Last Friday, FX released a new documentary called Framing Britney, which details the facts, theories, and events surrounding Britney Spears‘s ongoing conservatorship battle with her father, Jamie Spears.
While examining the legal arrangement established in 2008 — which grants Jamie the right to manage his daughter’s career, personal life and finances — the film also takes a closer look at the fan-led #FreeBritney movement, the pop icon’s treatment from the media and much more. To create the documentary, New York Times producers weaved together old clips and video footage along with commentary from various sources, including Britney’s former assistant, Felicia Bulotta, her former lawyer Adam Streisand and videographer Daniel Ramos (whose car she smashed with an umbrella in 2007 after her cousin repeatedly asked him to stop recording Britney and he didn’t). Notably missing from the list of sources, however, is Britney herself, which raises questions about the pop icon’s involvement in the project.
As noted at the very end of the documentary, The Times attempted to reach Britney’s team to request her participation and input on the film. But back when The Times was creating the film, it was reportedly “unclear” whether Britney “received the requests” at all, especially given Jamie’s alleged control over Britney’s image and career.
Meanwhile, The Times also tried to get commentary from the following people in Britney’s life but their representatives allegedly didn’t respond and/or declined requests to be interviewed on camera: Jamie (Britney’s father), Lynne Spears (Britney’s mother), Jamie Lynn Spears (Britney’s sister), Bryan Spears (Britney’s brother), Andrew Wallet (Britney’s former co-conservator), Samuel D. Ingham III (Britney’s attorney), and Sam Lutfi (Britney’s former manager).
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the documentary’s director, Samantha Stark, said that she felt a “big ethical conflict” knowing that Britney wasn’t going to be able to tell her side of the story — but at the same time, she reiterated that the production team tried multiple times to get Britney’s perspective.
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“Most of the time as The New York Times, if I want to interview somebody who’s famous, I would call up their publicist and say, ‘Can you send this request to this person?'” Samantha told the outlet. “A lot of times, the person will review it and give it back to the publicist. But we’re unclear whether that happened.”
She continued: “We went through those usual places, and then we also went through people who know her or know people who know her to get requests in. So, we asked in several different ways, but it is still unclear if she definitely got them.”
Samantha’s team even tried to direct message Britney on social media to get her attention to no avail.
“Since Britney has such a tight circle around her, in part because of the conservatorship — or it’s allowed to be that way because of the conservatorship — journalists haven’t really been able to interview her freely. We, as The New York Times, haven’t interviewed her, because we want to be able to do it freely with no one trying to adjust what she says or anything,” Samantha explained. “It just feels like you can’t ask Britney.”
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Alas, Britney hasn’t been totally silent about the film. Days after the release of Framing Britney, the singer shared a video of herself performing her hit “Toxic” from three years ago. “I’ll always love being on stage …. but I am taking the time to learn and be a normal person ….. I love simply enjoying the basics of every day life !!!!,” she tweeted.
In a follow-up tweet, Britney wrote, “Each person has their story and their take on other people’s stories !!!! We all have so many different bright beautiful lives!!! Remember, no matter what we think we know about a person’s life it is nothing compared to the actual person living behind the lens !!!!”
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Meanwhile, Britney’s boyfriend of four years, Sam Asghari, is standing by her one hundred percent.
“I have always wanted nothing but the best for my better half, and will continue to support her following her dreams and creating the future she wants and deserves,” he told PEOPLE. “I am thankful for all of the love and support she is receiving from her fans all over the world, and I am looking forward to a normal, amazing future together.”
As it stands, Jamie is listed as a co-conservator of Britney’s estate alongside corporate fiduciary Bessemer Trust. Britney’s conservatorship case went back to court on Thursday. While there, a judge tossed out Jamie’s objections to sharing conservatorship responsibilities. Per NBC News, both Bessemer Trust and Jamie are now expected to work together on a budget and investment proposal for Britney’s estate. Another hearing is scheduled to take place next month.
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