Britney Spears plans to ‘officially retire’, says her long-time manager

Last month (June 23), Britney Spears voiced an emotional testimony to the Los Angeles court handling her conservatorship case, asking for the 13-year legal arrangement to be ended after enduring years of abuse from her father, Jamie Spears. Following the testimony, a new report by the New Yorker’s Jia Tolentino has revealed further details of Spears’ conservatorship arrangement – exposing that her social media is vetted by a ten-person management team and that Spears called 911 to report herself as a victim of conservatorship abuse. 

Now, Spears’ long-time manager Larry Rudolph has stated that the singer is planning to “officially resign”. 

Rudolph – who has managed Spears since the mid-90s – revealed Spears’ plans in his own resignation letter, which was addressed to Jamie Spears and Britney’s caregiver, Jodi Montgomery. According to the letter, Rudolph decided to step down following news of Spears’ retirement.

“It has been over two-and-a-half years since Britney and I last communicated, at which time she informed me she wanted to take an indefinite work hiatus. Earlier today, I became aware that Britney had been voicing her intention to officially retire,” stated Rudolph, who explained he had no role in the conservatorship or its operations. “As her manager, I believe it is in Britney‘s best interest for me to resign from her team as my professional services are no longer needed.”

Otherwise, Rudolph showed support for the singer, stating: “I will always be incredibly proud of what we accomplished over our 25 years together. I wish Britney all the health and happiness in the world, and I’ll be there for her if she ever needs me again, just as I always have been.”

Following Spears’ testimony, celebrities and fans have joined together under the #FreeBritney banner to show support for the pop star. Among these was early 00s musician Christina Aguilera, who penned an open letter online and Iggy Azalea, who shared a story of Jamie Spears’ controlling behaviour backstage at the 2015 BMAs.

Yesterday (July 5), Space X and Tesla founder, Elon Musk, joined the list, simply tweeting out “Free Britney”. So far the tweet has amassed over 399k likes and 52k retweets, as well as a response from Musk’s wife Grimes which stated: “Thank u.” We love to see billionaires doing the bare minimum! 

Check out the tweet, and read Spears’ former manager’s full resignation letter below.

James P. Spears and Jodi Montgomery, as co-executors of the estate of Britney Spears:

It has been over 2 1/2 years since Britney and I last communicated, at which time she informed me she wanted to take an indefinite work hiatus. Earlier today, I became aware that Britney had been voicing her intention to officially retire.

As you know, I have never been a part of the conservatorship nor its operations, so I am not privy to many of these details. I was originally hired at Britney’s request to help manage and assist her with her career. And as her manager, I believe it is in Britney’s best interest for me to resign from her team as my professional services are no longer needed.

Please accept this letter as my formal resignation.

I will always be incredibly proud of what we accomplished over our 25 years together. I wish Britney all the health and happiness in the world, and I’ll be there for her if she ever needs me again, just as I always have been.

Larry Rudolph