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Hot Topics Jennifer Lawrence Kim Kardashian Rihanna Robert Pattinson Beyonce Justin Bieber Kristen Stewart

Britney Spears Meltdown Stemmed from Justin Timberlake Split, Says Lawyer

Truth rating: 10

7:00 pm, October 19th, 2012

(GettyImages.com)

The infamous public meltdown that led to Britney Spears’ January 2008 psychiatric hold and legal conservatorship had its roots in the pop star’s earlier, painful split from Justin Timberlake, her dad’s legal team said in court on Friday.

Leon Gladstone, an attorney for Jamie Spears, alluded to the Timberlake split during his opening statement in the trial pitting Spears’ parents against Sam Lutfi.

Lutfi is suing the family for libel and having allegedly pushed him out of a position as Britney’s manager.

Discussing the singer’s bizarre behavior in 2007 and 2008, Gladstone said Jamie Spears helped save his daughter from a downward spiral that began, in part, with her anger and depression following the 2002 breakup with Timberlake.

RELATED – Britney Spears’ 4-Year-Old Niece Maddie Dresses Up As Her For School Event

Spears’ defense team is arguing that Lutfi was a manipulator and negative force in Britney’s life around the time of her breakdown.

On Thursday, Lutfi’s lawyer alleged that Spears used crystal meth at the time of her implosion, and that she shaved her head because she feared traces of the drug would show up in her hair.

Lutfi’s side contends that he was unfairly made a “scapegoat” for Spears’ erratic behavior.

Spears herself is not expected to testify during the trial.

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  • peppermintulip

    Seriously? LMAO Like the kind of breakdown Britney had was anything to do with her breakup years before with Justin. She married twice and had two kids inbetween and seemed to do alright. They better come up with something better then that. Rather tacky to say that on Justin and Jessica’s wedding day also.

  • http://twitter.com/cyclopsko Just Some Guy

    Didn’t Spears cheat on Timberlake, hence the split?

  • Regina1180

    How sad that such an intense and private part of her life is being played out in the courts and for the media like this. This was when he was probably diagnosed as bipolar.

  • Curious

    All I have to say about this is fuck Sam Lufti!

  • Skillfull

    Yep, and he’s still bitter and pissed about it.

  • Kay

    LOL – He’s bitter!!!!! please more like she’s bitter – spears cheated on him and now she’s bipolar and mental whereas he’s MOVED ON – its seems tacky from Spears camp coming out with this and on his wedding day!!!!

  • Curious

    The Spears camp is on trial and it happened to open this week. I don’t think they are happy about any of this coming out.

  • Landon

    WTH are you talking about?,he is now married,they havent talked in years he moved on years ago,its a hardcore JT/Britney fanbase that have trouble moving on!

  • Regina1180

    It has nothing to do with moving on. Her lawyers are trying to prove that she didn’t just start action like this out of nowhere. Lutfi is saying that she had a meltdown because of the drugs, her family says it was a long time coming, and Lutfi took advantage of her.

  • Elizabeth

    Maybe you need to spend more time learning about the American legal system and less time on celebrity message boards if you think lawyers ‘time’ opening statements to discredit celebrities on their wedding day. JT is a big boy, who plays the media VERY well. I’m sure he will survive this mention in the opening remarks.

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