41:50,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's truly scary, scary shit. 814 00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:54,120 Speaker 1: Yeah. The fact that, well, first of all, and nothing 815 00:41:54,160 --> 00:41:55,200 Speaker 1: came of that, right. 816 00:41:55,280 --> 00:41:57,879 Speaker 2: Nothing came of it. Yeah, exactly like she signed it, 817 00:41:58,160 --> 00:42:01,880 Speaker 2: she said thank you. She to me seemed to know 818 00:42:01,920 --> 00:42:04,279 Speaker 2: what she was signing, and it was scary for both 819 00:42:04,280 --> 00:42:06,279 Speaker 2: of us. She was scared. I was scared. I'd like 820 00:42:06,320 --> 00:42:09,440 Speaker 2: sneaked down the stairs while I was there. Paparazzi was 821 00:42:09,440 --> 00:42:11,440 Speaker 2: getting the shit beat out of them by security guards 822 00:42:11,480 --> 00:42:14,720 Speaker 2: in the parking garage downstairs. So when I got back 823 00:42:14,760 --> 00:42:17,279 Speaker 2: from that, Luffy was like, did you see police while 824 00:42:17,280 --> 00:42:18,920 Speaker 2: you were there? I'm like, oh, God, know why and 825 00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:21,080 Speaker 2: he's like, because it turns out, look, you know is 826 00:42:21,120 --> 00:42:23,919 Speaker 2: on online already that this thing had happened anyway, Wow, 827 00:42:24,719 --> 00:42:27,480 Speaker 2: they the same thing happened. They well, they said it 828 00:42:27,520 --> 00:42:30,399 Speaker 2: was not her signature. Was the first sort of thing 829 00:42:30,440 --> 00:42:32,560 Speaker 2: they would say, that's not her signature, that's a forgery, 830 00:42:32,600 --> 00:42:35,040 Speaker 2: because they couldn't figure out how and when it had 831 00:42:35,080 --> 00:42:38,560 Speaker 2: happened then, and even if it is her signature, she 832 00:42:38,680 --> 00:42:41,360 Speaker 2: doesn't have the capacity to choose a lawyer anyway. So 833 00:42:42,360 --> 00:42:45,040 Speaker 2: within you know, a couple of days, it was like, 834 00:42:45,120 --> 00:42:47,120 Speaker 2: well that was for naught. 835 00:42:47,640 --> 00:42:50,520 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, if she would have gotten a lawyer who 836 00:42:50,880 --> 00:42:53,719 Speaker 5: wasn't being paid for her to be in a conservator ship, 837 00:42:54,360 --> 00:42:57,600 Speaker 5: what do you think the outcome could have been. 838 00:42:58,440 --> 00:42:59,680 Speaker 2: I mean, you know, it could have been what wol 839 00:42:59,760 --> 00:43:02,880 Speaker 2: ended up happening in twenty twenty one when Matthew Rosengart 840 00:43:02,960 --> 00:43:05,640 Speaker 2: took over as her lawyer, and there was momentum toward 841 00:43:05,680 --> 00:43:09,279 Speaker 2: the conservatorship ending at that point for various reasons, but 842 00:43:09,920 --> 00:43:13,480 Speaker 2: definitely Rosengart like pushed it to the finish line to 843 00:43:13,480 --> 00:43:17,400 Speaker 2: get her out of it. And Adam streisand like he 844 00:43:17,560 --> 00:43:20,120 Speaker 2: was motivated and he's a great attorney, and he thought 845 00:43:20,160 --> 00:43:21,840 Speaker 2: that it was unfair, and. 846 00:43:21,840 --> 00:43:24,560 Speaker 1: Which one was Adam stred He was like the first guy. 847 00:43:24,640 --> 00:43:26,600 Speaker 2: He was the first guy who she snuck off and 848 00:43:26,640 --> 00:43:29,799 Speaker 2: met with in early two thousand and eight, and is 849 00:43:29,840 --> 00:43:32,600 Speaker 2: related to Barbara Streis. Oh my god, I think they're 850 00:43:32,640 --> 00:43:35,960 Speaker 2: like cousins or something. Anyway, he a powerful lawyer. He 851 00:43:36,080 --> 00:43:39,320 Speaker 2: was up for taking it on, understood why it was unfair, 852 00:43:39,800 --> 00:43:43,000 Speaker 2: and when they were like, you know, she has lack 853 00:43:43,040 --> 00:43:46,200 Speaker 2: of capacity, and people just dropped it, and I get it. 854 00:43:46,320 --> 00:43:48,279 Speaker 2: They could really make a case against her that you 855 00:43:48,280 --> 00:43:50,320 Speaker 2: don't want to. You don't want to take up with Brittany. 856 00:43:50,320 --> 00:43:53,040 Speaker 2: You don't want to. She's really messed up. She could 857 00:43:53,040 --> 00:43:55,200 Speaker 2: have gotten out of it if somebody had stuck with it. 858 00:43:56,040 --> 00:43:57,880 Speaker 2: She could have gotten out of it in two thousand 859 00:43:57,880 --> 00:44:00,000 Speaker 2: and eight, you know, once they made it quote unque 860 00:44:00,200 --> 00:44:03,960 Speaker 2: permanent later that year. This is before the bathroom thing. 861 00:44:04,480 --> 00:44:06,480 Speaker 2: But when they made it permanent, that was sort of 862 00:44:06,520 --> 00:44:10,120 Speaker 2: like when it was like, oh shit, permanent, m how 863 00:44:10,120 --> 00:44:14,800 Speaker 2: are you gonna on some you know what was she? Yeah, 864 00:44:14,880 --> 00:44:16,440 Speaker 2: you're gonna say the rest of this ladies. 865 00:44:17,280 --> 00:44:22,160 Speaker 4: Wow, that's so wild, especially because like I don't know, 866 00:44:22,239 --> 00:44:24,400 Speaker 4: like we've we've talked to We know a number of 867 00:44:24,400 --> 00:44:28,239 Speaker 4: people who've had like psychotic episodes, for example, and they 868 00:44:28,560 --> 00:44:30,440 Speaker 4: come out of it and then they live normal lives 869 00:44:30,480 --> 00:44:32,839 Speaker 4: and it's, you know, it's fine, Like maybe sometimes it'll 870 00:44:32,840 --> 00:44:35,680 Speaker 4: happen again, but like then once that episode is over again, 871 00:44:35,719 --> 00:44:37,960 Speaker 4: they're perfectly fine and capable of living their lives. And 872 00:44:37,960 --> 00:44:40,200 Speaker 4: those are people who are like full break from reality, 873 00:44:40,239 --> 00:44:43,319 Speaker 4: you know. Like not to say that it's always fine after, 874 00:44:43,400 --> 00:44:46,600 Speaker 4: because of course there's spectrum of experiences, but like the 875 00:44:46,680 --> 00:44:50,000 Speaker 4: idea that like if somebody were having some kind of 876 00:44:50,200 --> 00:44:53,759 Speaker 4: mental health episode, that they should be trapped for all 877 00:44:53,880 --> 00:44:58,080 Speaker 4: eternity after it is just just seems like a wild 878 00:44:58,200 --> 00:45:01,000 Speaker 4: misunderstanding of how they work, I guess. 879 00:45:01,200 --> 00:45:03,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. And then also the person if the person who's 880 00:45:03,640 --> 00:45:06,520 Speaker 2: designated to be their conservator is the last person they 881 00:45:06,560 --> 00:45:09,600 Speaker 2: ever would have chosen, right, that should that should be 882 00:45:09,840 --> 00:45:12,239 Speaker 2: that should have some influence, even if they're determined to 883 00:45:12,280 --> 00:45:15,800 Speaker 2: be lacking in certain capacity. It's like to say, Okay, 884 00:45:15,880 --> 00:45:18,200 Speaker 2: I don't want it to be my dad who scares 885 00:45:18,239 --> 00:45:20,840 Speaker 2: the shit out of me, right, Oh my god. 886 00:45:20,960 --> 00:45:23,960 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's it's surprising to me that they chose somebody 887 00:45:24,000 --> 00:45:28,040 Speaker 4: who had a very clear, documented history of alcoholism to 888 00:45:28,120 --> 00:45:30,719 Speaker 4: be the one who was, and that she brought that up. 889 00:45:31,400 --> 00:45:34,560 Speaker 2: And setting aside the alcoholism, like it's just like in 890 00:45:34,600 --> 00:45:37,800 Speaker 2: a family that there's issues here and there with everyone, 891 00:45:37,920 --> 00:45:39,719 Speaker 2: but like he was the person in the family she 892 00:45:39,800 --> 00:45:42,759 Speaker 2: had the worst relationship with. So alcoholic are not like 893 00:45:43,400 --> 00:45:45,480 Speaker 2: you should not have to be put under control of 894 00:45:46,160 --> 00:45:48,719 Speaker 2: your least favorite person in your family, the person in 895 00:45:48,760 --> 00:45:50,680 Speaker 2: your family you're the most scared of, you know. And 896 00:45:51,040 --> 00:45:54,799 Speaker 2: the great example, the most evocative example, and this is 897 00:45:54,840 --> 00:46:00,319 Speaker 2: in Britney's memoir of Jamie being what were what I 898 00:46:00,440 --> 00:46:05,760 Speaker 2: use a beast? You know, is this moment when Jamie says, 899 00:46:05,840 --> 00:46:09,400 Speaker 2: I'm Brittany. Now you know, he's you know, somebody is 900 00:46:09,440 --> 00:46:12,760 Speaker 2: sort of asking, he's making decisions, and somebody is like, well, Brittany, 901 00:46:13,160 --> 00:46:19,160 Speaker 2: and he says, I'm Brittany. Now horror movie. It's horror movie. Yeah. 902 00:46:19,400 --> 00:46:19,960 Speaker 1: Yeah. 903 00:46:20,000 --> 00:46:22,759 Speaker 4: Also, to be clear, I'm not saying alcoholics are you know, 904 00:46:23,520 --> 00:46:27,799 Speaker 4: I'm saying I'm an alcoholic recovery. I have many, many 905 00:46:27,800 --> 00:46:30,480 Speaker 4: people in my life who I love, no get yeah, totally, 906 00:46:31,040 --> 00:46:33,200 Speaker 4: you know, they're they're picking the person with the worst relationship. 907 00:46:33,320 --> 00:46:35,640 Speaker 1: It's also had this history, you know, all. 908 00:46:35,560 --> 00:46:38,680 Speaker 2: The factors that overlapped in this case. That that I 909 00:46:38,760 --> 00:46:41,480 Speaker 2: think is why it was so fucked and why she 910 00:46:41,600 --> 00:46:43,759 Speaker 2: was trapped in it for so long and why you know, 911 00:46:43,880 --> 00:46:46,920 Speaker 2: it's not any of them on their own, like, but 912 00:46:47,120 --> 00:46:48,879 Speaker 2: it had to be all of the factors. It had 913 00:46:48,880 --> 00:46:52,560 Speaker 2: to be, you know. You know, honestly, I think they 914 00:46:52,920 --> 00:46:54,560 Speaker 2: part of what they were so scared of, they being 915 00:46:54,560 --> 00:46:58,280 Speaker 2: her family was her substance use. And you know, sometimes 916 00:46:58,280 --> 00:47:01,040 Speaker 2: people who have histories with substances them selves are even 917 00:47:01,120 --> 00:47:04,799 Speaker 2: more defensive about other people using. And you know, the 918 00:47:04,880 --> 00:47:06,880 Speaker 2: idea that Brittany was using and that they had to 919 00:47:06,880 --> 00:47:09,200 Speaker 2: take control of that. You know, I think some of 920 00:47:09,280 --> 00:47:13,440 Speaker 2: Jamie's reactivity to that was because of his history with alcoholism, 921 00:47:13,560 --> 00:47:15,399 Speaker 2: to be like, you know, you don't want your kid 922 00:47:16,200 --> 00:47:19,640 Speaker 2: going down that path, and so you're like, I'm not, No, 923 00:47:19,680 --> 00:47:21,440 Speaker 2: Britney's not going to be on drugs. 924 00:47:22,000 --> 00:47:23,600 Speaker 5: So do you think there was like a nugget of 925 00:47:23,680 --> 00:47:26,080 Speaker 5: goodwill in his heart? Because to me, he's just pure 926 00:47:26,160 --> 00:47:27,680 Speaker 5: evil and I'm like, it's like, I'm going to take 927 00:47:27,680 --> 00:47:29,120 Speaker 5: all your money and I'm Britney spears. 928 00:47:29,120 --> 00:47:32,640 Speaker 2: Now, No, it's not so much goodwill. I think it's 929 00:47:32,800 --> 00:47:36,799 Speaker 2: just that conflicting, Like, I think his sort of psychological 930 00:47:36,840 --> 00:47:40,040 Speaker 2: portrait was full of conflict, and I think his own 931 00:47:41,040 --> 00:47:45,080 Speaker 2: self loathing about his history as an alcoholic made him 932 00:47:45,520 --> 00:47:49,919 Speaker 2: irate about her using substances and project some of it. Also, 933 00:47:50,040 --> 00:47:52,640 Speaker 2: as you know, you've read her memoir, like, and it's 934 00:47:52,680 --> 00:47:55,759 Speaker 2: in Linz's memoir as well, that Jamie had a traumatic 935 00:47:55,840 --> 00:47:59,200 Speaker 2: childhood where his own mother, you know, he had a 936 00:47:59,239 --> 00:48:04,040 Speaker 2: sibling who who died, you know, as an infant, and 937 00:48:04,080 --> 00:48:08,560 Speaker 2: his mom ultimately committed suicide. She actually shot herself on 938 00:48:08,680 --> 00:48:12,120 Speaker 2: the child's grave when Jamie was a child, Like, my god, 939 00:48:12,520 --> 00:48:15,000 Speaker 2: my heart breaks for him that he had that experience. 940 00:48:15,200 --> 00:48:17,719 Speaker 2: You know, it doesn't it doesn't mean that that's why 941 00:48:17,760 --> 00:48:20,360 Speaker 2: he did Britney what he did. But I do have 942 00:48:20,400 --> 00:48:23,200 Speaker 2: empathy for him. But I think all the decisions he 943 00:48:23,320 --> 00:48:28,480 Speaker 2: made were bad, and I think that it's not just 944 00:48:28,680 --> 00:48:31,640 Speaker 2: his own trauma it was it's greed and a lot 945 00:48:31,680 --> 00:48:35,040 Speaker 2: of greed surrounding her, coming at her from all sides. 946 00:48:35,400 --> 00:48:38,360 Speaker 5: How much did he get paid to be Britney Spears. 947 00:48:38,160 --> 00:48:40,880 Speaker 2: Shit, I forget, honestly, I forget how much it was. 948 00:48:40,880 --> 00:48:43,200 Speaker 2: It was a lot of money, though, Yeah, like hundreds 949 00:48:43,239 --> 00:48:46,120 Speaker 2: of thousands of dollars a year. Wow. Yeah. 950 00:48:46,160 --> 00:48:50,200 Speaker 4: And what about the attorney. How much money was he making? 951 00:48:50,560 --> 00:48:54,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean the attorney, the various attorneys were making 952 00:48:54,760 --> 00:48:56,880 Speaker 2: a lot of money as well. Yeah, and that's you know, 953 00:48:56,920 --> 00:48:58,520 Speaker 2: money Britney was paying them. 954 00:48:59,280 --> 00:49:03,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, so highly profitable basically to keep her in this conservativeship, 955 00:49:03,400 --> 00:49:05,640 Speaker 4: and not just because they get paid to do it, 956 00:49:05,680 --> 00:49:08,480 Speaker 4: but also like I'd love for you to talk about 957 00:49:08,960 --> 00:49:12,440 Speaker 4: her being compelled to keep working and like what that 958 00:49:12,520 --> 00:49:16,479 Speaker 4: actually looked like and how it became like insisted upon. 959 00:49:17,000 --> 00:49:20,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, she she made i think four albums 960 00:49:20,400 --> 00:49:22,480 Speaker 2: during the course of the conservatorship, So four albums in 961 00:49:22,560 --> 00:49:25,040 Speaker 2: thirteen years, which is the kind of pace at which 962 00:49:25,400 --> 00:49:28,640 Speaker 2: you know, Adele might make albums four and thirteen years, 963 00:49:28,680 --> 00:49:32,000 Speaker 2: not in a conservatorship. So you know, she really was kept. 964 00:49:32,040 --> 00:49:34,160 Speaker 2: And of course obviously she did X Factor as a 965 00:49:34,239 --> 00:49:36,360 Speaker 2: judge and she had her Vegus show, so she was 966 00:49:36,440 --> 00:49:40,080 Speaker 2: working a lot. Might she have autonomously chosen to do 967 00:49:40,080 --> 00:49:43,320 Speaker 2: that stuff because she loved singing and making music, Yes, 968 00:49:43,440 --> 00:49:46,560 Speaker 2: she might have, but she would not have worked as 969 00:49:46,600 --> 00:49:49,360 Speaker 2: hard as they made her work given the choice, because 970 00:49:49,400 --> 00:49:51,680 Speaker 2: she wanted to get married and she wanted to get 971 00:49:51,719 --> 00:49:55,879 Speaker 2: pregnant and you know, the keeping her working. I think 972 00:49:55,920 --> 00:49:58,399 Speaker 2: maybe if you attribute good motives like they thought, oh 973 00:49:58,440 --> 00:50:00,360 Speaker 2: this will be good for her, it'll be help for 974 00:50:00,400 --> 00:50:03,799 Speaker 2: her to keep working. But if you attribute the worst 975 00:50:03,880 --> 00:50:05,799 Speaker 2: motives to them, it was so that they could keep 976 00:50:05,840 --> 00:50:09,319 Speaker 2: earning at the highest rate possible by drawing profits on 977 00:50:09,360 --> 00:50:12,120 Speaker 2: her working and sitting around Brittany is not going to 978 00:50:12,160 --> 00:50:13,040 Speaker 2: make them as much money. 979 00:50:13,239 --> 00:50:15,080 Speaker 4: Yeah, some of the stuff in the documentary of people 980 00:50:15,080 --> 00:50:17,960 Speaker 4: talking about how she needed to work to make a 981 00:50:17,960 --> 00:50:21,080 Speaker 4: certain amount of money or whatever really stressed me out. 982 00:50:21,160 --> 00:50:23,040 Speaker 4: Like we were saying before you got here that it 983 00:50:23,080 --> 00:50:25,440 Speaker 4: felt like a horror movie, like someone is taking over 984 00:50:25,480 --> 00:50:27,680 Speaker 4: your life, is making all of your decisions for you, 985 00:50:27,800 --> 00:50:30,560 Speaker 4: and is forcing you. I mean, like again, yes, it 986 00:50:30,560 --> 00:50:32,480 Speaker 4: seems like she really loves what she does, So I'm 987 00:50:32,520 --> 00:50:34,080 Speaker 4: not saying that she didn't love what she does, but 988 00:50:34,200 --> 00:50:36,600 Speaker 4: like kind of seemed like she just didn't have a choice. 989 00:50:36,600 --> 00:50:37,920 Speaker 2: Though, now, let's like put. 990 00:50:37,719 --> 00:50:41,000 Speaker 5: The lotion in the basket level crazy, like her dad 991 00:50:41,120 --> 00:50:43,600 Speaker 5: is like taking her skin and wearing her and being like. 992 00:50:43,760 --> 00:50:45,919 Speaker 2: She literally didn't have a choice. No, you're exactly right, 993 00:50:46,000 --> 00:50:48,680 Speaker 2: she truly had no choice. She was in the eyes 994 00:50:48,680 --> 00:50:51,640 Speaker 2: of the law like a child and had no rights 995 00:50:51,719 --> 00:50:54,640 Speaker 2: and could make no decisions on her own, and they 996 00:50:54,880 --> 00:50:59,480 Speaker 2: controlled the entire environment and everything she knew and thought 997 00:50:59,680 --> 00:51:03,040 Speaker 2: was based on She was sheltered, She was kept away 998 00:51:03,160 --> 00:51:06,600 Speaker 2: from information that could have helped her, and she only 999 00:51:06,680 --> 00:51:08,760 Speaker 2: knew what they wanted her to know because she didn't 1000 00:51:08,760 --> 00:51:11,160 Speaker 2: have access to the phone and the internet, and so, 1001 00:51:11,840 --> 00:51:15,000 Speaker 2: in a very culty way, yes, she was cut off 1002 00:51:15,080 --> 00:51:17,840 Speaker 2: from the outside world and all the decisions were made 1003 00:51:17,880 --> 00:51:18,319 Speaker 2: for her. 1004 00:51:18,560 --> 00:51:21,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, can you talk more about that, Like, what are 1005 00:51:21,040 --> 00:51:24,040 Speaker 4: some of the things she was not allowed to do 1006 00:51:24,239 --> 00:51:25,439 Speaker 4: that didn't make sense? 1007 00:51:25,920 --> 00:51:27,640 Speaker 2: Well, I mean one of the main things. And she 1008 00:51:27,800 --> 00:51:30,960 Speaker 2: in her really powerful testimony from that summer of twenty 1009 00:51:30,960 --> 00:51:32,960 Speaker 2: twenty one when she spoke to the court, you know, 1010 00:51:33,120 --> 00:51:36,080 Speaker 2: she talked specifically about how they had put an IUD 1011 00:51:36,239 --> 00:51:39,319 Speaker 2: in her, and she Brittany has always wanted to have 1012 00:51:39,400 --> 00:51:42,520 Speaker 2: more kids. It's you know, she loved being a mom, 1013 00:51:42,680 --> 00:51:45,040 Speaker 2: she loved having kids. She wanted to have more kids. 1014 00:51:45,080 --> 00:51:48,400 Speaker 2: After the boys say what we will about the choices 1015 00:51:48,440 --> 00:51:50,440 Speaker 2: of partners and how that might have played out if 1016 00:51:50,440 --> 00:51:53,680 Speaker 2: she had had kids with them, but nonetheless her choice right, 1017 00:51:54,280 --> 00:51:56,720 Speaker 2: and of course they didn't want her to get pregnant 1018 00:51:56,920 --> 00:52:02,160 Speaker 2: and she was forced to have an IUD implanted. I 1019 00:52:02,239 --> 00:52:05,160 Speaker 2: don't know in any other conservatorship situation if some other 1020 00:52:05,200 --> 00:52:08,600 Speaker 2: person like if that, if that would ever be allowed, 1021 00:52:10,520 --> 00:52:12,840 Speaker 2: and I worry that it would be, you know, y 1022 00:52:13,040 --> 00:52:15,640 Speaker 2: with someone else who had been deemed to lack the 1023 00:52:15,680 --> 00:52:19,080 Speaker 2: capacity where they would say, well, we don't want or 1024 00:52:19,080 --> 00:52:22,000 Speaker 2: if they could be forced to have an abortion if 1025 00:52:22,040 --> 00:52:24,279 Speaker 2: they got pregnant that they didn't want to have, Like 1026 00:52:25,160 --> 00:52:28,280 Speaker 2: I fear that that that that might be true for 1027 00:52:28,440 --> 00:52:29,600 Speaker 2: anyone in that situation. 1028 00:52:29,960 --> 00:52:30,640 Speaker 1: Yeah. 1029 00:52:30,680 --> 00:52:33,239 Speaker 4: So I'm Brittany, I'm living in I'm living in my 1030 00:52:33,280 --> 00:52:37,359 Speaker 4: house and I have no phone and if I want 1031 00:52:37,360 --> 00:52:41,640 Speaker 4: to go to the store to buy my In the documentary. 1032 00:52:41,440 --> 00:52:43,600 Speaker 1: There was like she couldn't. She said, you couldn't go to. 1033 00:52:43,640 --> 00:52:46,239 Speaker 4: The store to buy her kids some books, Like she 1034 00:52:46,280 --> 00:52:48,360 Speaker 4: would have to ask for permission and wait for the 1035 00:52:48,400 --> 00:52:51,560 Speaker 4: money and wait for approval to just do basic human 1036 00:52:51,640 --> 00:52:55,800 Speaker 4: things to go for a drive. It just seems so extreme, 1037 00:52:56,040 --> 00:52:58,840 Speaker 4: Like there's levels of conservatorships, like there could be financial 1038 00:52:58,920 --> 00:53:01,440 Speaker 4: conservatorships or whatever, but like to not be able to 1039 00:53:01,440 --> 00:53:03,480 Speaker 4: do anything anything. 1040 00:53:03,560 --> 00:53:06,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, I mean I think yes, from legal experts 1041 00:53:06,360 --> 00:53:09,120 Speaker 2: I've read talking about this, they say that someone who 1042 00:53:09,239 --> 00:53:12,440 Speaker 2: presented like Brittany, who was capable of working to the 1043 00:53:12,520 --> 00:53:15,880 Speaker 2: level that she was visibly capable of working, would never 1044 00:53:16,160 --> 00:53:20,799 Speaker 2: quote unquote have the courte approve of conservatorship. This this 1045 00:53:20,920 --> 00:53:24,160 Speaker 2: intense and this extreme that no normal quote quote person 1046 00:53:24,840 --> 00:53:28,760 Speaker 2: would have had this this strict kind of stuff imposed 1047 00:53:28,800 --> 00:53:31,040 Speaker 2: on them. But again, it goes back to this sort 1048 00:53:31,080 --> 00:53:35,359 Speaker 2: of like we've objectified her beyond comparison to a point 1049 00:53:35,360 --> 00:53:37,440 Speaker 2: where it's like, oh, but this is this is different, 1050 00:53:37,560 --> 00:53:40,000 Speaker 2: though this is different. One of the fucked up though, 1051 00:53:40,040 --> 00:53:43,080 Speaker 2: like double standards, was that at the beginning of the conservatorship, 1052 00:53:43,080 --> 00:53:45,520 Speaker 2: it was like, we can't get insurance on a tour 1053 00:53:45,560 --> 00:53:47,719 Speaker 2: if she's not in a conservatorship. That was some of 1054 00:53:47,760 --> 00:53:49,960 Speaker 2: what her family said. We only did it because the 1055 00:53:50,000 --> 00:53:52,319 Speaker 2: only way to get insurance on a tour is to 1056 00:53:52,440 --> 00:53:55,160 Speaker 2: put her in a conservatorship. But if she again, if 1057 00:53:55,200 --> 00:53:58,080 Speaker 2: she needs a conservatorship, then should she be touring? 1058 00:53:58,200 --> 00:54:01,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly, her stress full thing in the world. To 1059 00:54:01,080 --> 00:54:03,960 Speaker 1: go on a tour. That's not good for your mental health. No, 1060 00:54:04,200 --> 00:54:07,000 Speaker 1: I mean that's a tour is like people crack on tour. 1061 00:54:07,760 --> 00:54:11,240 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, it doesn't make any sense. 1062 00:54:11,360 --> 00:54:17,319 Speaker 4: Except financially, Jamie was making money as her conservator that 1063 00:54:17,400 --> 00:54:20,319 Speaker 4: he would not be making if he was not her conservator. 1064 00:54:20,840 --> 00:54:22,560 Speaker 4: And so what do you think the goal was of 1065 00:54:22,640 --> 00:54:26,120 Speaker 4: the level of restriction for him, Like, what did that achieve? 1066 00:54:26,960 --> 00:54:32,080 Speaker 2: I think a combination of making sure that nothing threatened 1067 00:54:32,120 --> 00:54:36,120 Speaker 2: the conservatorship, i e. If she's left alone with someone 1068 00:54:36,160 --> 00:54:39,160 Speaker 2: from the outside, they could fight for her to get 1069 00:54:39,160 --> 00:54:41,400 Speaker 2: free if she has enough time with someone. This is 1070 00:54:41,400 --> 00:54:46,200 Speaker 2: why they made all her boyfriends sign a very extensive contract, 1071 00:54:46,280 --> 00:54:48,360 Speaker 2: you know, background checks and then they would have to 1072 00:54:48,440 --> 00:54:51,960 Speaker 2: sign a contract was super extensive that would give you 1073 00:54:51,960 --> 00:54:53,719 Speaker 2: would have access to they would have access to the 1074 00:54:53,719 --> 00:54:57,200 Speaker 2: person's email, you know, because anything that might threaten the 1075 00:54:57,280 --> 00:55:00,839 Speaker 2: ongoing nature of the conservatorship and the ongoing profit they 1076 00:55:00,840 --> 00:55:03,160 Speaker 2: were trying to avoid. So that's some of the restrictions 1077 00:55:03,160 --> 00:55:07,040 Speaker 2: are that some of the restrictions are and this is 1078 00:55:07,640 --> 00:55:13,320 Speaker 2: my opinion, you know, to punish her just to be cruel, 1079 00:55:13,400 --> 00:55:15,040 Speaker 2: purely for the sake of cruelty. 1080 00:55:15,360 --> 00:55:16,920 Speaker 1: Maybe her dad was jealous. 1081 00:55:17,520 --> 00:55:19,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think there is just a lot. I think 1082 00:55:19,480 --> 00:55:20,840 Speaker 2: there is a lot in there. 1083 00:55:21,000 --> 00:55:23,960 Speaker 5: He wanted to He actually wanted to be Britney Spears. 1084 00:55:25,320 --> 00:55:27,200 Speaker 5: It's the creepiest thing I've ever heard. 1085 00:55:28,160 --> 00:55:31,520 Speaker 4: It's so culty in that, like, you know, that's exactly 1086 00:55:31,520 --> 00:55:35,600 Speaker 4: what cult leaders do. You can't talk to people on 1087 00:55:35,640 --> 00:55:38,280 Speaker 4: the outside. They're evil, You can't. I'm going to restrict 1088 00:55:38,280 --> 00:55:40,920 Speaker 4: your information. I'm going to prevent you from talking to 1089 00:55:40,960 --> 00:55:44,440 Speaker 4: anybody because they might lead you to question the power 1090 00:55:44,480 --> 00:55:47,400 Speaker 4: that I have over your life. And nothing should be 1091 00:55:47,400 --> 00:55:50,239 Speaker 4: allowed to threaten that power. So no, you can't have 1092 00:55:50,600 --> 00:55:51,719 Speaker 4: friends we don't approve of. 1093 00:55:51,840 --> 00:55:55,600 Speaker 5: And my power is permanent and forever, forever to eternity. 1094 00:55:56,160 --> 00:55:56,920 Speaker 1: Yeah. 1095 00:55:57,040 --> 00:56:00,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, to an extent that to any outsider seems where 1096 00:56:00,640 --> 00:56:03,920 Speaker 2: why would you? Why would you treat people that way 1097 00:56:03,920 --> 00:56:06,800 Speaker 2: who are so in a cult, so devoted to you? 1098 00:56:06,800 --> 00:56:09,440 Speaker 2: You know, at least with Brittany and Jamie, there was 1099 00:56:09,480 --> 00:56:12,000 Speaker 2: this like, oh, you're pushing back, you're rebelling, and so 1100 00:56:12,040 --> 00:56:13,880 Speaker 2: now I'm punishing you, and you're rebelling and so now 1101 00:56:13,920 --> 00:56:18,600 Speaker 2: I'm punishing you, kind of vicious cycle. Yeah, so how 1102 00:56:18,600 --> 00:56:18,880 Speaker 2: did she? 1103 00:56:19,800 --> 00:56:21,360 Speaker 1: Are you ready for this? Yeah? 1104 00:56:21,360 --> 00:56:24,840 Speaker 4: For the freedom question? You want to ask your vanilla question? 1105 00:56:25,120 --> 00:56:28,120 Speaker 4: I do, but I don't know if it's crazy. 1106 00:56:28,360 --> 00:56:28,879 Speaker 2: I'm here. 1107 00:56:28,920 --> 00:56:31,279 Speaker 5: I love a crazy question, Okay, And if you don't 1108 00:56:31,320 --> 00:56:36,200 Speaker 5: answer what does Britney spirits smell like? Because I imagine 1109 00:56:36,239 --> 00:56:40,560 Speaker 5: it's like vanilla and a hint of I don't know, 1110 00:56:41,400 --> 00:56:43,800 Speaker 5: Victoria's secret perfume or something beautiful. 1111 00:56:44,320 --> 00:56:48,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, I love that question. Oh good, Yes, And I 1112 00:56:49,640 --> 00:56:53,040 Speaker 2: feel like an asshole that I don't really remember or 1113 00:56:53,080 --> 00:56:56,759 Speaker 2: that it didn't rate with me enough to retain an 1114 00:56:56,800 --> 00:57:02,200 Speaker 2: old factory nothing not, I mean everything about her during 1115 00:57:02,239 --> 00:57:05,239 Speaker 2: the first portion of of like my encounters with her 1116 00:57:05,440 --> 00:57:08,440 Speaker 2: was super wholesome and cute and exactly what you would 1117 00:57:08,600 --> 00:57:12,360 Speaker 2: would exactly what you are, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, and 1118 00:57:12,560 --> 00:57:16,960 Speaker 2: just like messy ponytail and like comfy but cute outfit 1119 00:57:17,320 --> 00:57:20,280 Speaker 2: and like, you know, this isn't an answer to your question, 1120 00:57:20,320 --> 00:57:22,480 Speaker 2: but it's a very My favorite cute Britney story is 1121 00:57:22,480 --> 00:57:24,880 Speaker 2: like on occasion when I was interviewing her, and Felicia, 1122 00:57:24,920 --> 00:57:28,680 Speaker 2: her famous assistant also adorable, yeah, had gone to get 1123 00:57:28,880 --> 00:57:33,080 Speaker 2: Britney wanted quiz Nos. She wanted quiz Nos, and Felice 1124 00:57:33,120 --> 00:57:35,320 Speaker 2: went and got her her favorite sandwich from quiz Nos 1125 00:57:35,320 --> 00:57:37,000 Speaker 2: and it comes back. And they had asked if I 1126 00:57:37,000 --> 00:57:38,400 Speaker 2: want anything, I did, and I was just there to 1127 00:57:38,400 --> 00:57:40,800 Speaker 2: do an interview and Brittany's eating sandwich and She's like, 1128 00:57:40,840 --> 00:57:43,280 Speaker 2: oh my gosh, it's so good. You want to bite 1129 00:57:43,920 --> 00:57:45,920 Speaker 2: And I was like, I'm okay, I'm not going to 1130 00:57:46,040 --> 00:57:51,160 Speaker 2: bite your sandwich. Britney spears, you know. She was just like, 1131 00:57:51,200 --> 00:57:52,760 Speaker 2: you have to it's so good, you have to have 1132 00:57:52,760 --> 00:57:54,280 Speaker 2: a bit, you have to have a bunch. And she 1133 00:57:54,360 --> 00:57:55,880 Speaker 2: made me take a bite of her quiz nose. 1134 00:57:56,080 --> 00:57:57,880 Speaker 1: Oh my god, how was it? 1135 00:57:57,880 --> 00:57:59,760 Speaker 2: It was yummy? But I was also just I was 1136 00:57:59,800 --> 00:58:03,040 Speaker 2: just like, wow, like that's how. That's so sweet, like 1137 00:58:03,600 --> 00:58:08,400 Speaker 2: just normal and Brittany Jean, Yes, I'll take a bite 1138 00:58:08,440 --> 00:58:09,920 Speaker 2: of your quiz nose if you insists. 1139 00:58:10,000 --> 00:58:14,360 Speaker 5: Oh my god, quis nos has never gotten such a great. 1140 00:58:13,840 --> 00:58:16,080 Speaker 1: I'm like, yeah, I need one right now. I'm like, 1141 00:58:16,200 --> 00:58:16,680 Speaker 1: what what. 1142 00:58:16,680 --> 00:58:20,680 Speaker 3: Is quiz nos? Yeah? Okay, that that was all I 1143 00:58:20,720 --> 00:58:22,920 Speaker 3: needed to know about that. You can go to the 1144 00:58:22,960 --> 00:58:27,400 Speaker 3: final question. Okay, are we all talking like Brittany now? Well? 1145 00:58:27,480 --> 00:58:29,160 Speaker 4: Oh, by the way, I wrote a Britney song in 1146 00:58:29,200 --> 00:58:32,040 Speaker 4: twenty thirteen. What was happening with her in twenty thirteen? 1147 00:58:32,120 --> 00:58:33,440 Speaker 2: Dear, Oh my gosh, I don't know. 1148 00:58:33,960 --> 00:58:36,959 Speaker 1: It was her best year. It was the Smurfs two era. 1149 00:58:37,320 --> 00:58:39,520 Speaker 2: I do have one other very cute, funny Britney story 1150 00:58:39,520 --> 00:58:41,520 Speaker 2: if you have time for it, which is when we 1151 00:58:41,560 --> 00:58:43,240 Speaker 2: were talking about trying to do a memoir. So I 1152 00:58:43,240 --> 00:58:45,040 Speaker 2: had a couple of like meetups with her, kind of 1153 00:58:45,120 --> 00:58:47,240 Speaker 2: just us, and she was in New York and I 1154 00:58:47,280 --> 00:58:49,640 Speaker 2: was at her hotel and the TV was on while 1155 00:58:49,640 --> 00:58:52,840 Speaker 2: we were chatting, and American Idol had just finished, and 1156 00:58:52,880 --> 00:58:55,600 Speaker 2: at that time, House, you know, the medical drama would 1157 00:58:55,640 --> 00:58:58,680 Speaker 2: come on after and you know the opening credits, and 1158 00:58:58,720 --> 00:59:01,919 Speaker 2: that had that as attack tear Drop is the theme 1159 00:59:01,960 --> 00:59:05,840 Speaker 2: song is playing, and it's classic medical drama visuals where 1160 00:59:05,880 --> 00:59:09,240 Speaker 2: it's like pages from the anatomy book and X rays 1161 00:59:09,280 --> 00:59:11,960 Speaker 2: and stuff, and Brittany's like all scrunched up, head tilted, 1162 00:59:12,080 --> 00:59:16,439 Speaker 2: like confused Britney face, and she's like, she's like, why 1163 00:59:16,440 --> 00:59:22,120 Speaker 2: are they Why are they showing skeletons? Skeletons? And I 1164 00:59:22,280 --> 00:59:25,400 Speaker 2: was like, oh, because House is coming on. She's like huh. 1165 00:59:25,400 --> 00:59:27,280 Speaker 2: She's still sort of like what And I was like, oh, 1166 00:59:27,280 --> 00:59:29,800 Speaker 2: you know, it's like a medical drama and she's still like, 1167 00:59:30,000 --> 00:59:34,120 Speaker 2: all right, but why skeletons? Though I love you, I 1168 00:59:34,160 --> 00:59:36,720 Speaker 2: love you, I've gotten to the end of the why 1169 00:59:36,880 --> 00:59:40,120 Speaker 2: chain of answers. I don't know why. 1170 00:59:40,680 --> 00:59:41,800 Speaker 1: Because they're in the body. 1171 00:59:41,960 --> 00:59:44,760 Speaker 2: I don't know why skeletons though. 1172 00:59:45,280 --> 00:59:45,640 Speaker 4: Cute. 1173 00:59:45,960 --> 00:59:49,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, anyway, I love knowing that. 1174 00:59:49,480 --> 00:59:51,960 Speaker 4: Yeah, how did so how did you finally get free 1175 00:59:52,000 --> 00:59:54,080 Speaker 4: after it was it thirteen years? 1176 00:59:54,360 --> 00:59:57,320 Speaker 2: Yeah? Yeah, well, I guess the series of events my 1177 00:59:57,400 --> 00:59:59,640 Speaker 2: understanding of the series of events. You know, there's a 1178 00:59:59,640 --> 01:00:02,520 Speaker 2: couple of versions. One version is the dad Jamie was 1179 01:00:02,640 --> 01:00:05,360 Speaker 2: sick and that that was causing Britney to stress and 1180 01:00:05,400 --> 01:00:09,200 Speaker 2: that this catalyzed a series of things. The other version 1181 01:00:09,240 --> 01:00:11,640 Speaker 2: of the story is that Brittany they were talking about 1182 01:00:11,680 --> 01:00:14,320 Speaker 2: another Vegas show, the show was supposed to end, she 1183 01:00:14,440 --> 01:00:16,880 Speaker 2: didn't want to do anymore, and when she found out 1184 01:00:16,920 --> 01:00:19,600 Speaker 2: that they were planning more, she started to quote unquote 1185 01:00:19,680 --> 01:00:22,120 Speaker 2: act out, i e. Say, I don't want to do it. 1186 01:00:22,200 --> 01:00:24,760 Speaker 2: I'm not going to do it. And so in order 1187 01:00:24,800 --> 01:00:28,360 Speaker 2: to punish her for that, she was committed into this 1188 01:00:29,080 --> 01:00:32,360 Speaker 2: rehab where she was, as she's talked about, given lithium 1189 01:00:32,440 --> 01:00:37,919 Speaker 2: and really just you know, medically restrained. And that's when 1190 01:00:38,280 --> 01:00:40,720 Speaker 2: you know, there was this sort of the information leaked 1191 01:00:40,760 --> 01:00:43,760 Speaker 2: that she had been put in this rehab. That and 1192 01:00:43,800 --> 01:00:46,440 Speaker 2: this is when a lot of the Free Britney movement 1193 01:00:46,520 --> 01:00:49,640 Speaker 2: that had been going on for years started to surge 1194 01:00:49,680 --> 01:00:52,000 Speaker 2: and public awareness of it started to surge, and so 1195 01:00:52,080 --> 01:00:55,280 Speaker 2: in spring of twenty nineteen, everyone was talking about what's 1196 01:00:55,320 --> 01:00:57,800 Speaker 2: going on with Britney. Wait a minute. All of a 1197 01:00:57,840 --> 01:01:02,520 Speaker 2: sudden people started to quest and wait a minute, this 1198 01:01:02,840 --> 01:01:05,200 Speaker 2: is this okay? That she's in this conservatorship. You know, 1199 01:01:05,240 --> 01:01:07,720 Speaker 2: all these years later is some you know, attitudes change 1200 01:01:07,720 --> 01:01:09,960 Speaker 2: and people were starting to open their eyes to like, 1201 01:01:10,280 --> 01:01:13,080 Speaker 2: maybe this is too restrictive or maybe me I'm sitting 1202 01:01:13,120 --> 01:01:15,080 Speaker 2: over there, I'm just like, yeah, hello, I been saying this, 1203 01:01:15,680 --> 01:01:18,680 Speaker 2: saying this in two thousand and eight. But it's great 1204 01:01:18,760 --> 01:01:22,560 Speaker 2: that it was fans and the public and this online 1205 01:01:22,600 --> 01:01:25,640 Speaker 2: movement of people who really brought it home as much 1206 01:01:25,720 --> 01:01:28,720 Speaker 2: as there were other factors. Whether it was just the 1207 01:01:28,800 --> 01:01:33,400 Speaker 2: timing and you know, the New York Times documentary kicked 1208 01:01:33,400 --> 01:01:36,800 Speaker 2: open a door certainly, and just all of the renewed 1209 01:01:36,840 --> 01:01:41,040 Speaker 2: focus on it, and eventually, you know, Rosengart getting in 1210 01:01:41,080 --> 01:01:43,640 Speaker 2: there and really advocating for her. All of these things 1211 01:01:43,720 --> 01:01:45,600 Speaker 2: led to it. But I think the public pressure from 1212 01:01:45,600 --> 01:01:48,280 Speaker 2: Free Brittany is a huge part of why the same 1213 01:01:48,400 --> 01:01:50,720 Speaker 2: judge who for years had been rubber stamping it to 1214 01:01:50,800 --> 01:01:55,680 Speaker 2: continue finally you know undertook to end and Jamie the 1215 01:01:55,720 --> 01:01:59,600 Speaker 2: ACLU were like, we support Brittany. And finally Jamie, who 1216 01:01:59,640 --> 01:02:03,200 Speaker 2: has been in failing health and had been like said okay, yeah, 1217 01:02:03,600 --> 01:02:06,800 Speaker 2: I'll step down. And so it just then momentum finally 1218 01:02:06,800 --> 01:02:10,200 Speaker 2: built toward it ending, you know that fall. Wow, and 1219 01:02:10,240 --> 01:02:13,760 Speaker 2: her testimony, right, her testimony was so powerful, so powerful? 1220 01:02:14,720 --> 01:02:17,640 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, And what did it feel like when you 1221 01:02:17,720 --> 01:02:18,200 Speaker 1: found out? 1222 01:02:18,600 --> 01:02:24,680 Speaker 2: I mean just crying, happy, thrilled. Working on the documentary 1223 01:02:24,680 --> 01:02:26,840 Speaker 2: that I was a part of Britney Versus Spears, Like, 1224 01:02:27,440 --> 01:02:33,680 Speaker 2: was so emotional and intense and traumatic and scary but fulfilling. 1225 01:02:34,000 --> 01:02:36,480 Speaker 2: And so there were so many moments. I mean, her 1226 01:02:37,200 --> 01:02:41,800 Speaker 2: testimony just just broke me, you know, for sure, Like yeah, 1227 01:02:42,520 --> 01:02:45,280 Speaker 2: but and when Jamie stepped down, I was just like, 1228 01:02:45,640 --> 01:02:47,880 Speaker 2: I think it's happening. I think it's happening. You know, 1229 01:02:48,160 --> 01:02:53,880 Speaker 2: that was major moment. But yeah, I definitely cried a 1230 01:02:53,920 --> 01:02:56,600 Speaker 2: lot of tears of joy for her when it ended. 1231 01:02:57,240 --> 01:02:59,440 Speaker 4: Yeah. I hope it sheds a light for people on 1232 01:02:59,560 --> 01:03:02,760 Speaker 4: how conservatorships can be abused. 1233 01:03:03,320 --> 01:03:05,680 Speaker 1: I like, would that we could all have a. 1234 01:03:05,680 --> 01:03:08,760 Speaker 4: Free Prinney movement if you know, if somebody is being 1235 01:03:08,920 --> 01:03:10,880 Speaker 4: controlled to that degree when they shouldn't be. 1236 01:03:11,360 --> 01:03:11,800 Speaker 1: But I'm so. 1237 01:03:12,440 --> 01:03:15,920 Speaker 4: I mean, thank God, thank God for all those fans 1238 01:03:15,960 --> 01:03:18,640 Speaker 4: and podcasts and journalists and people like you like fighting 1239 01:03:18,680 --> 01:03:19,600 Speaker 4: for that for so long. 1240 01:03:19,920 --> 01:03:21,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, I hope we don't do it to her again, 1241 01:03:22,040 --> 01:03:24,840 Speaker 2: you know. I hope that people will just take a 1242 01:03:24,840 --> 01:03:27,520 Speaker 2: step back when they're looking at some something she puts 1243 01:03:27,520 --> 01:03:31,960 Speaker 2: online and ask themselves before they say, what's what's wrong 1244 01:03:32,040 --> 01:03:34,680 Speaker 2: with her? Or think that thought, to just pause and 1245 01:03:35,080 --> 01:03:39,200 Speaker 2: imagine it's your kooky cousin or you know, it's just 1246 01:03:39,240 --> 01:03:44,160 Speaker 2: someone not Britney TM, you know, and think like maybe 1247 01:03:44,400 --> 01:03:46,920 Speaker 2: just maybe she should just be free to be her 1248 01:03:47,120 --> 01:03:49,560 Speaker 2: and we've gotten enough, We've extracted enough from her at 1249 01:03:49,560 --> 01:03:52,480 Speaker 2: this point. Let's just let her live her life comfortably 1250 01:03:52,520 --> 01:03:53,320 Speaker 2: however she wants. 1251 01:03:53,400 --> 01:03:55,600 Speaker 1: M Well, that answered. It's my next question, which was 1252 01:03:55,640 --> 01:03:57,640 Speaker 1: what do you wish for her going forward? But I 1253 01:03:57,720 --> 01:03:58,360 Speaker 1: like that answer. 1254 01:03:58,760 --> 01:04:00,960 Speaker 4: Can you just tell us where people can find your 1255 01:04:01,040 --> 01:04:04,360 Speaker 4: work at, both with this documentary and others. 1256 01:04:04,680 --> 01:04:07,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, the documentary is on Netflix. It's called Britney Versus 1257 01:04:07,320 --> 01:04:10,480 Speaker 2: Spears and it's still there. It's there from twenty twenty one. 1258 01:04:10,640 --> 01:04:13,520 Speaker 2: And I have a podcast called LSQ, which is like 1259 01:04:13,600 --> 01:04:15,880 Speaker 2: the phonetic version of my last name, and it's you know, 1260 01:04:16,120 --> 01:04:19,440 Speaker 2: long form interviews with music artists, and it's in all 1261 01:04:19,440 --> 01:04:21,680 Speaker 2: the different places you find podcasts. And then I also 1262 01:04:21,680 --> 01:04:24,880 Speaker 2: am a host on SERIOUSXM, on Serious XMU and on 1263 01:04:24,920 --> 01:04:27,000 Speaker 2: the Spectrum every damn day. 1264 01:04:27,360 --> 01:04:30,400 Speaker 1: Hell Aiaz, thank you so much for joining us, Thanks 1265 01:04:30,400 --> 01:04:33,320 Speaker 1: for having me. Wow wow Wow. 1266 01:04:33,680 --> 01:04:40,200 Speaker 4: Indeed, Megan, I think that the question today is whether 1267 01:04:40,400 --> 01:04:45,360 Speaker 4: you would want to have the level of stardom and 1268 01:04:45,720 --> 01:04:49,920 Speaker 4: extreme celebrity that Britney Spears has had in her life. 1269 01:04:50,480 --> 01:04:52,280 Speaker 5: Would I join the cult of stardom? 1270 01:04:52,400 --> 01:04:54,600 Speaker 1: Yes? Absolutely? 1271 01:04:54,840 --> 01:04:59,480 Speaker 4: No. Really, what if this podcast got so big that 1272 01:04:59,560 --> 01:05:02,120 Speaker 4: it was the I guess podcast that had ever existed, 1273 01:05:02,760 --> 01:05:05,600 Speaker 4: you still say no, Well, I. 1274 01:05:05,480 --> 01:05:09,720 Speaker 5: Don't think a super big podcast is ever going to 1275 01:05:09,760 --> 01:05:13,280 Speaker 5: have the level of people freaking out that a pop 1276 01:05:13,320 --> 01:05:13,920 Speaker 5: star has. 1277 01:05:14,520 --> 01:05:15,880 Speaker 1: That would be what scares me. 1278 01:05:16,560 --> 01:05:20,920 Speaker 5: I do want to be successful, but I really value 1279 01:05:21,040 --> 01:05:21,920 Speaker 5: being invisible. 1280 01:05:23,160 --> 01:05:23,400 Speaker 1: Yeah. 1281 01:05:23,440 --> 01:05:25,800 Speaker 4: You know, my roommate and I were just talking about. 1282 01:05:25,880 --> 01:05:27,680 Speaker 4: She was just saying how much she loves going to 1283 01:05:27,720 --> 01:05:29,480 Speaker 4: the coffee shop and not getting dressed up because it's 1284 01:05:29,480 --> 01:05:32,040 Speaker 4: like nobody can see her and that's like such a 1285 01:05:32,120 --> 01:05:35,760 Speaker 4: nice anonymous feeling. And I do think we take that 1286 01:05:35,800 --> 01:05:39,520 Speaker 4: for granted as people who are not megastars, because if 1287 01:05:39,560 --> 01:05:43,120 Speaker 4: you do switch over and get to that point like yeah, 1288 01:05:43,240 --> 01:05:47,080 Speaker 4: then suddenly everyone has an opinion on any little thing 1289 01:05:47,160 --> 01:05:47,560 Speaker 4: you said. 1290 01:05:47,840 --> 01:05:51,240 Speaker 1: Making a mistake is like you're fucked. Yeah, you just. 1291 01:05:51,160 --> 01:05:52,560 Speaker 4: Don't get the same grace that you would give like 1292 01:05:52,600 --> 01:05:55,480 Speaker 4: a friend, you know, and yeah, just it's a level 1293 01:05:55,480 --> 01:06:01,560 Speaker 4: of scrutiny that seems really scary, and yeah, stalkers and like, 1294 01:06:01,600 --> 01:06:04,480 Speaker 4: but I also want to be successful obviously, but I 1295 01:06:04,480 --> 01:06:06,240 Speaker 4: want to be successful, I think, like in a very 1296 01:06:06,280 --> 01:06:07,280 Speaker 4: specific way. 1297 01:06:07,440 --> 01:06:11,760 Speaker 5: Sam, But yeah, it is that balance of like I 1298 01:06:11,840 --> 01:06:14,120 Speaker 5: want to be successful, I want to live up to 1299 01:06:14,160 --> 01:06:19,919 Speaker 5: my potential. I also want to run my errands and 1300 01:06:20,520 --> 01:06:23,160 Speaker 5: not worry that somebody's going to take a picture of 1301 01:06:23,160 --> 01:06:25,200 Speaker 5: me and be like, she looks like shit. 1302 01:06:25,720 --> 01:06:27,560 Speaker 1: I also don't want that much power. 1303 01:06:27,720 --> 01:06:31,360 Speaker 4: That's too scary if like if like yeah, thousands or 1304 01:06:31,440 --> 01:06:34,920 Speaker 4: god forbid, millions of people like listen to what you say, 1305 01:06:35,000 --> 01:06:36,480 Speaker 4: and you what if you say the wrong thing? 1306 01:06:36,520 --> 01:06:39,120 Speaker 1: What if you guide them in the wrong direction? That's terrifying. 1307 01:06:39,720 --> 01:06:43,880 Speaker 4: You know, Like having influences is great for championing, you know, 1308 01:06:43,960 --> 01:06:47,200 Speaker 4: important issues, but then also like we're all imperfect and 1309 01:06:47,280 --> 01:06:47,840 Speaker 4: like what if I. 1310 01:06:48,200 --> 01:06:51,920 Speaker 1: Go if my influence wrong, Like that's terrifying, right. 1311 01:06:52,200 --> 01:06:55,040 Speaker 5: I guess that's important to remember is that you know, 1312 01:06:55,160 --> 01:06:58,760 Speaker 5: everybody's opinions are ever evolving. So even if you are 1313 01:06:58,800 --> 01:07:01,600 Speaker 5: a super fan of somebody, maybe like give them the 1314 01:07:01,680 --> 01:07:04,960 Speaker 5: room to change and don't completely attire your identity too 1315 01:07:05,400 --> 01:07:07,160 Speaker 5: something that might not feel right to. 1316 01:07:07,120 --> 01:07:10,720 Speaker 4: You, or really anything, any one thing. Any tire your 1317 01:07:10,720 --> 01:07:14,280 Speaker 4: identity to one single thing. That's the danger zone. Oh 1318 01:07:14,360 --> 01:07:17,400 Speaker 4: there it is there, it is, thank you a danger zone. 1319 01:07:17,600 --> 01:07:20,000 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, yep, yep, yep. 1320 01:07:20,160 --> 01:07:22,960 Speaker 5: Always have a large group of celebrities that you are 1321 01:07:23,040 --> 01:07:23,680 Speaker 5: obsessed with. 1322 01:07:23,800 --> 01:07:26,640 Speaker 4: Yeah yeah, be a super fan of like ten people 1323 01:07:26,680 --> 01:07:31,560 Speaker 4: and not just one. Y'all, thank you so much for 1324 01:07:31,600 --> 01:07:34,640 Speaker 4: spending another week with us. As always, remember to rate 1325 01:07:34,720 --> 01:07:37,120 Speaker 4: us five stars. Go get some march if you want. 1326 01:07:37,160 --> 01:07:40,760 Speaker 1: Exactly right store dot com. Exactly right store dot com. 1327 01:07:41,040 --> 01:07:44,120 Speaker 5: We say we don't want to be megastars, but we 1328 01:07:44,200 --> 01:07:45,800 Speaker 5: do want to see you wearing our march. 1329 01:07:45,920 --> 01:07:48,480 Speaker 1: So we're having cognitive doesn't. 1330 01:07:48,240 --> 01:07:53,520 Speaker 4: It for the special club of our our fans, the unique, 1331 01:07:53,560 --> 01:07:54,600 Speaker 4: small special club. 1332 01:07:54,920 --> 01:07:58,840 Speaker 5: Yes, and as always, remember to follow your gut, watch 1333 01:07:58,880 --> 01:08:00,440 Speaker 5: out for red flags. 1334 01:08:00,280 --> 01:08:05,480 Speaker 1: And never ever trusts me. Bye. 1335 01:08:06,760 --> 01:08:10,160 Speaker 4: This has been an exactly right production hosted by me Lola. 1336 01:08:09,840 --> 01:08:13,200 Speaker 5: Blanc and Me Megan Elizabeth. Our senior producer is G. 1337 01:08:13,400 --> 01:08:15,840 Speaker 1: Holly. This episode was mixed by John Bradley. 1338 01:08:16,000 --> 01:08:19,280 Speaker 5: Our associate producer is Christina Chamberlain, and our guest booker 1339 01:08:19,400 --> 01:08:20,439 Speaker 5: is Patrick Kuttner. 1340 01:08:20,760 --> 01:08:23,120 Speaker 1: Our theme song was composed by Holly amber Church. 1341 01:08:23,400 --> 01:08:27,440 Speaker 4: Trust Me as executive produced by Karen Kilgareth Georgia Hartstark 1342 01:08:27,520 --> 01:08:30,040 Speaker 4: and Daniel Kramer. You can find us on Instagram at 1343 01:08:30,080 --> 01:08:33,280 Speaker 4: trust Me podcast or on TikTok at trust Me coult podcast. 1344 01:08:33,600 --> 01:08:36,680 Speaker 5: Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, our manipulation, 1345 01:08:37,040 --> 01:08:40,080 Speaker 5: Shoot us an email at trustmepod at gmail dot com. 1346 01:08:40,080 --> 01:08:43,000 Speaker 4: Listen to trust Me on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 1347 01:08:43,120 --> 01:08:45,960 Speaker 4: or wherever you get your podcasts