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Britney Spears’ controversial former manager Sam Lutfi apologises, admits he ‘failed her’

Ahead of another court hearing today, Britney Spears’ former manager has posted a grovelling apology to the pop star amid her conservatorship battle.

Britney Spears speaks out against her family: "I thought they were trying to kill me”

A man who once acted as Britney Spears’ manager has admitted that he “failed” the pop star.

Sam Lutfi took to Twitter to issue an apology to Britney, 39, ahead of the latest hearing in her conservatorship case today.

“Just sitting here listening to that court recording, if she hates me after she’s free I won’t blame her,” Lutfi, 46, wrote, referencing the Toxic singer’s bombshell June 23 testimony, in which she called her conservatorship “abusive” and pleaded to have control of her life for the first time in 13 years.

“I failed her,” Lutfi continued. “I was supposed to protect her from all this. I let her down and we both paid dearly for it. Head in hands. I’m so sorry.”

RELATED: Britney references testimony in since-deleted Instagram post

Britney Spears and Sam Lutfi in 2007. Picture: Toby Canham/Getty Images
Britney Spears and Sam Lutfi in 2007. Picture: Toby Canham/Getty Images

Lutfi has been a controversial figure in Spears’ life for more than a decade. He infamously snuck his way into her inner circle in 2007 while she was struggling with her mental health amid her divorce from Kevin Federline.

The Grammy winner’s parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears, later accused Lutfi in court documents of taking “control of her life, home and finances” after moving in with her.

They further alleged that Lutfi had “drugged” Britney, cut her phone lines and crushed up pills to put in her food, among other accusations.

“She was sad, floundering, ripe for a predator to come along. Britney was open to this man who rode in on a white horse,” Lynne, now 66, wrote in her 2008 memoir, Through the Storm.

RELATED: ‘You’re fat’: Jamie Spears’ horrific taunts

Britney Spears is fighting a battle to have her conservatorship lifted. Picture: AFP/Frederic J. Brown
Britney Spears is fighting a battle to have her conservatorship lifted. Picture: AFP/Frederic J. Brown

Britney was granted a temporary restraining order against Lutfi in February 2008, the same month that her conservatorship began. He sued the Spears family for defamation one year later, and they reached a confidential settlement in September 2016.

The pop star obtained a second restraining order against Lutfi in June 2019, years after the first one expired.

She claimed that he had threatened and disparaged her family, causing her “severe mental trauma”.

RELATED: Britney’s sad secret 911 call revealed

Sam Lutfi pictured leaving the UCLA medical centre after visiting Britney Spears in January 2008. Picture: AP/APTN
Sam Lutfi pictured leaving the UCLA medical centre after visiting Britney Spears in January 2008. Picture: AP/APTN

Lutfi maintained his innocence, insisting in court that he had not made contact with Britney in 10 years.

This story originally appeared on NY Post and has been reproduced here with permission

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/britney-spears-controversial-former-manager-sam-lutfi-apologises-admits-he-failed-her/news-story/b2654dd4a282c05c58fcafb714b6fe81