ACTRESS Melissa Joan Hart opened up about a teenage experience with Britney Spears in a new interview.
The Sabrina the Teenage Witch star recently expressed guilt over bringing Britney, 42, to her first nightclub at age 17.
Melissa, 48, believed at the time that she was being a “big sister” and role model to the rising pop star.
The Hollywood stars developed a close relationship in the ’90s, especially since they both starred in the music video for Britney’s 1999 hit You Drive Me (Crazy).
“Britney and I did a lot of press together. And we had a lot of fun together during this time,” said Melissa. Entertainment tonight.
“I saw that she was surrounded by people, never able to free herself. And I was like, ‘Hey, want to go?’” Melissa said about taking Britney to a club with her and her friends.
Read more about Britney Spears
“I went to a club every night — I love dancing and I love going out, but I also knew I was responsible and, like, when to stop,” she added.
The Melissa & Joey star said she now feels guilty about bringing Britney along, especially since the singer struggled to go to parties in the early 2000s.
“She was underage and young and – but I [was] like, ‘Let’s go out. Let’s just go out and have fun,’” Melissa added.
“And yes – and I feel very guilty about it to this day because I should have known better, being a big sister.”
CONSERVATION
In 2008, Britney found herself under the conservatorship of her father, Jamie Spears, as she struggled with mental health issues.
Jamie had complete control over various facets of Britney’s life for 13 years before the conservatorship was ended in November 2021.
Earlier this month, the case was resolved with a judge ordering Britney to pay her father’s $2 million legal bills following their intense legal battle.
Since then, Britney has been trying to repair her relationship with her children and admitted to “missing” her family.
She shares her sons Jayden James, 17, and Sean Preston, 18, with her ex Kevin Federline, 46.
The boys are currently living with their father in Hawaii.
Britney Spears Conservatorship Timeline
In September 2021, Britney’s case returned to a Los Angeles court where Judge Brenda Penny made a series of bombshell decisions, following her father’s decision to end the conservatorship the previous month.
She decided to free Jamie from her daughter’s guardianship, however, this did not mean the complete end of the guardianship.
Speaking in court, Judge Brenda Penny said: “Based on what I have read in the record and I have read everything. I believe that Jamie Spears’ suspension is in Britney Spears’ best interest.
“The current situation is unattainable. The court finds that the toxic environment Jamie Spears created needs to be removed today.”
After the judge’s ruling, a temporary conservator was placed in Jamie’s place for about a month.
In early November 2021, Jamie returned to court presenting new legal documents that show he has stopped fighting.
Jamie had previously demanded $2 million in exchange for his resignation, but documents at the time showed he was not seeking any additional compensation.
On November 12, Judge Penny ruled in the pop star’s favor, removing Jamie as conservator without requiring any additional mental examination of Britney.
The situation partially inspired Melissa to sign on for her new Lifetime movie, The Bad Guardian, which portrays the dangers of a toxic conservatorship.
“It kind of encompasses a lot of different stories,” Melissa said of the film.
“It’s not one person’s story, but this is happening all over the country, where people are losing family members to guardianships, to these permanent guardianships that judges put in place to protect the person, usually the elderly.
“I mean, we know like Britney or Wendy Williams, having conservatorships that are, you know, causing conflict.
“But in many cases, it is families who lose an older family member,” she continued.
When it comes to Melissa’s current relationship with the Circus hitmaker, she said the two haven’t remained very close.
I feel really guilty about it to this day because I should have known better, being a big sister.”
Melissa Joan HartEntertainment tonight
She last saw Britney perform at her Las Vegas residency a few years ago and simply gave her a quick “Hello” backstage.
THE BAD GUARDIAN
Last week, the ’90s actress shared a somber video while getting dressed for her new role in the Lifetime movie.
Melissa plays the character Leigh, whose father suffers a fall while she is away.
The Nickelodeon star went makeup-free in the Instagram clip, which showed her wearing a thick knit cardigan and sunglasses adorned on top of her head.
She looked almost unrecognizable as she showed off a cut on the side of her face and a black eye, which she said she had “for half the movie.”
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