Here’s everything you need to know about the Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears back-and-forth
Getty Images/Instagram/@jamielynnspears
With the #FreeBritney movement reaching a fever pitch in 2021, resulting in Britney Spears’ 13-year-long conservatorship being terminated, the public interest in the Spears saga has reached new heights. While the rest of Britney’s family has refrained from speaking publicly, Brit’s younger sister Jamie Lynn has released a book, Things I Should Have Said, and has gone on a whirlwind press tour to promote it.
During her interviews, she has revealed private details about Britney’s mental state at times, their fraught relationship, and the aftermath of Britney's breakup with Justin Timberlake. Britney has responded in kind, using her official Instagram and Twitter accounts to clap back at some of her sister’s claims.
It’s been a rough January for the Spears sisters. Here’s how it all went down.
Jamie Lynn goes on GMA
In her first public book appearance, Jamie Lynn appeared on Good Morning America, and denied playing an active role in Britney’s conservatorship.
"There was a time when my sister asked me, off her trust and will, if I would be the person that ensured her boys got what they needed. Whether she's in a conservatorship or not, that was a very normal thing I thought. Once I realized that, 'You know, she's in a conservatorship,' I just didn't want to be a part of it until maybe she was out of the conservatorship. There was no me overseeing funds or something like that. And if that was, that was a misunderstanding. Either way, I took no steps to be a part of it," she said.
Britney claps back
Britney was not happy with Jamie Lynn’s account, and took to her official Twitter to post statements countering Jamie Lynn’s attention-grab.
"Looked at my phone and I see that my sister did her interview to promote her book ... I watched it with a 104 fever lol and it was actually kind of nice having a fever so high cause I had to surrender to not caring," she wrote.
"She was never around me much 15 years ago at that time. So why are they even talking about that unless she wants to sell a book at my expense??? REALLY???"
Jamie Lynn tries to take the high road... on Instagram
JL was not pleased with Brit’s assessment of the situation, so she posted a statement to her IG, turning off the comments section in the process, to rebuke her sister’s words.
"I hate to burst my sister's bubble, but my book is not about her. I can't help that I was born a Spears too, and that some of my experiences involve my sister. I've worked hard since before I was even a teenager, and I've built my career in spite of just being someone's little sister," she wrote.
Adding, "There are no sides, and I don't want drama, but I'm speaking my truth to heal my trauma, so I can close this chapter and move forward, and I wish my sister could do the same. No matter what comes, I will always love my big sister, and be here for her. It's time to put an end to the unhealthy chaos that has controlled my life for so long."
Jamie Lynn says Britney's conduct was "erratic," "paranoid" and "spiraling"
Continuing the media blast, JL went on Nightline to claim that her sister once held them both in a room, brandishing a knife.
Britney calls her sister "scum"
“Congrats babe you've stooped to a whole new level of LOW... I've never been around you ever with a knife or would I ever think to do such!!!" Britney responded on Twitter.
"Please stop with these crazy lies for Hollywood books!!!" she continued. "NOW and only NOW I do know only a scum person would make up such things about someone."
Jamie Lynn goes on IG to beg Britney to stay off IG
JL took to her IG stories to post a message directly to Britney (she does know she can DM her, right?), begging her sister to keep their feud off of social media.
“Britney — just call me,” she wrote. “I have attempted many times to speak to you directly and handle this privately like sisters should, but you still choose to do everything on a public platform.”
Jamie Lynn breaks down feeling inferior to Britney growing up
On the Call Her Daddy podcast, JL’s most recent interview, she explained that she had grown up thinking her feelings didn't matter because it was all about Britney. She also continued to speak about that alleged knife incident, and spoke at length about the paparazzi that stalked her when she became pregnant at 16.
Britney's IG lights up
In response to the podcast interview, Britney wrote on IG, “In life a lot of people say 'DO I MATTER ????' … try eating alone for 4 months morning ☀️ … noon 🕛 … and night 🌙 Jamie Lynn.”
“I asked myself every day ‘DOES ANYBODY CARE ??? WTF ??? DO I MATTER ???’ I would honestly be very interested to see your pretty face in the setting I was forced to be in and asking yourself ‘DO I MATTER ???'” Spears continued, still addressing her sister directly, with an Alanis Morrisette track in the background of the video.
“I didn’t get to cry 😢 … I had to be strong … TOO STRONG 💪🏼 !!! So yes … YOU DO MATTER and don’t you ever think for one f**king second you don’t.”
An hour later, Brit writes she should have slapped her sister's face
Back on IG, Britney posted at length about her turmoil following her 2002 breakup with Justin Timberlake, something that Jamie Lynn also discusses in her book.
Her caption reads, in full:
“I flew home to Jamie Lynn on the couch watching her tv shows right after Justin and I broke up… I was a ghost there 👻 !!!!! I had worked my whole life and I didn’t know how to be served by Mamma … Sit there and get served the chocolate milkshakes with the perfectly crushed ice with the secret chunky sugar meanwhile Jamie Lynn is 12, she indulges with the TV for hours then goes to lay out on a raft at the pool … I’m in shock because this was never my life !!!!”
She continues, “Justin’s family was all I knew for many years ... Things were different now and Jamie Lynn had a new Nickelodeon show … All I remember saying was ‘DAMN !!! How the hell does a 12 year old land a Nickelodeon show ????’ ….. HMMMMMMMM …. Well I never got my iced chocolate drink 🤷🏼♀️🥤 !!! I mean yeah … I’m grown up right ??? But then maybe I might need a little support …”
“It was a People Magazine cover … The people show up and as Jamie Lynn says, I was scared !!!! F**k yeah !!! My Mamma was on pain medication and could barely hold a conversation in the house because her and my dad split and she was more messed up than anything !!!! I remember her sitting on the floor in a conversation and she never got up… and I’m sorry Jamie Lynn, I wasn’t strong enough to do what should have been done … slapped you and Mamma right across your f**king faces !!!!!”
So this is where we’re at.
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