Britney Spears’ cousin singer’s father Jamie ‘100% threatened’ her life

Britney Spears’ cousin, who was also her assistant more than a decade ago, has claimed the singer’s father, James ‘Jaime’ Spears, said something bad would happen to her if she didn’t cut ties with the pop star. 

Alli Sims, who worked as Britney’s paid assistant in 2007, told NBC News: ‘He [Jaime] 100 per cent was threatening me with my life.’

Sims said she ‘didn’t put it past him’ so she didn’t answer any of Britney’s calls after that alleged conversation. 

She then pointed to the FX and Hulu documentary ‘The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney.’ The documentary’s historical look at the circumstances that led to the establishment of the conservatorship in 2008 have spurred sympathy for Britney Spears and brought greater attention to the case and the so-called #FreeBritney movement of fans who want to see her released and given control of her life. 

Those fans increasingly include celebrities. Many including Bette Midler tweeted the #FreeBritney hashtag after the documentary aired. Miley Cyrus shouted ‘We love Britney!’ during her pre-Super Bowl performance.

‘How do you watch that documentary and be in it and live in that and not say anything when it has gone on for so long?’ Sims said. 

Britney Spears and Alli Sims at Scandinavian Style Mansion on December 1, 2007, in Beverly Hills, California

Britney Spears’ cousin, Alli Sims (pictured left and right with Britney), who was also her assistant more than a decade ago, has claimed that the singer’s father, James ‘Jaime’ Spears, said something bad would happen to her if she didn’t cut ties with the pop star

Alli Sims, who worked as Britney's paid assistant in 2007, told NBC News: 'He [Jaime] 100 per cent was threatening me with my life.' Sims said she 'didn't put it past him' so she didn't answer any of Britney's calls after that alleged conversation. Britney's father, Jaime Spears, is pictured

Alli Sims, who worked as Britney’s paid assistant in 2007, told NBC News: ‘He [Jaime] 100 per cent was threatening me with my life.’ Sims said she ‘didn’t put it past him’ so she didn’t answer any of Britney’s calls after that alleged conversation. Britney’s father, Jaime Spears, is pictured

Sims then pointed to documentary 'The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney.' The documentary's look at the circumstances that led to the establishment of the conservatorship in 2008 have spurred the so-called #FreeBritney movement (fans pictured on February 11)

Sims then pointed to documentary ‘The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney.’ The documentary’s look at the circumstances that led to the establishment of the conservatorship in 2008 have spurred the so-called #FreeBritney movement (fans pictured on February 11)

Jamie Spears’ attorneys did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment about Sims’ claims. 

The outcry for Britney to be given control over her life also prompted her ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake to release an apology to her and Janet Jackson in a lengthy post that was shared on social media on Friday. 

Timberlake said he wanted to release the apology ‘because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed’.

‘I’ve seen the messages, tags, comments, and concerns and I want to respond. I am deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn, or did not speak up for what was right. I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism,’ he wrote. 

In response to his apology, Sims said her first reaction was ‘wow’. She told NBC: ‘You know everybody makes mistakes, and he wasn’t perfect.’

The documentary also aired an old interview when Timberlake spoke about sleeping with Spears and indicated that he ridiculed her by hiring a look-a-like for his Cry Me a River music video. Fans called out Timberlake for contributing to Spears’ very public breakdown and controlling the narrative about the end of their relationship. 

‘For it to all fall in her lap and her be blamed for everything was just not right,’ Sims said.  

Sims’ interview comes just days after attorneys for Britney and her father sparred over how he should share power with a financial company newly appointed as his partner in the conservatorship that controls her money. 

The outcry for Britney to be given control over her life also prompted her ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake to release an apology to her and Janet Jackson in a lengthy post that was shared on social media on Friday. Timberlake and Spears (pictured in 2000) dated from 1998 until 2002

The outcry for Britney to be given control over her life also prompted her ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake to release an apology to her and Janet Jackson in a lengthy post that was shared on social media on Friday. Timberlake and Spears (pictured in 2000) dated from 1998 until 2002

Britney is pictured with Sims in 2007

Alli Sims

In response to Timberlake’s apology, Sims (left with Britney in 2007) said her first reaction was ‘wow’. She added: ‘You know everybody makes mistakes, and he wasn’t perfect’

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny overruled an objection of Jamie Spears’ attorney, Vivian Lee Thoreen, who argued that he should not yield previously granted rights and powers while working with his new co-conservator, The Bessemer Trust.

Thoreen had argued that the proposed order drafted by Britney’s court-appointed attorney Samuel Ingham III to appoint the new co-conservator was ‘unclear and ambiguous by design’ as he seeks to take authority away from Jamie Spears.  

In a statement to The Associated Press after the hearing, Thoreen said ‘the rulings show the court’s confidence in our client Jamie Spears and Bessemer Trust to manage the conservatorship of Ms. Spears’ estate together’.

Thoreen said Jamie Spears ‘looks forward to working with Bessemer … in the best interests of his daughter’.

While the judge’s decision can be seen as a minor victory for Britney Spears and Ingham, appointed by the court to speak directly for her in the conservatorship’s decisions, Ingham repeated that her goal is to have her father out entirely. 

‘It is no secret that my client does not want her father as co-conservator,’ Ingham said. ‘But we recognize that removal is a separate issue.’

The judge declined Ingham’s request to suspend Jamie Spears as conservator at a dramatic and contentious hearing in November, at which Ingham said that Britney feared her father and refused to resume her career so long as he had power over it. 

Thoreen said the statements were inadmissible hearsay that did not reflect the reality of the situation.

Penny instead appointed the Bessemer Trust as a co-conservator, leading to the current fight over power-sharing.

Thursday’s hearing was more technical and less emotional than November’s hearing.   

#FreeBritney protesters, some of whom were interviewed in the New York Times documentary, were chanting and holding signs at the downtown LA courthouse on Thursday.

Thoreen defended the work of the conservatorship.

‘From the beginning, the court has closely monitored Britney’s situation,’ her statement to the AP said, ‘including annual accountings and in-depth reviews from a highly experienced and dedicated court investigator’.

At Thursday’s hearing, Thoreen emphasized that Britney asked for and approved of her father’s role as recently as 2019.

‘Ms Spears reflected in court papers that she wanted her father to be the sole conservator of her estate,’ Thoreen said.

Jamie Spears has repeatedly emphasized the need for the conservatorship in order to protect his daughter from those who would, or already have, preyed on her.

‘My client Jamie Spears has diligently and professionally carried out his duties as one of Britney’s conservators,’ Thoreen’s statement said, ‘and his love for his daughter and dedication to protecting her is clearly apparent to the court’.

Britney did not take part in part in the hearing. She rarely appears in court.

Now 39 and the mother of two sons, she has not performed, recorded music or made media appearances since declaring a career hiatus early in 2019.