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Artist News Legal
Britney Spears secures new restraining order against former manager
By Andy Malt | Published on Friday 14 June 2019
Britney Spears’ father James has secured a five year restraining order against the singer’s former manager Sam Lutfi. Under the terms of the order, Lutfi is barred from contacting Britney or any member of her family, and from making disparaging statements about them on the internet.
James Spears has managed his daughter’s financial affairs via a court ordered conservatorship since 2008, following her very public breakdown. Lutfi worked with the singer at that time, claiming to be her manager – although that position has been disputed. Since then, he and the Spears family have had various run-ins, which included a restraining order being secured against him in 2009.
The new restraining order comes after James Spears accused Lutfi of harassing the family, in particular through a series of postings on Twitter using the hashtag #FreeBritney. Much of the hearing centred on whether this could be considered harassment when the messages were directed at any member of the Spears family. The judge decided that it could, and that some posts were direct incitement for Britney fans to act against the her family members.
Lutfi argued that the only member of the Spears family who has a problem with him is James – although he has had other run-ins with various members in the past. He said that he had not had direct contact with Britney herself, but admitted recently contacting her mother Lynne and brother-in-law James Watson.
James Spears meanwhile admitted that his relationship with Britney “has always been strained”, according to Billboard. However, of Lutfi’s recent actions, he said: “I worried that he was trying to take down the conservatorship. I was very angry. I was worried that we were right back in 2008”.
The five year restraining order extends a temporary order put in place last month. Lutfi is reportedly considering an appeal.
