Since Britney Spears announced her engagement to Sam Asghari, fans have been questioning whether the star can get married under her conservatorship.

The singer announced her engagement to Asghari on social media, where she displayed a diamond ring, which was engraved with the word, "lioness". An Instagram video where she winks and kisses her fiancé on the cheek was captioned, "I can't f*cking believe it."

Here, we answer all your questions about Asghari, and the matter of the pop star tying the knot under a conservatorship.

[caption id="attachment_1263114722" align="aligncenter" width="701"]<img class="wp-image-1263114722" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/06/Britney-Speaks-1.jpg" alt="Britney Spears and Sam Asghari" width="701" height="599" /> Britney Spears is engaged to boyfriend Sam Asghari (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Can Britney Spears get married under the conservatorship?</h2>
Britney can get married under her conservatorship, however, she will need permission to obtain a marriage licence.

As a conservatee, the star does not have the right to enter into any sort of agreement herself. So, while accepting a proposal is one thing, marriage is another. As such, getting a marriage license would need to be approved by her conservators — and Britney will need to get permission before officially tying the knot.

There has been some confusion among fans as to whether Britney would be allowed to get married under her conservatorship following a testimony she gave in court back in June. During the hearing, she told Judge Brenda Penny that her conservators had prevented her from getting married.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/britney-spears-relationshio-father-jamie">Inside Britney's troubled relationship with her father Jamie</a></strong></p>
She alleged: "I was told right now in the conservatorship, I'm not able to get married or have a baby, I have an [IUD] inside of myself right now so I don't get pregnant.

"I wanted to take the [IUD] out so I could start trying to have another baby. But this so-called team won't let me go to the doctor to take it out because they don't want me to have children — any more children."

Jodi Montgomery — who has been in control of the star's person — addressed this in a statement made by her attorney, Lauriann Wright. While she did not delve into the details, and whether the pop star needs permission to wed, her attorney explained: "Britney’s choice to marry and to start a family has never been impacted by the conservatorship while Ms Montgomery has been conservator of the person."

Because Britney's father, Jamie Spears, is stepping down from his role as chief conservator, whatever individual or entity that replaces him will need to approve her marriage to Asghari.

[caption id="attachment_12632199" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<img class="wp-image-12632199 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/M5XC04-scaled.jpeg" alt="Britney Spears " width="2560" height="1707" /> The Toxic singer is allowed to get married under the conservatorship but will need to be granted permission (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Can Britney Spears and Sam Asghari have children under the conservatorship?</h2>
According to Jodi Montgomery's statement, Britney can have children under the conservatorship.

The statement from Lauriann Wright continued: "As to family planning, that is also unaffected by the conservatorship. Britney’s choice to marry and to start a family has never been impacted by the conservatorship while Ms Montgomery has been conservator of the person.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/kanye-west-cheat-kim-kardashian">Did Kanye West cheat on Kim Kardashian? Insiders speak out</a></strong></p>
"If Britney needs any assistance with either, Ms Montgomery has and will be there to provide any assistance needed to Britney."

During her 24-minute testimony on June 23 of this year, Britney said: "I was told right now in the conservatorship, I'm not able to get married or have a baby, I have an [IUD] inside of myself right now so I don't get pregnant.

"I wanted to take the [IUD] out so I could start trying to have another baby. But this so-called team won't let me go to the doctor to take it out because they don't want me to have children — any more children."

[caption id="attachment_12632266" align="alignnone" width="2200"]<img class="wp-image-12632266 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/2D298XH.jpeg" alt="Britney Spears" width="2200" height="1660" /> Britney has been married twice before and shares two children with her ex-husband Kevin Federline (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>How many times has Britney Spears been married?</h2>
Britney has been married twice. The Stronger hitmaker wed her childhood friend in 2004 in a whirlwind marriage that lasted just 55 hours.

The couple, who grew up together in Kentwood, Louisiana, had spent New Year's Eve in Las Vegas, when they decided to marry at 4 AM. The wedding was annulled shortly afterwards.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/prince-harry-name-racist-royal-book">Here's what will happen if Prince Harry names 'racist' royal in new book</a></strong></p>
Later the same year, Britney married her backing dancer Kevin Federline, with whom she shares two children — Sean, 15, and Jayden, 14. They announced their engagement in July 2004, after just three months together.

In November 2006, the pop star filed for divorce from Federline, with the paperwork finalised in July of 2007.

Britney has 30 per cent custody of her sons, while Federline has primary custody. Upon their split in 2007, they agreed upon a 50-50 custody split. However, Federline was granted sole custody later that year after Britney suffered a public breakdown.

[caption id="attachment_12636054" align="aligncenter" width="1535"]<img class="wp-image-12636054 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/02/3a1f36e8-britney-fi-website.jpg" alt="Britney spears conservatorship " width="1535" height="800" /> Britney started dating Sam back in 2016 Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>How long have Britney Spears been with her boyfriend Sam Asghari?</h2>
Britney has been dating 27-year-old Asghari for over four years. The pair met back in 2016 on the set of her music video, Slumber Party.

In an interview with <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a22130361/britney-spears-boyfriend-sam-asghari-fitness/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Men's Health</a>, the fitness trainer says that he tried to break the ice with the pop star with a joke. "She said, ‘Hi, I’m Britney,' and I said, ‘I’m sorry. What’s your name again?’ I tried to be funny. I don’t think anybody got it."

The pair ended up speaking during breaks, and exchanged phone numbers before the end of the shoot. This turned into an invite to go out for sushi.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/matt-damon-critics-attack-homophobic-slur">Have Matt Damon's critics been too quick to attack over homophobic slur?</a></strong></p>
Despite attempting to keep their relationship out of the press, they were spotted in December of 2016 by paparazzi. Britney then made things Instagram official on New Year's Day in 2017.

"After the video came out, nobody knew we were dating," Asghari commented. "I don’t think [she or I] had the intention to just be friends."

Speaking about their relationship, Asghari added that Britney motivates him to do his best: "She motivates me more than anyone. It's crazy how I can be humbled by a person like her.

"If I could be that humble when I'm that high in life, that would be the best thing. I grew up with three sisters, and my personality is just to be a supportive person for my family and she's family. I'm always going to support her. She is another blessing that happened to me."

[caption id="attachment_12632265" align="alignnone" width="1795"]<img class="size-full wp-image-12632265" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/2A5N6PC-scaled.jpeg" alt="Sam Asghari " width="1795" height="2560" /> Sam met Britney on the set of her music video 'Slumber Party' (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Who is Sam Asghari and what does he do?</h2>
Asghari is a fitness trainer, who was born in Tehran, Iran. He migrated to the US when he was 12-years-old, and attended high school in Los Angeles.

Currently, he runs Asghari Fitness, which offers personalised training programmes and meal plans to its customers.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/news/women-mental-health-sexist-childcare-system">Women are 'ending up with serious mental health issues' because of sexist childcare</a></strong></p>
With Britney's support, he is also looking to break into the world of acting. In the 2018 interview with Men's Health, he said he is trying to transition from commercials and music videos to the big screen.

"When I was a kid, I would look at action stars, superheroes and even comedians with amazing performances, and they changed my life," Asghari told the publication.
<h5>Feature image credit: Alamy</h5>

<p>Since Britney Spears announced her engagement to Sam Asghari, fans have been questioning whether the star can get married under her conservatorship.</p>
<p>The singer announced her engagement to Asghari on social media, where she displayed a diamond ring, which was engraved with the word, "lioness". An Instagram video where she winks and kisses her fiancé on the cheek was captioned, "I can't f*cking believe it."</p>
<p>Here, we answer all your questions about Asghari, and the matter of the pop star tying the knot under a conservatorship.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-1263114722" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/06/Britney-Speaks-1.jpg" alt="Britney Spears and Sam Asghari" width="701" height="599" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Britney Spears is engaged to boyfriend Sam Asghari (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Can Britney Spears get married under the conservatorship?</h2>
<p>Britney can get married under her conservatorship, however, she will need permission to obtain a marriage licence.</p>
<p>As a conservatee, the star does not have the right to enter into any sort of agreement herself. So, while accepting a proposal is one thing, marriage is another. As such, getting a marriage license would need to be approved by her conservators — and Britney will need to get permission before officially tying the knot.</p>
<p>There has been some confusion among fans as to whether Britney would be allowed to get married under her conservatorship following a testimony she gave in court back in June. During the hearing, she told Judge Brenda Penny that her conservators had prevented her from getting married.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/britney-spears-relationshio-father-jamie">Inside Britney's troubled relationship with her father Jamie</a></strong></p>
<p>She alleged: "I was told right now in the conservatorship, I'm not able to get married or have a baby, I have an [IUD] inside of myself right now so I don't get pregnant.</p>
<p>"I wanted to take the [IUD] out so I could start trying to have another baby. But this so-called team won't let me go to the doctor to take it out because they don't want me to have children — any more children."</p>
<p>Jodi Montgomery — who has been in control of the star's person — addressed this in a statement made by her attorney, Lauriann Wright. While she did not delve into the details, and whether the pop star needs permission to wed, her attorney explained: "Britney’s choice to marry and to start a family has never been impacted by the conservatorship while Ms Montgomery has been conservator of the person."</p>
<p>Because Britney's father, Jamie Spears, is stepping down from his role as chief conservator, whatever individual or entity that replaces him will need to approve her marriage to Asghari.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632199 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/M5XC04-scaled.jpeg" alt="Britney Spears " width="2560" height="1707" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 The Toxic singer is allowed to get married under the conservatorship but will need to be granted permission (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Can Britney Spears and Sam Asghari have children under the conservatorship?</h2>
<p>According to Jodi Montgomery's statement, Britney can have children under the conservatorship.</p>
<p>The statement from Lauriann Wright continued: "As to family planning, that is also unaffected by the conservatorship. Britney’s choice to marry and to start a family has never been impacted by the conservatorship while Ms Montgomery has been conservator of the person.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/kanye-west-cheat-kim-kardashian">Did Kanye West cheat on Kim Kardashian? Insiders speak out</a></strong></p>
<p>"If Britney needs any assistance with either, Ms Montgomery has and will be there to provide any assistance needed to Britney."</p>
<p>During her 24-minute testimony on June 23 of this year, Britney said: "I was told right now in the conservatorship, I'm not able to get married or have a baby, I have an [IUD] inside of myself right now so I don't get pregnant.</p>
<p>"I wanted to take the [IUD] out so I could start trying to have another baby. But this so-called team won't let me go to the doctor to take it out because they don't want me to have children — any more children."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632266 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/2D298XH.jpeg" alt="Britney Spears" width="2200" height="1660" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Britney has been married twice before and shares two children with her ex-husband Kevin Federline (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>How many times has Britney Spears been married?</h2>
<p>Britney has been married twice. The Stronger hitmaker wed her childhood friend in 2004 in a whirlwind marriage that lasted just 55 hours.</p>
<p>The couple, who grew up together in Kentwood, Louisiana, had spent New Year's Eve in Las Vegas, when they decided to marry at 4 AM. The wedding was annulled shortly afterwards.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/prince-harry-name-racist-royal-book">Here's what will happen if Prince Harry names 'racist' royal in new book</a></strong></p>
<p>Later the same year, Britney married her backing dancer Kevin Federline, with whom she shares two children — Sean, 15, and Jayden, 14. They announced their engagement in July 2004, after just three months together.</p>
<p>In November 2006, the pop star filed for divorce from Federline, with the paperwork finalised in July of 2007.</p>
<p>Britney has 30 per cent custody of her sons, while Federline has primary custody. Upon their split in 2007, they agreed upon a 50-50 custody split. However, Federline was granted sole custody later that year after Britney suffered a public breakdown.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12636054 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/02/3a1f36e8-britney-fi-website.jpg" alt="Britney spears conservatorship " width="1535" height="800" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Britney started dating Sam back in 2016 Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>How long have Britney Spears been with her boyfriend Sam Asghari?</h2>
<p>Britney has been dating 27-year-old Asghari for over four years. The pair met back in 2016 on the set of her music video, Slumber Party.</p>
<p>In an interview with <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a22130361/britney-spears-boyfriend-sam-asghari-fitness/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Men's Health</a>, the fitness trainer says that he tried to break the ice with the pop star with a joke. "She said, ‘Hi, I’m Britney,' and I said, ‘I’m sorry. What’s your name again?’ I tried to be funny. I don’t think anybody got it."</p>
<p>The pair ended up speaking during breaks, and exchanged phone numbers before the end of the shoot. This turned into an invite to go out for sushi.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/matt-damon-critics-attack-homophobic-slur">Have Matt Damon's critics been too quick to attack over homophobic slur?</a></strong></p>
<p>Despite attempting to keep their relationship out of the press, they were spotted in December of 2016 by paparazzi. Britney then made things Instagram official on New Year's Day in 2017.</p>
<p>"After the video came out, nobody knew we were dating," Asghari commented. "I don’t think [she or I] had the intention to just be friends."</p>
<p>Speaking about their relationship, Asghari added that Britney motivates him to do his best: "She motivates me more than anyone. It's crazy how I can be humbled by a person like her.</p>
<p>"If I could be that humble when I'm that high in life, that would be the best thing. I grew up with three sisters, and my personality is just to be a supportive person for my family and she's family. I'm always going to support her. She is another blessing that happened to me."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="size-full wp-image-12632265" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/2A5N6PC-scaled.jpeg" alt="Sam Asghari " width="1795" height="2560" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Sam met Britney on the set of her music video 'Slumber Party' (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Who is Sam Asghari and what does he do?</h2>
<p>Asghari is a fitness trainer, who was born in Tehran, Iran. He migrated to the US when he was 12-years-old, and attended high school in Los Angeles.</p>
<p>Currently, he runs Asghari Fitness, which offers personalised training programmes and meal plans to its customers.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/news/women-mental-health-sexist-childcare-system">Women are 'ending up with serious mental health issues' because of sexist childcare</a></strong></p>
<p>With Britney's support, he is also looking to break into the world of acting. In the 2018 interview with Men's Health, he said he is trying to transition from commercials and music videos to the big screen.</p>
<p>"When I was a kid, I would look at action stars, superheroes and even comedians with amazing performances, and they changed my life," Asghari told the publication.</p>
<h2>Feature image credit: Alamy</h2>


Can Britney Spears get married under conservatorship? Star is engaged to Sam Asghari

<strong><em>This is a sponsored article in partnership with National Highways…</em></strong>

Did you know that smart motorways without a hard shoulder make up around <a href="https://nationalhighways.co.uk/road-safety/driving-on-motorways?utm_source=vtcowebsite&amp;utm_medium=Writtenarticle&amp;utm_campaign=May22&amp;utm_id=drivingonmotorways2">10 percent of the motorway network</a>? That’s why it’s so important to be able to recognise their features and how they work together.

But what even is a smart motorway? And what should you expect to see and do differently when you find yourself driving along one?

Whether you’re planning a trip to the seaside or just driving home from uni, knowing the signs, signals and features of a smart motorway is sure to make your journey run smoother. Forget calling mum and dad in a fluster! With these tips and advice, you’ll be ready to stick on your favourite playlist, load up the boot, and head out on the summer road trip of dreams.

But first, a bit about smart motorways.

These state-of-the-art highways do all the same things as your basic road, but with high-tech features to help you get to your destination as conveniently and reliably as possible.

One of the main features to look out for is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY6vNFKWsOE">variable speed limits</a>. Unlike regular motorways - which have fixed speed limits - the maximum speed you can drive on a smart motorway changes, to help keep traffic moving or if there is an incident ahead.

[caption id="attachment_12632690" align="aligncenter" width="1196"]<img class="wp-image-12632690 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2022/06/Screenshot-2022-06-20-at-14.27.09.jpg" alt="" width="1196" height="798" /> Credit: National Highways (Supplied)[/caption]

Why is this so smart? Well, when sensors positioned along the motorway detect a queue forming or an incident up ahead, they can slow down approaching traffic to prevent the road from getting too congested.

As we all know, it’s no fun sitting in standstill traffic after a hard day’s work or a long weekend away - especially when all you want to do is get home. Variable speed limits are a smart way of helping to keep traffic moving.

[caption id="attachment_12632691" align="aligncenter" width="1196"]<img class="wp-image-12632691 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2022/06/Screenshot-2022-06-20-at-14.27.19.jpg" alt="" width="1196" height="692" /> Credit: Prostock-studio / Alamy[/caption]

Another thing to look out for is whether you are on a motorway where drivers can use the hard shoulder as a regular lane. On some smart motorways the hard shoulder can be used at peak times – you’ll know if it’s open because there will be a speed limit displayed on the sign above the hard shoulder. If this sign is blank or if it shows a red X, you must not use it and could be fined.

On other smart motorways there is no hard shoulder, all lanes are open to traffic, unless there is a red X displayed. Driving in a lane with a red X is illegal, dangerous, and could very well result in a hefty fine - which is the last thing you want to come home to after a blow-out road trip with the girls. If only all red flags were so easy to spot, hey?
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Check out more information in the video below:</strong></p>
[[youtubewidget||https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-T5HRzhKFM]]

And <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYgz9Rz5WDo">if your car runs into trouble</a> while you’re driving on a smart motorway, don’t panic.

A sudden breakdown on a busy road can be a daunting experience, but the purpose-built emergency areas on smart motorways mean you’ll be better equipped to perfectly handle the situation and get the help you need.

On smart motorways you’ll find orange emergency areas set back from the carriageway which are specifically intended for drivers to pull over, and seek assistance.

[caption id="attachment_12632692" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]<img class="wp-image-12632692 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2022/06/Screenshot-2022-06-20-at-14.27.28.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="738" /> Credit: National Highways (Supplied)[/caption]

These areas have telephones linking directly to regional control rooms and are set back from the road at regular intervals, so there should be somewhere to stop approximately every mile.

If you get into trouble on a motorway, you should always stay calm and try to exit at the next junction or motorway service area. However, if you can’t make it to either of these places you can put your left indicator on and move into the left lane. On a smart motorway, you can move into the next emergency area.

Once you’ve reached a place of safety, put your hazard lights on and stay out of the way of moving traffic by getting behind a barrier if there is one. If you’re in an emergency area, contact National Highways through the roadside phone or give them a ring on 0300 123 5000.

You should also then call your breakdown provider for help. Whatever you do, don’t try to rejoin the traffic until you’ve been advised by National Highways on the best way to do so. National Highways can close the lane to help you rejoin the motorway safely. They can also set signs and warn approaching traffic that you’re about to exit an emergency area.

[caption id="attachment_12632693" align="aligncenter" width="1196"]<img class="size-full wp-image-12632693" src="https://img.fournine.net/2022/06/Screenshot-2022-06-20-at-14.27.51.jpg" alt="" width="1196" height="714" /> Credit: Pablo Benítez Lope / Alamy[/caption]

In the event that you can’t reach a safer place because your vehicle has broken down in a live lane, or you feel your life is in danger, don’t panic. The best thing to do is stay in your vehicle with your seatbelts and hazard lights on, and call 999 immediately so they can send help your way.

Now that you know all about making the most of smart motorways, you can make your summer road trip as smooth as possible. The only things left to worry about are who’s in control of the music, stopping at services for toilet breaks, and who’s ordering what from the next drive-thru.

So grab your mates, buckle up, and hit the road!
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>For more information about Smart Motorways, visit</strong></em>
<a href="https://nationalhighways.co.uk/road-safety/driving-on-motorways?utm_source=vtcowebsite&amp;utm_medium=Writtenarticle&amp;utm_campaign=May22&amp;utm_id=drivingonmotorways2"><strong>https://nationalhighways.co.uk/DrivingOnMotorways</strong></a></p>

<h6>Featured Image Credit: Prostock-studio / Alamy</h6>

<p><strong><em>This is a sponsored article in partnership with National Highways…</em></strong></p>
<p>Did you know that smart motorways without a hard shoulder make up around <a href="https://nationalhighways.co.uk/road-safety/driving-on-motorways?utm_source=vtcowebsite&amp;utm_medium=Writtenarticle&amp;utm_campaign=May22&amp;utm_id=drivingonmotorways2">10 percent of the motorway network</a>? That’s why it’s so important to be able to recognise their features and how they work together.</p>
<p>But what even is a smart motorway? And what should you expect to see and do differently when you find yourself driving along one?</p>
<p>Whether you’re planning a trip to the seaside or just driving home from uni, knowing the signs, signals and features of a smart motorway is sure to make your journey run smoother. Forget calling mum and dad in a fluster! With these tips and advice, you’ll be ready to stick on your favourite playlist, load up the boot, and head out on the summer road trip of dreams.</p>
<p>But first, a bit about smart motorways.</p>
<p>These state-of-the-art highways do all the same things as your basic road, but with high-tech features to help you get to your destination as conveniently and reliably as possible.</p>
<p>One of the main features to look out for is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY6vNFKWsOE">variable speed limits</a>. Unlike regular motorways - which have fixed speed limits - the maximum speed you can drive on a smart motorway changes, to help keep traffic moving or if there is an incident ahead.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632690 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2022/06/Screenshot-2022-06-20-at-14.27.09.jpg" alt="" width="1196" height="798" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Credit: National Highways (Supplied)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<p>Why is this so smart? Well, when sensors positioned along the motorway detect a queue forming or an incident up ahead, they can slow down approaching traffic to prevent the road from getting too congested.</p>
<p>As we all know, it’s no fun sitting in standstill traffic after a hard day’s work or a long weekend away - especially when all you want to do is get home. Variable speed limits are a smart way of helping to keep traffic moving.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632691 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2022/06/Screenshot-2022-06-20-at-14.27.19.jpg" alt="" width="1196" height="692" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Credit: Prostock-studio / Alamy</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<p>Another thing to look out for is whether you are on a motorway where drivers can use the hard shoulder as a regular lane. On some smart motorways the hard shoulder can be used at peak times – you’ll know if it’s open because there will be a speed limit displayed on the sign above the hard shoulder. If this sign is blank or if it shows a red X, you must not use it and could be fined.</p>
<p>On other smart motorways there is no hard shoulder, all lanes are open to traffic, unless there is a red X displayed. Driving in a lane with a red X is illegal, dangerous, and could very well result in a hefty fine - which is the last thing you want to come home to after a blow-out road trip with the girls. If only all red flags were so easy to spot, hey?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Check out more information in the video below:</strong></p>
<figure class='op-interactive'><iframe class='column-width' width='560' height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-T5HRzhKFM'></iframe></figure>
<p>And <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYgz9Rz5WDo">if your car runs into trouble</a> while you’re driving on a smart motorway, don’t panic.</p>
<p>A sudden breakdown on a busy road can be a daunting experience, but the purpose-built emergency areas on smart motorways mean you’ll be better equipped to perfectly handle the situation and get the help you need.</p>
<p>On smart motorways you’ll find orange emergency areas set back from the carriageway which are specifically intended for drivers to pull over, and seek assistance.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632692 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2022/06/Screenshot-2022-06-20-at-14.27.28.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="738" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Credit: National Highways (Supplied)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<p>These areas have telephones linking directly to regional control rooms and are set back from the road at regular intervals, so there should be somewhere to stop approximately every mile.</p>
<p>If you get into trouble on a motorway, you should always stay calm and try to exit at the next junction or motorway service area. However, if you can’t make it to either of these places you can put your left indicator on and move into the left lane. On a smart motorway, you can move into the next emergency area.</p>
<p>Once you’ve reached a place of safety, put your hazard lights on and stay out of the way of moving traffic by getting behind a barrier if there is one. If you’re in an emergency area, contact National Highways through the roadside phone or give them a ring on 0300 123 5000.</p>
<p>You should also then call your breakdown provider for help. Whatever you do, don’t try to rejoin the traffic until you’ve been advised by National Highways on the best way to do so. National Highways can close the lane to help you rejoin the motorway safely. They can also set signs and warn approaching traffic that you’re about to exit an emergency area.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="size-full wp-image-12632693" src="https://img.fournine.net/2022/06/Screenshot-2022-06-20-at-14.27.51.jpg" alt="" width="1196" height="714" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Credit: Pablo Benítez Lope / Alamy</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<p>In the event that you can’t reach a safer place because your vehicle has broken down in a live lane, or you feel your life is in danger, don’t panic. The best thing to do is stay in your vehicle with your seatbelts and hazard lights on, and call 999 immediately so they can send help your way.</p>
<p>Now that you know all about making the most of smart motorways, you can make your summer road trip as smooth as possible. The only things left to worry about are who’s in control of the music, stopping at services for toilet breaks, and who’s ordering what from the next drive-thru.</p>
<p>So grab your mates, buckle up, and hit the road!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>For more information about Smart Motorways, visit</strong></em><br />
<a href="https://nationalhighways.co.uk/road-safety/driving-on-motorways?utm_source=vtcowebsite&amp;utm_medium=Writtenarticle&amp;utm_campaign=May22&amp;utm_id=drivingonmotorways2"><strong>https://nationalhighways.co.uk/DrivingOnMotorways</strong></a></p>
<h2>Featured Image Credit: Prostock-studio / Alamy</h2>


What to expect when driving on a smart motorway

Rebekah Vardy's children are her top priority – and the doting mother has made no secret that family always comes first.

The Dancing on Ice star and husband family have six children between them. But who are Rebekah Vardy's children and is Jamie the biological father to all of them? Here's everything you need to know...

[caption id="attachment_12629696" align="aligncenter" width="708"]<img class="wp-image-12629696 size-full" src="https://cdn.fournine.net/uploads/2020/12/rebekah-vardy.jpeg" alt="Rebekah Vardy's children (Credit: ITV)" width="708" height="398" /> Rebekah and Jamie Vardy welcomed baby Olivia in 2019 (Credit: ITV)[/caption]

<div class="article-body">
<div class="article-body">
<h2>Who are Rebekah Vardy's children?</h2>
Rebekah Vardy's children Megan, Taylor, Sofia, Finley and Olivia are no stranger to the public eye. She and husband Jamie are doting to parents all five kids and they often share cute family snaps on Instagram.

However, Jamie is not the biological father of all five. Megan and Taylor are from Rebekah's previous relationship – but Jamie has since adopted them.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.fournine.net/kanye-west-reveals-exactly-when-his-feud-with-jay-z-started">What happened to Kanye West and Jay Z? Rappers' feud explained</a></strong></p>

<div class="article-body">

Rebekah and Jamie welcome they first child together Sofia before they wed in 2016.

They then welcomed their second child, a son, Finley, in January of 2017. And on the 28th December, 2019, the 38-year-old announced that she had given birth to daughter, Olivia.

</div>
Jamie also has daughter, Ella, from his relationship with Emma Daggett. However, his ex has claimed that the father and daughter are not close. She told <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/news/1111549/footie-ace-jamie-vardy-only-sees-eldest-daughter-once-a-month-claims-former-lover/">The Sun</a>: "It’s difficult. He’s never really around so he can’t really commit to her. He doesn’t see her very often. It’s maybe once a month."

</div>
<div class="article-body">

Rebekah and Jamie announced the birth of Olivia with a photoshoot in <a href="https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/2020011282978/rebekah-vardy-introduces-baby-girl-reveals-name/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hello! Magazine</a>. She told the publication that the newborn's siblings helped choose Olivia's name, and that she'd been "ill with anxiety and stress" in the weeks leading up to the birth.

</div>
"[I was] panicking that she might be born on Christmas Day, while Jamie was training and I was on my own with the kids. The last thing I wanted was to miss Christmas Day with our children."
<div class="article-body">

"So happy to introduce you to our little princess, Olivia Grace," she added on Instagram.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-IlXZlpwIM[/embed]

</div>
<h2>How long have Rebekah and Jamie Vardy been married?</h2>
</div>
The pair met back in 2014, when Rebekah was working at a party planner, and they have been married for four years.

At the time, she was hired to organise the English footballer's 27th birthday party. After two years together, in 2016, they tied the knot at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.fournine.net/health-beauty/7-things-need-know-getting-lip-injections">7 celebrity proposals that went drastically wrong</a></strong></p>
Speaking about her relationship with her husband in an interview with <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/9677861/rebekah-vardy-on-motherhood-overcoming-past-trauma-and-her-love-with-jamie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fabulous</a> magazine, Rebekah stated: "But then I met Jamie. It took a while for me to trust him and I think the relationship we have now is the only relationship I’ve ever felt stable in."
<div class="article-body">

"I love and trust him. My husband ain’t like the rest of them. He’s so not. He’s so supportive of everything I do, everything I say and everything I stand for. He knows the battles I’ve endured and where I’ve come from to where I am now," she continued.

[caption id="attachment_12630553" align="alignnone" width="1300"]<img class="wp-image-12630553 size-full" src="https://cdn.junglecreations.com/wp/junglecms/2020/12/edab0064-pa-29474186.jpg" alt="Jamie Vardy Rebekah Vardy (Credit: PA)" width="1300" height="898" /> The couple met in 2014 (Credit: PA)[/caption]
<h2>Why didn't Jamie Vardy's parents attend his wedding?</h2>
The footballer once had a bitter feud with his parents over his relationship with Rebekah.

Ahead of their nuptials in 2016, Jamie fell out with his parents and maternal grandparents.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.fournine.net/john-cena-has-finally-broken-his-silence-on-his-split-from-nikki-bella">Why did Nikki Bella and John Cena break up? WWE stars discuss split</a></strong></p>
Speaking at the time, his father Phil told <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/news/776552/super-striker-vardy-and-the-family-rift-over-that-woman/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Sun</a>: "We don’t talk to Jamie. I have given 22 years of life to get him where he is today and I’ve had it all thrown back in my face. We won’t be going to the wedding. It’s been going on for a year now since she came on the scene."

Jamie's mother Lisa worked at a solicitors firm, and his father, Phil, as a crane worker. They are based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

[caption id="attachment_12630552" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="wp-image-12630552 size-large" src="https://cdn.junglecreations.com/wp/junglecms/2020/12/0067020f-pa-29509095-1024x806.jpg" alt="Jamie Vardy Rebekah Vardy (Credit: PA)" width="1024" height="806" /> Jamie's parents didn't attend his wedding to Rebekah (Credit: PA)[/caption]
<h2>Rebekah Vardy's relationship with her parents explained</h2>
Rebekah shares a close relationship with her 67-year-old father, Carlos Miranda. He works as a chauffeur in Bournemouth, and is no longer married to her mother, Alison Nicholson.

During the height of the "Wagatha Christie" scandal, he talked to the <a href="https://www.dailystar.co.uk/showbiz/rebekah-vardys-dad-carlos-miranda-20556471" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MailOnline</a>, claiming his daughter was "devastated".

"I can't believe a pro's wife would say something like that to another pro's wife without any proof whatsoever," he said. "Jamie and Wayne played together and it's just awful that people can make accusations like that, especially when Rebekah is pregnant. Her account must have been hacked."
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.fournine.net/17-celebrities-no-idea-dated">19 ex celebrity couples you had no idea once dated</a></strong></p>
He added: "I felt I had to say something because my daughter is so upset by the whole thing. Rebekah has only ever had praise for Coleen — I'm just stunned."

Rebekah's mother also failed to attend the media personality's nuptials, according to the <a href="https://www.dailystar.co.uk/showbiz/rebekah-vardy-family-feud-explored-20544063" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Daily Star</a>. But the reason why has not been disclosed.

At the time, she said: "We'd rather not say why even though it's obvious people are now going to be wondering why the bride's mother isn't at her 34-year-old daughter's wedding."

[caption id="attachment_12629701" align="alignnone" width="900"]<img class="wp-image-12629701 size-full" src="https://cdn.fournine.net/uploads/2020/12/PA-34615688.jpg" alt="Rebekah Vardy children (Credit: PA)" width="900" height="1277" /> Rebekah was previously married to Luke Foster (Credit: Matt Crossick/PA Wire)[/caption]

</div>
<div class="article-body">
<h2>Who is Rebekah's former husband, Luke Foster?</h2>
</div>
Luke Foster is an English semi-professional footballer. He plays as a defender for Northern Premier League Division One East club Loughborough Dynamo.

Speaking about his split from Rebekah to <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/i-feel-sorry-jamie-ex-11546337" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Mirror</a>, the 35-year-old said about Jamie: "I feel sorry for him because it’s all about control with Becky. It’s my way or the highway with her. I fell out with my mum for six months while with Becky. It was over something trivial but I took Becky’s side. My mum was mortified."
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.fournine.net/9-of-taylor-swifts-most-infamous-feuds-in-all-their-glory">Taylor Swift's biggest feuds of all time explained – from Kanye West to Katy Perry</a></strong></p>
"Becky stopped me from going out with my friends. I even missed out on going to Las Vegas with my Stevenage team-mates. We got promoted and the club were paying for us to go to celebrate and I was told I couldn’t go. She said ‘If you go, we are over.’ I wanted to celebrate one of the pinnacles of my career but I couldn’t."

"I was kind of relieved. I thought 'thank God', she’s off my hands," he added.

Rebekah fired back at the claims, however. In a statement released to the <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/i-feel-sorry-jamie-ex-11546337" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sunday Mirror</a> back in 2017, her lawyers stated:

"It’s upsetting Luke felt the need to sell yet another untrue story on the mother of his seven-year-old son."

[caption id="attachment_12629702" align="aligncenter" width="820"]<img class="wp-image-12629702 size-full" src="https://cdn.fournine.net/uploads/2020/12/rebekah-vardy-kids-england-support-t.jpg" alt="Rebekah Vardy's children (Credit: Instagram)" width="820" height="492" /> Rebekah Vardy with her four eldest children (Credit: Instagram)[/caption]
<h2>What is Rebekah Vardy's net worth?</h2>
While Rebekah's exact net worth is unknown, it's estimated that Jamie's amounts to around £10 million.

The WAG is, however, seeking substantial damages from Coleen Rooney as "Operation Wagatha Christie" goes to court.

<a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/12732658/coleen-rooney-rebekah-vardy-courtroom-libel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Sun</a> reports that the pair have been warned about the financial implications of the case. "This case is particularly straightforward and I shall not expect costs above £25,000 (excluding VAT) for each party," Justice Nicklin explained. "I encourage the parties to reach an agreement about costs budgeting."

<p>Rebekah Vardy's children are her top priority – and the doting mother has made no secret that family always comes first.</p>
<p>The Dancing on Ice star and husband family have six children between them. But who are Rebekah Vardy's children and is Jamie the biological father to all of them? Here's everything you need to know...</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12629696 size-full" src="https://cdn.fournine.net/uploads/2020/12/rebekah-vardy.jpeg" alt="Rebekah Vardy's children (Credit: ITV)" width="708" height="398" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Rebekah and Jamie Vardy welcomed baby Olivia in 2019 (Credit: ITV)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Who are Rebekah Vardy's children?</h2>
<p>Rebekah Vardy's children Megan, Taylor, Sofia, Finley and Olivia are no stranger to the public eye. She and husband Jamie are doting to parents all five kids and they often share cute family snaps on Instagram.</p>
<p>However, Jamie is not the biological father of all five. Megan and Taylor are from Rebekah's previous relationship – but Jamie has since adopted them.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.fournine.net/kanye-west-reveals-exactly-when-his-feud-with-jay-z-started">What happened to Kanye West and Jay Z? Rappers' feud explained</a></strong></p>
<p>Rebekah and Jamie welcome they first child together Sofia before they wed in 2016.</p>
<p>They then welcomed their second child, a son, Finley, in January of 2017. And on the 28th December, 2019, the 38-year-old announced that she had given birth to daughter, Olivia.</p>
<p>Jamie also has daughter, Ella, from his relationship with Emma Daggett. However, his ex has claimed that the father and daughter are not close. She told <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/news/1111549/footie-ace-jamie-vardy-only-sees-eldest-daughter-once-a-month-claims-former-lover/">The Sun</a>: "It’s difficult. He’s never really around so he can’t really commit to her. He doesn’t see her very often. It’s maybe once a month."</p>
<p>Rebekah and Jamie announced the birth of Olivia with a photoshoot in <a href="https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/2020011282978/rebekah-vardy-introduces-baby-girl-reveals-name/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hello! Magazine</a>. She told the publication that the newborn's siblings helped choose Olivia's name, and that she'd been "ill with anxiety and stress" in the weeks leading up to the birth.</p>
<p>"[I was] panicking that she might be born on Christmas Day, while Jamie was training and I was on my own with the kids. The last thing I wanted was to miss Christmas Day with our children."</p>
<p>"So happy to introduce you to our little princess, Olivia Grace," she added on Instagram.</p>
<p>[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-IlXZlpwIM[/embed]</p>
<h2>How long have Rebekah and Jamie Vardy been married?</h2>
<p>The pair met back in 2014, when Rebekah was working at a party planner, and they have been married for four years.</p>
<p>At the time, she was hired to organise the English footballer's 27th birthday party. After two years together, in 2016, they tied the knot at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.fournine.net/health-beauty/7-things-need-know-getting-lip-injections">7 celebrity proposals that went drastically wrong</a></strong></p>
<p>Speaking about her relationship with her husband in an interview with <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/9677861/rebekah-vardy-on-motherhood-overcoming-past-trauma-and-her-love-with-jamie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fabulous</a> magazine, Rebekah stated: "But then I met Jamie. It took a while for me to trust him and I think the relationship we have now is the only relationship I’ve ever felt stable in."</p>
<p>"I love and trust him. My husband ain’t like the rest of them. He’s so not. He’s so supportive of everything I do, everything I say and everything I stand for. He knows the battles I’ve endured and where I’ve come from to where I am now," she continued.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12630553 size-full" src="https://cdn.junglecreations.com/wp/junglecms/2020/12/edab0064-pa-29474186.jpg" alt="Jamie Vardy Rebekah Vardy (Credit: PA)" width="1300" height="898" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 The couple met in 2014 (Credit: PA)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Why didn't Jamie Vardy's parents attend his wedding?</h2>
<p>The footballer once had a bitter feud with his parents over his relationship with Rebekah.</p>
<p>Ahead of their nuptials in 2016, Jamie fell out with his parents and maternal grandparents.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.fournine.net/john-cena-has-finally-broken-his-silence-on-his-split-from-nikki-bella">Why did Nikki Bella and John Cena break up? WWE stars discuss split</a></strong></p>
<p>Speaking at the time, his father Phil told <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/news/776552/super-striker-vardy-and-the-family-rift-over-that-woman/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Sun</a>: "We don’t talk to Jamie. I have given 22 years of life to get him where he is today and I’ve had it all thrown back in my face. We won’t be going to the wedding. It’s been going on for a year now since she came on the scene."</p>
<p>Jamie's mother Lisa worked at a solicitors firm, and his father, Phil, as a crane worker. They are based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12630552 size-large" src="https://cdn.junglecreations.com/wp/junglecms/2020/12/0067020f-pa-29509095-1024x806.jpg" alt="Jamie Vardy Rebekah Vardy (Credit: PA)" width="1024" height="806" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Jamie's parents didn't attend his wedding to Rebekah (Credit: PA)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Rebekah Vardy's relationship with her parents explained</h2>
<p>Rebekah shares a close relationship with her 67-year-old father, Carlos Miranda. He works as a chauffeur in Bournemouth, and is no longer married to her mother, Alison Nicholson.</p>
<p>During the height of the "Wagatha Christie" scandal, he talked to the <a href="https://www.dailystar.co.uk/showbiz/rebekah-vardys-dad-carlos-miranda-20556471" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MailOnline</a>, claiming his daughter was "devastated".</p>
<p>"I can't believe a pro's wife would say something like that to another pro's wife without any proof whatsoever," he said. "Jamie and Wayne played together and it's just awful that people can make accusations like that, especially when Rebekah is pregnant. Her account must have been hacked."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.fournine.net/17-celebrities-no-idea-dated">19 ex celebrity couples you had no idea once dated</a></strong></p>
<p>He added: "I felt I had to say something because my daughter is so upset by the whole thing. Rebekah has only ever had praise for Coleen — I'm just stunned."</p>
<p>Rebekah's mother also failed to attend the media personality's nuptials, according to the <a href="https://www.dailystar.co.uk/showbiz/rebekah-vardy-family-feud-explored-20544063" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Daily Star</a>. But the reason why has not been disclosed.</p>
<p>At the time, she said: "We'd rather not say why even though it's obvious people are now going to be wondering why the bride's mother isn't at her 34-year-old daughter's wedding."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12629701 size-full" src="https://cdn.fournine.net/uploads/2020/12/PA-34615688.jpg" alt="Rebekah Vardy children (Credit: PA)" width="900" height="1277" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Rebekah was previously married to Luke Foster (Credit: Matt Crossick/PA Wire)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Who is Rebekah's former husband, Luke Foster?</h2>
<p>Luke Foster is an English semi-professional footballer. He plays as a defender for Northern Premier League Division One East club Loughborough Dynamo.</p>
<p>Speaking about his split from Rebekah to <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/i-feel-sorry-jamie-ex-11546337" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Mirror</a>, the 35-year-old said about Jamie: "I feel sorry for him because it’s all about control with Becky. It’s my way or the highway with her. I fell out with my mum for six months while with Becky. It was over something trivial but I took Becky’s side. My mum was mortified."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.fournine.net/9-of-taylor-swifts-most-infamous-feuds-in-all-their-glory">Taylor Swift's biggest feuds of all time explained – from Kanye West to Katy Perry</a></strong></p>
<p>"Becky stopped me from going out with my friends. I even missed out on going to Las Vegas with my Stevenage team-mates. We got promoted and the club were paying for us to go to celebrate and I was told I couldn’t go. She said ‘If you go, we are over.’ I wanted to celebrate one of the pinnacles of my career but I couldn’t."</p>
<p>"I was kind of relieved. I thought 'thank God', she’s off my hands," he added.</p>
<p>Rebekah fired back at the claims, however. In a statement released to the <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/i-feel-sorry-jamie-ex-11546337" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sunday Mirror</a> back in 2017, her lawyers stated:</p>
<p>"It’s upsetting Luke felt the need to sell yet another untrue story on the mother of his seven-year-old son."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12629702 size-full" src="https://cdn.fournine.net/uploads/2020/12/rebekah-vardy-kids-england-support-t.jpg" alt="Rebekah Vardy's children (Credit: Instagram)" width="820" height="492" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Rebekah Vardy with her four eldest children (Credit: Instagram)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>What is Rebekah Vardy's net worth?</h2>
<p>While Rebekah's exact net worth is unknown, it's estimated that Jamie's amounts to around £10 million.</p>
<p>The WAG is, however, seeking substantial damages from Coleen Rooney as "Operation Wagatha Christie" goes to court.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/12732658/coleen-rooney-rebekah-vardy-courtroom-libel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Sun</a> reports that the pair have been warned about the financial implications of the case. "This case is particularly straightforward and I shall not expect costs above £25,000 (excluding VAT) for each party," Justice Nicklin explained. "I encourage the parties to reach an agreement about costs budgeting."</p>


Meet Rebekah Vardy's children after she welcomes baby Olivia with husband Jamie

Even when using your favourite dating app, finding your perfect match is no easy feat.

While Tinder and Hinge have made it easier than ever to connect with people, it can feel like an overwhelming task to stand out and make an impression when you're only given a matter of seconds. Certainly, post lockdown, there are more fish in the sea than ever – with <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-04/match-group-revenue-beats-estimates-delivers-positive-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Match Group</a> witnessing a 15 per cent rise in new subscribers at the end of 2020!

If you're looking to maximise your chances, relationship expert, James Thomas from <a href="https://condoms.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Condoms.uk</a> has shared seven tips with <strong>Four Nine </strong>about how to create the perfect dating app profile.

From avoiding certain words to photography choices, here are his secrets...

[caption id="attachment_12632212" align="alignnone" width="1045"]<img class="wp-image-12632212 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-09-at-17.38.09.png" alt="Dating app profile " width="1045" height="694" /> Making your profile stand out on a dating app isn't easy (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>1. Take realistic pictures</h2>
While Thomas acknowledges that it's all too easy to rely on an old and time-tested photograph of yourself, it's best to do away with photos that are overly filtered or were taken five years ago — unless you have vampiric skills to push back the toll of time, of course.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/lifestyle/how-often-couples-have-sex" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Relationship expert reveals how couples really have sex</a></strong></p>
"Using an old or inauthentic image can look misleading," he explains. "Starting a relationship on a misconstrued reality will only hurt you in the long-run and tarnish anything further developing with anyone.

"If you are unhappy with your current situation or look, you should always be honest. This attracts people who only want to like you for you and not the images you share."

[caption id="attachment_12632209" align="alignnone" width="1872"]<img class="wp-image-12632209 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/mika-baumeister-4xChyRlbyWM-unsplash-e1631198596987.jpeg" alt="dating app profile" width="1872" height="1632" /> It's best to do away with photos that are overly filtered on dating apps (Credit: Unsplash)[/caption]
<h2>2. Connect your social media</h2>
If you're someone who likes to know everything about their potential beau, then you'll understand the importance of providing ample stalking material.

And the relationship expert points out that connecting your social media could actually result in more dates!

"It allows a person to extend their time on you," as he puts it. "With the addition of Instagram and Facebook, you can increase your chances of engagement. It also allows you to share more photos than the app allows and offers a deeper look into your personality.

"Always ensure your social media channels are up to date and mirror the personality you display on the app."

[caption id="attachment_12632211" align="alignnone" width="1280"]<img class="wp-image-12632211 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/pexels-cottonbro-7350911.jpeg" alt="dating app profile " width="1280" height="853" /> Connecting your social media could actually result in more dates when you're using a dating app (Credit: Pexels)[/caption]
<h2>3. Offer key details about your interests</h2>
As we all know, one key facet to compatibility is having shared interests — and Thomas says that you would be wise to highlight your passions when you're on the apps.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/friends-cast-dated-real-life" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Which 'Friends' cast dated? David Schwimmer confirms 'no sex contract was broken'</a></strong></p>
Of course, you don't need to give <em>everything </em>away, but whether you're a bookworm or an avid jogger, he recommends being specific on certain details.

"For example, if you're reading an interesting book, state the name on your profile," Thomas explains. "You might end up attracting a fellow fan and you would have a heap in common.

"This is the same for your favourite food, music, and movies."

[caption id="attachment_12632213" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<img class="wp-image-12632213 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/2ATMX19-scaled.jpeg" alt="relationship" width="2560" height="1706" /> You would be wise to highlight your passions when using apps (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>4. Avoid cliches</h2>
Time and time again, we see the same thing on dating app profiles. It seems like every single person loves The Office and would pick David Attenborough as a dream dinner date.

"You would expect to see one or more cliches on every other person's profile, avoid being one of them," Thomas comments.

"The same lines such as ‘I love to travel’, doesn’t add much personality to your profile unless you follow up with specifics.

"It can become predictable to read the same cliches over and over and it doesn’t set you apart from the crowd. Be refreshing and original, offer a witty anecdote and stay creative."

[caption id="attachment_12631932" align="aligncenter" width="848"]<img class="wp-image-12631932 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-28-at-13.27.17.png" alt="relationships" width="848" height="572" /> Be creative when it comes to drafting your profile on dating apps (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2><b>5. Keep group photos to a minimum</b></h2>
Raise your hand if you've spent too much time trying to pick out the person you're chatting to from their mates — yep, me too.

While group photos are a good way to show off your social side, you want to stand out for the unique person you are.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/relationships/why-i-dumped-out-of-blue-relationship-expert">Relationship expert explains why people get dumped out of the blue</a></strong></p>
Thomas explains: "With apps such as Tinder, you have nine photo options and group photos should take up no more than two of these slots.

"As for the image, try to avoid groups of more than 3 people so you don’t get lost in the crowd and if possible, with you in the middle. With your social media connected, they will be able to recognize your social crowd on these platforms."

[caption id="attachment_12632230" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<img class="size-full wp-image-12632230" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/D247R6-scaled.jpeg" alt="tinder" width="2560" height="1707" /> Don't overdo it with group photos on dating apps (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2><b>6. Be positive</b></h2>
Another big no-no, the expert says, is to use negative language. "Try to avoid using the words ‘dislike’ or ‘don’t’ as this throws in negative vibes," he recommends.

"Instead, lead with things you enjoy doing and look for in a partner," says Thomas. Further down the line, you can expand on your dislikes, either via text or during a date.

"No one likes to have a conversation with a person who shares a negative mindset, so be open-minded with the details you share on your profile."

[caption id="attachment_12632231" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<img class="size-full wp-image-12632231" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/FK71FX-scaled.jpeg" alt="hinge" width="2560" height="1700" /> Try to avoid using negative language when trying to attract the attention of love interests (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2><b>7. Don’t be obnoxious </b></h2>
Finally, while it may be tempting to showcase your dry or sarcastic sense of humour, this may be better saved for your first date.

As James explains: "The last thing you want is for someone to be put off when they read your profile.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/relationships/how-choose-right-sex-toy-women-tips">How to choose the right sex toy for you</a></strong></p>
"There is a fine line between being confident and obnoxious, so ensure you know the difference. It can help to get a friend to read over your profile so they can share their honest opinion.

"Sometimes a dry sense of humour is hard to gauge online and can give off the wrong impression."
<h5>Feature image credit: Alamy</h5>

<p>Even when using your favourite dating app, finding your perfect match is no easy feat.</p>
<p>While Tinder and Hinge have made it easier than ever to connect with people, it can feel like an overwhelming task to stand out and make an impression when you're only given a matter of seconds. Certainly, post lockdown, there are more fish in the sea than ever – with <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-04/match-group-revenue-beats-estimates-delivers-positive-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Match Group</a> witnessing a 15 per cent rise in new subscribers at the end of 2020!</p>
<p>If you're looking to maximise your chances, relationship expert, James Thomas from <a href="https://condoms.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Condoms.uk</a> has shared seven tips with <strong>Four Nine </strong>about how to create the perfect dating app profile.</p>
<p>From avoiding certain words to photography choices, here are his secrets...</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632212 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-09-at-17.38.09.png" alt="Dating app profile " width="1045" height="694" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Making your profile stand out on a dating app isn't easy (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>1. Take realistic pictures</h2>
<p>While Thomas acknowledges that it's all too easy to rely on an old and time-tested photograph of yourself, it's best to do away with photos that are overly filtered or were taken five years ago — unless you have vampiric skills to push back the toll of time, of course.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/lifestyle/how-often-couples-have-sex" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Relationship expert reveals how couples really have sex</a></strong></p>
<p>"Using an old or inauthentic image can look misleading," he explains. "Starting a relationship on a misconstrued reality will only hurt you in the long-run and tarnish anything further developing with anyone.</p>
<p>"If you are unhappy with your current situation or look, you should always be honest. This attracts people who only want to like you for you and not the images you share."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632209 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/mika-baumeister-4xChyRlbyWM-unsplash-e1631198596987.jpeg" alt="dating app profile" width="1872" height="1632" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 It's best to do away with photos that are overly filtered on dating apps (Credit: Unsplash)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>2. Connect your social media</h2>
<p>If you're someone who likes to know everything about their potential beau, then you'll understand the importance of providing ample stalking material.</p>
<p>And the relationship expert points out that connecting your social media could actually result in more dates!</p>
<p>"It allows a person to extend their time on you," as he puts it. "With the addition of Instagram and Facebook, you can increase your chances of engagement. It also allows you to share more photos than the app allows and offers a deeper look into your personality.</p>
<p>"Always ensure your social media channels are up to date and mirror the personality you display on the app."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632211 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/pexels-cottonbro-7350911.jpeg" alt="dating app profile " width="1280" height="853" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Connecting your social media could actually result in more dates when you're using a dating app (Credit: Pexels)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>3. Offer key details about your interests</h2>
<p>As we all know, one key facet to compatibility is having shared interests — and Thomas says that you would be wise to highlight your passions when you're on the apps.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/friends-cast-dated-real-life" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Which 'Friends' cast dated? David Schwimmer confirms 'no sex contract was broken'</a></strong></p>
<p>Of course, you don't need to give <em>everything </em>away, but whether you're a bookworm or an avid jogger, he recommends being specific on certain details.</p>
<p>"For example, if you're reading an interesting book, state the name on your profile," Thomas explains. "You might end up attracting a fellow fan and you would have a heap in common.</p>
<p>"This is the same for your favourite food, music, and movies."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632213 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/2ATMX19-scaled.jpeg" alt="relationship" width="2560" height="1706" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 You would be wise to highlight your passions when using apps (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>4. Avoid cliches</h2>
<p>Time and time again, we see the same thing on dating app profiles. It seems like every single person loves The Office and would pick David Attenborough as a dream dinner date.</p>
<p>"You would expect to see one or more cliches on every other person's profile, avoid being one of them," Thomas comments.</p>
<p>"The same lines such as ‘I love to travel’, doesn’t add much personality to your profile unless you follow up with specifics.</p>
<p>"It can become predictable to read the same cliches over and over and it doesn’t set you apart from the crowd. Be refreshing and original, offer a witty anecdote and stay creative."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12631932 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-28-at-13.27.17.png" alt="relationships" width="848" height="572" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Be creative when it comes to drafting your profile on dating apps (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2><b>5. Keep group photos to a minimum</b></h2>
<p>Raise your hand if you've spent too much time trying to pick out the person you're chatting to from their mates — yep, me too.</p>
<p>While group photos are a good way to show off your social side, you want to stand out for the unique person you are.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/relationships/why-i-dumped-out-of-blue-relationship-expert">Relationship expert explains why people get dumped out of the blue</a></strong></p>
<p>Thomas explains: "With apps such as Tinder, you have nine photo options and group photos should take up no more than two of these slots.</p>
<p>"As for the image, try to avoid groups of more than 3 people so you don’t get lost in the crowd and if possible, with you in the middle. With your social media connected, they will be able to recognize your social crowd on these platforms."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="size-full wp-image-12632230" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/D247R6-scaled.jpeg" alt="tinder" width="2560" height="1707" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Don't overdo it with group photos on dating apps (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2><b>6. Be positive</b></h2>
<p>Another big no-no, the expert says, is to use negative language. "Try to avoid using the words ‘dislike’ or ‘don’t’ as this throws in negative vibes," he recommends.</p>
<p>"Instead, lead with things you enjoy doing and look for in a partner," says Thomas. Further down the line, you can expand on your dislikes, either via text or during a date.</p>
<p>"No one likes to have a conversation with a person who shares a negative mindset, so be open-minded with the details you share on your profile."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="size-full wp-image-12632231" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/FK71FX-scaled.jpeg" alt="hinge" width="2560" height="1700" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Try to avoid using negative language when trying to attract the attention of love interests (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2><b>7. Don’t be obnoxious </b></h2>
<p>Finally, while it may be tempting to showcase your dry or sarcastic sense of humour, this may be better saved for your first date.</p>
<p>As James explains: "The last thing you want is for someone to be put off when they read your profile.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/relationships/how-choose-right-sex-toy-women-tips">How to choose the right sex toy for you</a></strong></p>
<p>"There is a fine line between being confident and obnoxious, so ensure you know the difference. It can help to get a friend to read over your profile so they can share their honest opinion.</p>
<p>"Sometimes a dry sense of humour is hard to gauge online and can give off the wrong impression."</p>
<h2>Feature image credit: Alamy</h2>


7 tips for creating a flawless dating app profile, according to a relationship expert

When they fail to reply to your texts in a timely manner and stop making plans, you're usually left wondering whether you've been ghosted, and why.

It's an experience that can really make you feel helpless and at a loss for what to do. But it's incredibly common, something that you can even come to understand.

Registered psychotherapist <a href="https://sherryrichmond.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sherry Richmond</a> talks exclusively to <strong>Four Nine</strong> about why people ghost their love interests.

[caption id="attachment_12631932" align="aligncenter" width="968"]<img class=" wp-image-12631932" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-28-at-13.27.17.png" alt="why did he ghost me " width="968" height="653" /> Ghosting is one of the most common dating trends (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Why did they ghost me?</h2>
Many people have been ghosted at one point or another, largely thanks to the advent of social media and dating apps.

But why does it happen exactly? Here psychotherapist Richmond breaks down the cruel dating trend...
<h3>1.They're just not that into you</h3>
Truth hurts, and oftentimes people ghost because they cannot imagine a future with you. Whilst they may have enjoyed the time you shared, people have different expectations of a relationship, and they may not have thought that it would be compatible long-term.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/relationships/how-choose-right-sex-toy-women-tips">11 tips for choosing the right sex toy for you</a></strong></p>
But instead of being open about their feelings, some people may decide to ghost at this point. As Richmond explains: "Sometimes, in the early stages, people haven't built that dialogue where they feel they have enough trust in place where they can really talk about their feelings openly.

"So instead, they go into their default mode, which is to avoid and detach — aka ghost."

[caption id="attachment_12632139" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-12632139 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/08/priscilla-du-preez-g86airJZ4Gs-unsplash.jpeg" alt="ghosting" width="1920" height="1280" /> Oftentimes people ghost because they cannot imagine a future with you (Credit: Unsplash)[/caption]
<h3>2. They may be seeing other people</h3>
Another hard pill to swallow may be that the individual may have been seeing other people whilst they were seeing you.

People have different priorities in relationships, and while you may be looking for commitment, someone else may be more interested in getting to know a wide variety of people before settling down. So when things started getting serious — or they sensed you wanted more — they detached, and moved onto the next person.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/relationships/why-i-dumped-out-of-blue-relationship-expert">Why was I dumped out of the blue?</a></strong></p>
This is why Richmond says it's so important not to discount the red flags. These could be anything from them airing your calls to them getting confused about specific details about your time together.

"Everyone has their blind spots, but oftentimes you look back and realise that something was there from the beginning, and you just chose to ignore it," she explains.

"So, when something doesn't feel right, make a contract with yourself to really pay attention to that and protect your feelings before going all in. We can't control anyone but ourselves."

[caption id="attachment_12632138" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-12632138 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/08/mika-baumeister-4xChyRlbyWM-unsplash.jpeg" alt="ghost" width="1920" height="2400" /> The individual may have been seeing other people whilst they were seeing you (Credit: Unsplash)[/caption]
<h3>3. They're protecting themselves</h3>
Richmond explains that people who ghost often have "avoidance mechanisms", which can make the other person feel like their partner has completely emotionally detached or disengaged. But really, she says, they're often doing it because they're protecting themselves.

This could be because of a number of reasons; perhaps they are dealing with some anxiety surrounding relationships — in that they are scared of fully committing and being abandoned.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/self-isolate-breaking-up-ex-single-best-life">I had to self-isolate with my ex after breaking up</a></strong></p>
Alternatively, they may have had some unpleasant experiences in past relationships, which makes them more reluctant to open up completely.

"Ghosting can be about our defences," Richmond tells me. "When I work with couples, it's very helpful for the clients to learn about each other's default mode in terms of how they defend themselves when a hurt place or a vulnerability might be getting touched.

"So some people might not be fully aware that closeness feels scary, and that opening up could trigger a past hurt."

[caption id="attachment_12631771" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<img class="size-full wp-image-12631771" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/07/EJ55P4-scaled.jpeg" alt="why did he ghost me " width="2560" height="1707" /> Richmond explains that people who ghost often have "avoidance mechanisms" (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>What effects can being ghosted have?</h2>
Richmond says that ghosting can be incredibly painful, and can even trigger anxiety and depression — especially if you suppress your feelings and do not have the space to talk about them.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/relationships/how-long-sex-last-therapist">Relationship and sex therapist answers your biggest sex questions</a></strong></p>
Likewise, it could also trigger shame, which could lead to you blaming yourself for something that was completely out of your control. In this case, she stresses that you should speak to someone that you trust, and again, find safe spaces to share your thoughts and feelings.

"Remember, emotional pain is registered in the brain in the same way that physical pain is, so please be kind to yourself," she adds.

[caption id="attachment_12631933" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<img class="size-full wp-image-12631933" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/07/MPKY9F-scaled.jpeg" alt="why did he ghost me " width="2560" height="1920" /> Ghosting can be incredibly painful, and can even trigger anxiety and depression (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>How can you get over being ghosted?</h2>
An effective way to get over being ghosted is to learn how to self-soothe.

"One major gift we can give ourselves is self-regulation, that is, how to be there for ourselves when our anxieties or wounds are triggered," Richmond explains. "It's really powerful to know how to speak to ourselves when we are in distress."

She advises checking in with yourself throughout the day: "Ask yourself about how you have been speaking to yourself. How many times are you saying something negative to yourself or about yourself? Is your belief system kind, or do you have a very harsh inner critic?
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/why-love-island-serious-risk-black-women">Why 'Love Island' is a more serious risk for Black women than it is for white</a></strong></p>
"To self-soothe, you need to develop an inner, nurturing parent that can be there for your inner vulnerabilities.

"So, a way to self soothe and regulate our emotions is by being loving towards ourselves. Compassion is incomplete if it doesn't include yourself."

Another tool is to practice meditation. Richmond explains that when we have been ghosted, our thoughts can be all over the place. "Meditation is not about having no thoughts," she says, "but it's about those thoughts becoming background noise, where they don't control us and instead we can control what we choose to focus on.

"Because ghosting triggers emotional stress, meditation can really help you regulate your internal systems. Just do one minute a day of mindful breathing. It's very powerful."

Looking towards the future, the psychotherapist concludes: "A really valuable piece of advice you can give yourself when you start to get to know somebody is to not discount the red flags and protect yourself and your own feelings before you go all into something."

<p>When they fail to reply to your texts in a timely manner and stop making plans, you're usually left wondering whether you've been ghosted, and why.</p>
<p>It's an experience that can really make you feel helpless and at a loss for what to do. But it's incredibly common, something that you can even come to understand.</p>
<p>Registered psychotherapist <a href="https://sherryrichmond.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sherry Richmond</a> talks exclusively to <strong>Four Nine</strong> about why people ghost their love interests.</p>
<figure>
            <img class=" wp-image-12631932" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-28-at-13.27.17.png" alt="why did he ghost me " width="968" height="653" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Ghosting is one of the most common dating trends (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Why did they ghost me?</h2>
<p>Many people have been ghosted at one point or another, largely thanks to the advent of social media and dating apps.</p>
<p>But why does it happen exactly? Here psychotherapist Richmond breaks down the cruel dating trend...</p>
<h2>1.They're just not that into you</h2>
<p>Truth hurts, and oftentimes people ghost because they cannot imagine a future with you. Whilst they may have enjoyed the time you shared, people have different expectations of a relationship, and they may not have thought that it would be compatible long-term.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/relationships/how-choose-right-sex-toy-women-tips">11 tips for choosing the right sex toy for you</a></strong></p>
<p>But instead of being open about their feelings, some people may decide to ghost at this point. As Richmond explains: "Sometimes, in the early stages, people haven't built that dialogue where they feel they have enough trust in place where they can really talk about their feelings openly.</p>
<p>"So instead, they go into their default mode, which is to avoid and detach — aka ghost."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632139 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/08/priscilla-du-preez-g86airJZ4Gs-unsplash.jpeg" alt="ghosting" width="1920" height="1280" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Oftentimes people ghost because they cannot imagine a future with you (Credit: Unsplash)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>2. They may be seeing other people</h2>
<p>Another hard pill to swallow may be that the individual may have been seeing other people whilst they were seeing you.</p>
<p>People have different priorities in relationships, and while you may be looking for commitment, someone else may be more interested in getting to know a wide variety of people before settling down. So when things started getting serious — or they sensed you wanted more — they detached, and moved onto the next person.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/relationships/why-i-dumped-out-of-blue-relationship-expert">Why was I dumped out of the blue?</a></strong></p>
<p>This is why Richmond says it's so important not to discount the red flags. These could be anything from them airing your calls to them getting confused about specific details about your time together.</p>
<p>"Everyone has their blind spots, but oftentimes you look back and realise that something was there from the beginning, and you just chose to ignore it," she explains.</p>
<p>"So, when something doesn't feel right, make a contract with yourself to really pay attention to that and protect your feelings before going all in. We can't control anyone but ourselves."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632138 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/08/mika-baumeister-4xChyRlbyWM-unsplash.jpeg" alt="ghost" width="1920" height="2400" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 The individual may have been seeing other people whilst they were seeing you (Credit: Unsplash)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>3. They're protecting themselves</h2>
<p>Richmond explains that people who ghost often have "avoidance mechanisms", which can make the other person feel like their partner has completely emotionally detached or disengaged. But really, she says, they're often doing it because they're protecting themselves.</p>
<p>This could be because of a number of reasons; perhaps they are dealing with some anxiety surrounding relationships — in that they are scared of fully committing and being abandoned.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/self-isolate-breaking-up-ex-single-best-life">I had to self-isolate with my ex after breaking up</a></strong></p>
<p>Alternatively, they may have had some unpleasant experiences in past relationships, which makes them more reluctant to open up completely.</p>
<p>"Ghosting can be about our defences," Richmond tells me. "When I work with couples, it's very helpful for the clients to learn about each other's default mode in terms of how they defend themselves when a hurt place or a vulnerability might be getting touched.</p>
<p>"So some people might not be fully aware that closeness feels scary, and that opening up could trigger a past hurt."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="size-full wp-image-12631771" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/07/EJ55P4-scaled.jpeg" alt="why did he ghost me " width="2560" height="1707" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Richmond explains that people who ghost often have "avoidance mechanisms" (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>What effects can being ghosted have?</h2>
<p>Richmond says that ghosting can be incredibly painful, and can even trigger anxiety and depression — especially if you suppress your feelings and do not have the space to talk about them.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/relationships/how-long-sex-last-therapist">Relationship and sex therapist answers your biggest sex questions</a></strong></p>
<p>Likewise, it could also trigger shame, which could lead to you blaming yourself for something that was completely out of your control. In this case, she stresses that you should speak to someone that you trust, and again, find safe spaces to share your thoughts and feelings.</p>
<p>"Remember, emotional pain is registered in the brain in the same way that physical pain is, so please be kind to yourself," she adds.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="size-full wp-image-12631933" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/07/MPKY9F-scaled.jpeg" alt="why did he ghost me " width="2560" height="1920" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Ghosting can be incredibly painful, and can even trigger anxiety and depression (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>How can you get over being ghosted?</h2>
<p>An effective way to get over being ghosted is to learn how to self-soothe.</p>
<p>"One major gift we can give ourselves is self-regulation, that is, how to be there for ourselves when our anxieties or wounds are triggered," Richmond explains. "It's really powerful to know how to speak to ourselves when we are in distress."</p>
<p>She advises checking in with yourself throughout the day: "Ask yourself about how you have been speaking to yourself. How many times are you saying something negative to yourself or about yourself? Is your belief system kind, or do you have a very harsh inner critic?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/why-love-island-serious-risk-black-women">Why 'Love Island' is a more serious risk for Black women than it is for white</a></strong></p>
<p>"To self-soothe, you need to develop an inner, nurturing parent that can be there for your inner vulnerabilities.</p>
<p>"So, a way to self soothe and regulate our emotions is by being loving towards ourselves. Compassion is incomplete if it doesn't include yourself."</p>
<p>Another tool is to practice meditation. Richmond explains that when we have been ghosted, our thoughts can be all over the place. "Meditation is not about having no thoughts," she says, "but it's about those thoughts becoming background noise, where they don't control us and instead we can control what we choose to focus on.</p>
<p>"Because ghosting triggers emotional stress, meditation can really help you regulate your internal systems. Just do one minute a day of mindful breathing. It's very powerful."</p>
<p>Looking towards the future, the psychotherapist concludes: "A really valuable piece of advice you can give yourself when you start to get to know somebody is to not discount the red flags and protect yourself and your own feelings before you go all into something."</p>


Relationship expert explains why people ghost each other – and how to heal

Netflix viewers have been scratching their heads over who could have possibly killed Nick in 'Clickbait'.

The plot revolves around Nick Brewer — a seemingly ordinary man — who is kidnapped and forced to film a ransom video. On cue cards, he confesses to sexual assault.

However, more disturbingly, his kidnappers vow to murder him once the video reaches five million views. Of course, the video goes viral, and his family have to deal with the fallout...

So, how does Nick actually die in Clickbait? We have the answers.

[caption id="attachment_12632298" align="aligncenter" width="958"]<img class="wp-image-12632298 " src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-20-at-16.10.32.png" alt="Who killed Nick in 'Clickbait' on Netflix" width="958" height="638" /> Netflix viewers have been scratching their heads over who could have possibly killed Nick in 'Clickbait' (Credit: Netflix)[/caption]
<h2>Who killed Nick in 'Clickbait'?</h2>
Dawn's husband, Ed, killed Nick in 'Clickbait'. The TV series' shock plot twist came as a surprise to many viewers who initially thought that he was killed by his kidnappers.

It all revolves around Nick's catfish, who is revealed to be his co-worker, Dawn. In flashbacks, we see the 63-year-old receptionist help get him set up at his new job before going home to her husband, Ed.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/friends-cast-dated-real-life">Here are the 'Friends' cast that dated in real life</a></strong></p>
But it turn out,Dawn has a secret. After gaining access to Nick's phone and discovering that he's been receiving messages from a dating app, she sets up more dating profiles using his pictures.

Dawn proceeds to catfish several women, including Sarah Burton and Emma Beasley. We gather that she is a lonely, bored woman, who is not getting the attention she craves from Ed, whose passions appear to revolve around model trains.

He does eventually discover his wife's secret, and this is what leads to an unsuspecting Nick's demise.

One day, Ed and Dawn get into a huge argument after he discovers she's been catfishing online. Unfortunately, this coincides with Sarah messaging "Nick", which leads to Dawn sending her some pretty harsh breakup messages.

Sarah kills herself, and this kicks off a chain reaction that leads to Simon finding the dating profile, and kidnapping Nick.

Eventually, a desperate Nick is able to persuade Simon that he never knew Sarah, and he is let go. But instead of returning home, he goes to confront Dawn after figuring out that she is the catfish all along.

While Nick threatens to reveal everything, Ed comes up from behind and bludgeons him with a hammer. So Ed, a character we meet in the finale, has been the killer all along.

[caption id="attachment_12632296" align="alignnone" width="881"]<img class="wp-image-12632296" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-20-at-15.58.13.png" alt="Who killed Nick in Clickbait" width="881" height="491" /> Dawn's husband, Ed, killed Nick in 'Clickbait' (Credit: Netflix)[/caption]
<h2>Is 'Clickbait' based on a true story?</h2>
While Clickbait is fictional, the story is based on a few real-life incidents of catfishing.

Speaking to <a href="https://variety.com/2021/tv/features/clickbait-tony-ayres-viral-murder-catfishing-1235031522/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Variety</a>, the show's co-creator, Tony Ayres, said: "One of [those stories] was obviously catfishing. We were particularly baffled and intrigued by the instances of women impersonating men.

"People can fall down these quite innocent rabbit holes, particularly with the Internet, particularly now, and unleash surprising and sometimes tragic real-world consequences. In the age of the internet, in particular, everyone has secret lives.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/britney-spears-get-married-conservatorship">Britney Spears' rights to get married under conservatorship explained</a></strong></p>
Britney's Rights To Get Married Under Conservatorship Explained As She Plans To Wed Sam Asghari

"Sometimes those secrets are untoward, sometimes they’re quite benign, but there are bits of ourselves we show and bits of ourselves that we don’t show… There’s a real blurring of those two things."

Despite not revealing what specific Internet crimes he was inspired by, he corroborated to <a href="https://ew.com/tv/clickbait-creator-tony-ayres-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Entertainment Weekly</a> that he was inspired by recent examples.

"We became fascinated with the idea of the new categories of crime that have sprung up since the Internet has taken over our lives," he said.

"[We] went away and did this phenomenal research document where we scoured the world for these kinds of crimes when the virtual leaks into the actual and has a deep impact on human beings. [So we] decided to make our show based on a number of real crimes that had actually happened.

"I remember the second day of the [writers'] room, we were talking about these crimes that we were really fascinated by. And then I just had this moment where I thought, 'If we do this, this, this, this, and this, that's how it's going to play out. That's pretty much what it was. My brain is quite mathematical."

[caption id="attachment_12632301" align="aligncenter" width="940"]<img class="wp-image-12632301 " src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-20-at-16.37.41.png" alt="clickbait" width="940" height="523" /> The hit Netflix series is based on a few real-life incidents of catfishing (Credit: Netflix)[/caption]
<h2>Will there be a series 2 of 'Clickbait'?</h2>
Although Clickbait is a limited series, it won't be unsurprising if there's a season two.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.fournine.net/samantha-dead-sex-and-the-city-kim-cattrall">Is Samantha dead in the Sex and the City reboot? </a></strong></p>
Given its popularity, it would be in Netflix's best interests to renew the show for season two.

As to a potential release date, we'd probably be looking at late 2022.

[caption id="attachment_12632302" align="alignnone" width="1280"]<img class="wp-image-12632302 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/aaaabtk4dwea1eak0npqiuvbjxuqnf4qm3wgfjy1qmaythk2uou7h1ns7biqf7c7wgdejrtgxcplzuskswuorxcp8ptrm4a7-1629750425.jpeg" alt="clickbait" width="1280" height="720" /> Fans are hoping there will be a season two of 'Clickbait' (Credit: Netflix)[/caption]
<h2>Who is the cast of 'Clickbait'?</h2>
Adrian Grenier plays Nick Brewer

Zoe Kazan plays Pia Brewer

Betty Gabriel plays Sophie Brewer
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/kanye-west-cheat-kim-kardashian">Did Kanye West cheat on Kim Kardashian?</a></strong></p>
Cameron Engles plays Ethan Brewer

Jaylin Fletcher plays Kai Brewer

Ian Meadows plays Matt Aldin

Elizabeth Alexander plays Andrea Brewer

Abraham Lim plays Ben Park

Becca Lish plays Dawn Gleed

Wally Dunn plays Ed
<h5>Feature image credit: Netflix</h5>

<p>Netflix viewers have been scratching their heads over who could have possibly killed Nick in 'Clickbait'.</p>
<p>The plot revolves around Nick Brewer — a seemingly ordinary man — who is kidnapped and forced to film a ransom video. On cue cards, he confesses to sexual assault.</p>
<p>However, more disturbingly, his kidnappers vow to murder him once the video reaches five million views. Of course, the video goes viral, and his family have to deal with the fallout...</p>
<p>So, how does Nick actually die in Clickbait? We have the answers.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632298 " src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-20-at-16.10.32.png" alt="Who killed Nick in 'Clickbait' on Netflix" width="958" height="638" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Netflix viewers have been scratching their heads over who could have possibly killed Nick in 'Clickbait' (Credit: Netflix)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Who killed Nick in 'Clickbait'?</h2>
<p>Dawn's husband, Ed, killed Nick in 'Clickbait'. The TV series' shock plot twist came as a surprise to many viewers who initially thought that he was killed by his kidnappers.</p>
<p>It all revolves around Nick's catfish, who is revealed to be his co-worker, Dawn. In flashbacks, we see the 63-year-old receptionist help get him set up at his new job before going home to her husband, Ed.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/friends-cast-dated-real-life">Here are the 'Friends' cast that dated in real life</a></strong></p>
<p>But it turn out,Dawn has a secret. After gaining access to Nick's phone and discovering that he's been receiving messages from a dating app, she sets up more dating profiles using his pictures.</p>
<p>Dawn proceeds to catfish several women, including Sarah Burton and Emma Beasley. We gather that she is a lonely, bored woman, who is not getting the attention she craves from Ed, whose passions appear to revolve around model trains.</p>
<p>He does eventually discover his wife's secret, and this is what leads to an unsuspecting Nick's demise.</p>
<p>One day, Ed and Dawn get into a huge argument after he discovers she's been catfishing online. Unfortunately, this coincides with Sarah messaging "Nick", which leads to Dawn sending her some pretty harsh breakup messages.</p>
<p>Sarah kills herself, and this kicks off a chain reaction that leads to Simon finding the dating profile, and kidnapping Nick.</p>
<p>Eventually, a desperate Nick is able to persuade Simon that he never knew Sarah, and he is let go. But instead of returning home, he goes to confront Dawn after figuring out that she is the catfish all along.</p>
<p>While Nick threatens to reveal everything, Ed comes up from behind and bludgeons him with a hammer. So Ed, a character we meet in the finale, has been the killer all along.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632296" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-20-at-15.58.13.png" alt="Who killed Nick in Clickbait" width="881" height="491" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Dawn's husband, Ed, killed Nick in 'Clickbait' (Credit: Netflix)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Is 'Clickbait' based on a true story?</h2>
<p>While Clickbait is fictional, the story is based on a few real-life incidents of catfishing.</p>
<p>Speaking to <a href="https://variety.com/2021/tv/features/clickbait-tony-ayres-viral-murder-catfishing-1235031522/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Variety</a>, the show's co-creator, Tony Ayres, said: "One of [those stories] was obviously catfishing. We were particularly baffled and intrigued by the instances of women impersonating men.</p>
<p>"People can fall down these quite innocent rabbit holes, particularly with the Internet, particularly now, and unleash surprising and sometimes tragic real-world consequences. In the age of the internet, in particular, everyone has secret lives.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/britney-spears-get-married-conservatorship">Britney Spears' rights to get married under conservatorship explained</a></strong></p>
<p>Britney's Rights To Get Married Under Conservatorship Explained As She Plans To Wed Sam Asghari</p>
<p>"Sometimes those secrets are untoward, sometimes they’re quite benign, but there are bits of ourselves we show and bits of ourselves that we don’t show… There’s a real blurring of those two things."</p>
<p>Despite not revealing what specific Internet crimes he was inspired by, he corroborated to <a href="https://ew.com/tv/clickbait-creator-tony-ayres-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Entertainment Weekly</a> that he was inspired by recent examples.</p>
<p>"We became fascinated with the idea of the new categories of crime that have sprung up since the Internet has taken over our lives," he said.</p>
<p>"[We] went away and did this phenomenal research document where we scoured the world for these kinds of crimes when the virtual leaks into the actual and has a deep impact on human beings. [So we] decided to make our show based on a number of real crimes that had actually happened.</p>
<p>"I remember the second day of the [writers'] room, we were talking about these crimes that we were really fascinated by. And then I just had this moment where I thought, 'If we do this, this, this, this, and this, that's how it's going to play out. That's pretty much what it was. My brain is quite mathematical."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632301 " src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-20-at-16.37.41.png" alt="clickbait" width="940" height="523" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 The hit Netflix series is based on a few real-life incidents of catfishing (Credit: Netflix)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Will there be a series 2 of 'Clickbait'?</h2>
<p>Although Clickbait is a limited series, it won't be unsurprising if there's a season two.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.fournine.net/samantha-dead-sex-and-the-city-kim-cattrall">Is Samantha dead in the Sex and the City reboot? </a></strong></p>
<p>Given its popularity, it would be in Netflix's best interests to renew the show for season two.</p>
<p>As to a potential release date, we'd probably be looking at late 2022.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632302 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/aaaabtk4dwea1eak0npqiuvbjxuqnf4qm3wgfjy1qmaythk2uou7h1ns7biqf7c7wgdejrtgxcplzuskswuorxcp8ptrm4a7-1629750425.jpeg" alt="clickbait" width="1280" height="720" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Fans are hoping there will be a season two of 'Clickbait' (Credit: Netflix)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Who is the cast of 'Clickbait'?</h2>
<p>Adrian Grenier plays Nick Brewer</p>
<p>Zoe Kazan plays Pia Brewer</p>
<p>Betty Gabriel plays Sophie Brewer</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/kanye-west-cheat-kim-kardashian">Did Kanye West cheat on Kim Kardashian?</a></strong></p>
<p>Cameron Engles plays Ethan Brewer</p>
<p>Jaylin Fletcher plays Kai Brewer</p>
<p>Ian Meadows plays Matt Aldin</p>
<p>Elizabeth Alexander plays Andrea Brewer</p>
<p>Abraham Lim plays Ben Park</p>
<p>Becca Lish plays Dawn Gleed</p>
<p>Wally Dunn plays Ed</p>
<h2>Feature image credit: Netflix</h2>


Who killed Nick in 'Clickbait' on Netflix? Plot summary explained

Rumours that Kanye West did cheat on Kim Kardashian have been spreading like wildfire following the release of his album Donda.

The rapper appeared to hint on the track Hurricane that he was unfaithful to his wife after they welcomed their second child Saint in 2015.

Since then, sources have come forward claiming that Kanye cheated on Kim several times over the course of their seven-year marriage, before she filed for divorce in February earlier this year.

Here, we investigate the allegations of infidelity...

[caption id="attachment_1263113143" align="aligncenter" width="2560"]<img class="wp-image-1263113143 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/06/2EHNA2P-scaled.jpeg" alt="Did Kanye West cheat on Kim Kardashian" width="2560" height="1704" /> Insiders have claims that Kanye West did cheat on Kim Kardashian (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Did Kanye West cheat on Kim Kardashian?</h2>
While neither party has explicitly confirmed that there was any infidelity, insiders have told <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/celebrities/16142928/kanye-west-cheated-kim-kardashian-a-list-singer-struggling/">The Sun</a> that Kanye West did cheat on Kim Kardashian several times.

One source claimed that Kanye cheated on Kim with an A-list singer around the time that Kim gave birth to their second child, Saint — who is now five-years-old.

"At the time it happened, Kanye was mainly living in his bachelor pad in Hollywood because it was closer to his studio and he wasn't going to go home to Kim and newborn baby when he'd been partying late in the studio," the insider alleged.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/kanye-west-kim-kardashian-album-donda">What does Kanye West say about Kim Kardashian on his new album 'Donda'?</a></strong></p>
They also said that the purported cheating came at a difficult time. Kim was reportedly suffering from body image issues and doing early morning exercise classes after gaining weight during her pregnancy.

"It's really sad. She blamed herself and vowed to 'bounce back' hotter than ever," the source added.

Another insider told the publication that the Yeezy designer confessed to cheating on the reality television star to his inner circle during his Saint Pablo tour in 2016 where he "boasted about having sex with groupies".

"On his Saint Pablo Tour, he was flipping out in front of his team, confessing to sleeping with girls behind Kim's back," they said.

"He even said he'd been f***ing groupies and went into insane detail about his sex sessions.  It was very graphic, his language was unreal.

"Those who know him well, they were sitting head in hands and laughing nervously, while crew members who had just joined the tour were left stunned. Nobody could believe what he was saying in front of everybody."

The source claimed that it was "heartbreaking" as they suspected that Kanye was suffering from mental health issues.

However, neither Kim nor Kanye have commented publicly on the rumours.

[caption id="attachment_1263113133" align="aligncenter" width="2560"]<img class="wp-image-1263113133 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/06/EF1BW5-scaled.jpeg" alt="Did Kanye West cheat on Kim Kardashian" width="2560" height="1703" /> Neither party has explicitly confirmed that there was any infidelity(Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Did Kanye West confess to cheating on Kim Kardashian?</h2>
Although he is yet to make a statement, fans think Kanye may have confessed to cheating on Kim on the song Hurricane on his new album Donda.

The controversial lyrics read: "Here I go actin' too rich / Here I go with a new chick / And I know what the truth is / Still playin' after two kids / It's a lot to digest when your life always movin'."
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/kanye-west-reveals-exactly-when-his-feud-with-jay-z-started" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What happened to Kanye West and Jay Z? The rappers' feud explained</a></strong></p>
Speaking about the lyrics to <a href="https://pagesix.com/2021/09/01/kanye-west-cheated-on-kim-kardashian-after-she-welcomed-their-first-two-kids/?utm_medium=browser_notifications&amp;utm_source=pushly&amp;utm_campaign=1335860" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Page Six</a>, an insider said: "The song is in a way his testimony of everything he did wrong and taking accountability for their marriage breakdown."

The source also claimed that the "new chick" mentioned in the lyrics was not a reference to Kanye's short-lived relationship with supermodel, Irina Shayk.

"If you look closer to the lyrics he is referring to his infidelity during his marriage with Kim, even after two kids," they said.

Kanye and Irina called it quits after two months of dating in August.

[caption id="attachment_1263113136" align="aligncenter" width="2560"]<img class="wp-image-1263113136 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/06/2C7XJN1-scaled.jpeg" alt="Did Kanye West cheat on Kim Kardashian" width="2560" height="1707" /> Kanye may have confessed to cheating on Kim on the song Hurricane (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Why did Kanye West and Kim Kardashian split up?</h2>
Kim and Kanye, who share four children — North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm — appeared to have split due to a number of reasons.

Speaking about the split on the Keeping Up with the Kardashians reunion, Kim said: "It was not like, one specific thing that happened on either part.

"I think it was just a general difference of opinions on a few things that led to this decision. And like, in no way would I want someone to think that I didn’t give it my all, or not really try. You know, we have four kids."
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/9-of-taylor-swift-most-infamous-feuds-in-all-their-glory" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Taylor Swift's biggest feuds of all time explained – from Kanye West to Katy Perry</a></strong></p>
According to sources, Kim and Kanye's marriage hit a "turning point" after the rapper made a comment about slavery during a 2018 TMZ interview, when he suggested that 400 years of slavery "sounds like a choice".

Kim revealed that she was seriously upset with her husband following the comments. Kim <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-44380715" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>: "Did I scream about it? Did I cry about it? Did I fight about it? Yeah."

Additionally, Kanye's desire to relocate to Wyoming in 2019 created tension. Speaking about the issue in a June 2019 episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, the mother-of-four said: "I just honestly can’t do this anymore. Why am I still in this place where I’m stuck for years? Like, he goes and moves to a different state every year.

"But I can’t do that. He should have a wife that supports his every move and travels with him and does everything, and I can’t. I feel like a f*king failure. It’s my third f*king marriage."

[caption id="attachment_1263095549" align="aligncenter" width="760"]<img class="wp-image-1263095549 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/02/21b400e0-kim-and-kanye-2.jpg" alt="Kanye West" width="760" height="613" /> Kim and Kanye share four children — North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Why did Kanye West unfollow Kim Kardashian on Instagram?</h2>
Earlier this week, Kanye unfollowed Kim on Instagram.

The move came as a shock to fan as the pair have appeared to be on good terms following the split, with Kim joining Kanye on stage at his Donda listening party.

Currently, the rapper has not elaborated on his reasoning. However, when the gesture made headlines, he reflowed his estranged wife before unfollowing her again.

Kanye now only follows 45 people. All of them, including Solange Knowles, have matched their profile picture to his — a black circle — in an apparent reference to his latest album, Donda.
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[caption id="attachment_1263095548" align="aligncenter" width="600"]<img class="wp-image-1263095548 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/02/81cd8378-kim-and-kanye-1.jpg" alt="Kim Kardashian and Kanye West." width="600" height="858" /> Kanye now only follows 14 people (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Are Kanye West and Kim Kardashian still getting divorced?</h2>
At the time of publishing, neither party have said that the divorce is off the table.

However, recent moves by the pair have confused fans who are now questioning whether the pair is actually getting divorced.

During a Donda listening party in August, Kim made an appearance wearing a head-to-toe wedding dress and a thick veil. Then, sources started to claim that Kanye wants the beauty mogul back, per <a href="https://www.etonline.com/kanye-west-wants-to-get-back-with-kim-kardashian-source-says-how-she-feels-about-it-171208" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Entertainment Tonight</a>.

For her part, Kim has promoted Kanye's music, and she spoke glowingly about him during a recent <a href="https://armchairexpertpod.com/pods/malala-yousafzai-cy3tp-56989" target="_blank" rel="noopener">podcast</a> appearance.

Make of that what you will...

[caption id="attachment_1263113137" align="aligncenter" width="2560"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1263113137" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/06/TD7YPH-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1901" /> Fans are confused as to whether the pair are actually getting divorced (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Who are Kanye West and Kim Kardashian dating now?</h2>
While Kanye was linked to Irina Shayk in June, the pair split just two months later.

As for the Skims star, Kim has been linked to a number of celebrities including, CNN’s Van Jones and singer Maluma.

However, she set the record straight during the Keeping Up with the Kardashians reunion. "No, I’m not dating either one – not Van Jones, not Maluma. I’ve known him, I’ve seen him a few times, always in Miami, such a nice guy. So nice."
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/britney-spears-relationshio-father-jamie">Inside Britney Spears' troubled relationship with her father Jamie</a></strong></p>
She did say that was open to the possibility of romance, however. "Just someone that I think would understand what this life is about, though," she said.

"But I think what I was looking for and who I was, you know years ago is completely different than who I am today and I value privacy. And I just want something that’s like, really real."
<h5>Feature image credit: Alamy</h5>

<p>Rumours that Kanye West did cheat on Kim Kardashian have been spreading like wildfire following the release of his album Donda.</p>
<p>The rapper appeared to hint on the track Hurricane that he was unfaithful to his wife after they welcomed their second child Saint in 2015.</p>
<p>Since then, sources have come forward claiming that Kanye cheated on Kim several times over the course of their seven-year marriage, before she filed for divorce in February earlier this year.</p>
<p>Here, we investigate the allegations of infidelity...</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-1263113143 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/06/2EHNA2P-scaled.jpeg" alt="Did Kanye West cheat on Kim Kardashian" width="2560" height="1704" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Insiders have claims that Kanye West did cheat on Kim Kardashian (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Did Kanye West cheat on Kim Kardashian?</h2>
<p>While neither party has explicitly confirmed that there was any infidelity, insiders have told <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/celebrities/16142928/kanye-west-cheated-kim-kardashian-a-list-singer-struggling/">The Sun</a> that Kanye West did cheat on Kim Kardashian several times.</p>
<p>One source claimed that Kanye cheated on Kim with an A-list singer around the time that Kim gave birth to their second child, Saint — who is now five-years-old.</p>
<p>"At the time it happened, Kanye was mainly living in his bachelor pad in Hollywood because it was closer to his studio and he wasn't going to go home to Kim and newborn baby when he'd been partying late in the studio," the insider alleged.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/kanye-west-kim-kardashian-album-donda">What does Kanye West say about Kim Kardashian on his new album 'Donda'?</a></strong></p>
<p>They also said that the purported cheating came at a difficult time. Kim was reportedly suffering from body image issues and doing early morning exercise classes after gaining weight during her pregnancy.</p>
<p>"It's really sad. She blamed herself and vowed to 'bounce back' hotter than ever," the source added.</p>
<p>Another insider told the publication that the Yeezy designer confessed to cheating on the reality television star to his inner circle during his Saint Pablo tour in 2016 where he "boasted about having sex with groupies".</p>
<p>"On his Saint Pablo Tour, he was flipping out in front of his team, confessing to sleeping with girls behind Kim's back," they said.</p>
<p>"He even said he'd been f***ing groupies and went into insane detail about his sex sessions.  It was very graphic, his language was unreal.</p>
<p>"Those who know him well, they were sitting head in hands and laughing nervously, while crew members who had just joined the tour were left stunned. Nobody could believe what he was saying in front of everybody."</p>
<p>The source claimed that it was "heartbreaking" as they suspected that Kanye was suffering from mental health issues.</p>
<p>However, neither Kim nor Kanye have commented publicly on the rumours.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-1263113133 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/06/EF1BW5-scaled.jpeg" alt="Did Kanye West cheat on Kim Kardashian" width="2560" height="1703" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Neither party has explicitly confirmed that there was any infidelity(Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Did Kanye West confess to cheating on Kim Kardashian?</h2>
<p>Although he is yet to make a statement, fans think Kanye may have confessed to cheating on Kim on the song Hurricane on his new album Donda.</p>
<p>The controversial lyrics read: "Here I go actin' too rich / Here I go with a new chick / And I know what the truth is / Still playin' after two kids / It's a lot to digest when your life always movin'."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/kanye-west-reveals-exactly-when-his-feud-with-jay-z-started" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What happened to Kanye West and Jay Z? The rappers' feud explained</a></strong></p>
<p>Speaking about the lyrics to <a href="https://pagesix.com/2021/09/01/kanye-west-cheated-on-kim-kardashian-after-she-welcomed-their-first-two-kids/?utm_medium=browser_notifications&amp;utm_source=pushly&amp;utm_campaign=1335860" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Page Six</a>, an insider said: "The song is in a way his testimony of everything he did wrong and taking accountability for their marriage breakdown."</p>
<p>The source also claimed that the "new chick" mentioned in the lyrics was not a reference to Kanye's short-lived relationship with supermodel, Irina Shayk.</p>
<p>"If you look closer to the lyrics he is referring to his infidelity during his marriage with Kim, even after two kids," they said.</p>
<p>Kanye and Irina called it quits after two months of dating in August.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-1263113136 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/06/2C7XJN1-scaled.jpeg" alt="Did Kanye West cheat on Kim Kardashian" width="2560" height="1707" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Kanye may have confessed to cheating on Kim on the song Hurricane (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Why did Kanye West and Kim Kardashian split up?</h2>
<p>Kim and Kanye, who share four children — North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm — appeared to have split due to a number of reasons.</p>
<p>Speaking about the split on the Keeping Up with the Kardashians reunion, Kim said: "It was not like, one specific thing that happened on either part.</p>
<p>"I think it was just a general difference of opinions on a few things that led to this decision. And like, in no way would I want someone to think that I didn’t give it my all, or not really try. You know, we have four kids."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/9-of-taylor-swift-most-infamous-feuds-in-all-their-glory" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Taylor Swift's biggest feuds of all time explained – from Kanye West to Katy Perry</a></strong></p>
<p>According to sources, Kim and Kanye's marriage hit a "turning point" after the rapper made a comment about slavery during a 2018 TMZ interview, when he suggested that 400 years of slavery "sounds like a choice".</p>
<p>Kim revealed that she was seriously upset with her husband following the comments. Kim <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-44380715" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>: "Did I scream about it? Did I cry about it? Did I fight about it? Yeah."</p>
<p>Additionally, Kanye's desire to relocate to Wyoming in 2019 created tension. Speaking about the issue in a June 2019 episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, the mother-of-four said: "I just honestly can’t do this anymore. Why am I still in this place where I’m stuck for years? Like, he goes and moves to a different state every year.</p>
<p>"But I can’t do that. He should have a wife that supports his every move and travels with him and does everything, and I can’t. I feel like a f*king failure. It’s my third f*king marriage."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-1263095549 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/02/21b400e0-kim-and-kanye-2.jpg" alt="Kanye West" width="760" height="613" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Kim and Kanye share four children — North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Why did Kanye West unfollow Kim Kardashian on Instagram?</h2>
<p>Earlier this week, Kanye unfollowed Kim on Instagram.</p>
<p>The move came as a shock to fan as the pair have appeared to be on good terms following the split, with Kim joining Kanye on stage at his Donda listening party.</p>
<p>Currently, the rapper has not elaborated on his reasoning. However, when the gesture made headlines, he reflowed his estranged wife before unfollowing her again.</p>
<p>Kanye now only follows 45 people. All of them, including Solange Knowles, have matched their profile picture to his — a black circle — in an apparent reference to his latest album, Donda.</p>
<picture class=""><source srcset="https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/screenshot-2021-09-14-at-11-17-44-1631615559.png?resize=768:*" media="(min-width: 61.25rem)" data-srcset="https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/screenshot-2021-09-14-at-11-17-44-1631615559.png?resize=768:*" /><source srcset="https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/screenshot-2021-09-14-at-11-17-44-1631615559.png?resize=980:*" media="(min-width: 48rem)" data-srcset="https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/screenshot-2021-09-14-at-11-17-44-1631615559.png?resize=980:*" /><source srcset="https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/screenshot-2021-09-14-at-11-17-44-1631615559.png?resize=640:*" media="(min-width: 30rem)" data-srcset="https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/screenshot-2021-09-14-at-11-17-44-1631615559.png?resize=640:*" /></picture>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-1263095548 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/02/81cd8378-kim-and-kanye-1.jpg" alt="Kim Kardashian and Kanye West." width="600" height="858" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Kanye now only follows 14 people (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Are Kanye West and Kim Kardashian still getting divorced?</h2>
<p>At the time of publishing, neither party have said that the divorce is off the table.</p>
<p>However, recent moves by the pair have confused fans who are now questioning whether the pair is actually getting divorced.</p>
<p>During a Donda listening party in August, Kim made an appearance wearing a head-to-toe wedding dress and a thick veil. Then, sources started to claim that Kanye wants the beauty mogul back, per <a href="https://www.etonline.com/kanye-west-wants-to-get-back-with-kim-kardashian-source-says-how-she-feels-about-it-171208" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Entertainment Tonight</a>.</p>
<p>For her part, Kim has promoted Kanye's music, and she spoke glowingly about him during a recent <a href="https://armchairexpertpod.com/pods/malala-yousafzai-cy3tp-56989" target="_blank" rel="noopener">podcast</a> appearance.</p>
<p>Make of that what you will...</p>
<figure>
            <img class="size-full wp-image-1263113137" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/06/TD7YPH-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1901" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Fans are confused as to whether the pair are actually getting divorced (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Who are Kanye West and Kim Kardashian dating now?</h2>
<p>While Kanye was linked to Irina Shayk in June, the pair split just two months later.</p>
<p>As for the Skims star, Kim has been linked to a number of celebrities including, CNN’s Van Jones and singer Maluma.</p>
<p>However, she set the record straight during the Keeping Up with the Kardashians reunion. "No, I’m not dating either one – not Van Jones, not Maluma. I’ve known him, I’ve seen him a few times, always in Miami, such a nice guy. So nice."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/britney-spears-relationshio-father-jamie">Inside Britney Spears' troubled relationship with her father Jamie</a></strong></p>
<p>She did say that was open to the possibility of romance, however. "Just someone that I think would understand what this life is about, though," she said.</p>
<p>"But I think what I was looking for and who I was, you know years ago is completely different than who I am today and I value privacy. And I just want something that’s like, really real."</p>
<h2>Feature image credit: Alamy</h2>


Did Kanye West cheat on Kim Kardashian? Insiders speak out after rapper hints at infidelity on new album

An explosive new study has shown that mothers in the UK are categorically being let down by our childcare system.

The report, which was published in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/sep/12/uk-failing-on-childcare-finds-survey-of-over-20000-working-parents" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Guardian</a>, revealed that 84 per cent of women feel that childcare has impacted their progression and salary at work – compared to 58 per cent of men. In addition, more than 60 per cent of women cut back on their hours after having a baby, in contrast to just 26 per cent of men.

With this in mind, it's little wonder that 83 per cent of the women who participated in the survey said that childcare impacts mothers more than fathers.

"Often, it's brilliant women who are doing their absolute best to raise their children and keep a roof over their heads," says Joeli Brearley, the founder of <a href="https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pregnant Then Screwed</a>, a charity that helped distribute the survey. "But now, these women are ending up with serious mental health issues."

[caption id="attachment_12632249" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<img class="size-full wp-image-12632249" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/F8M7P5-scaled.jpeg" alt="pregnant woman " width="2560" height="1707" /> Mothers in the UK are categorically being let down on childcare (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Women 'having it all' is jibberish</h2>
While in 2021, you'd think that women would be closer than ever to "having it all", Brearley denounces the notion as "jibberish" during an exclusive interview with <strong>Four Nine</strong>.

This, she says, is only possible for the ultra-wealthy, who can afford to have a stay at home partner, a nanny, a cleaner and a cook. Otherwise, it can be virtually impossible to climb the career ladder with young children.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/pregnancy-discrimination-nearly-killed-baby-boss">Pregnancy discrimination nearly killed my baby – I'll never forgive my manager</a></strong></p>
Given that the burden of childcare largely falls on women, Brearly explains that prohibitive childcare costs can entrench poverty, especially when it comes to single mothers.

For the 2021 and 2022 cohorts, <a href="https://www.daynurseries.co.uk/advice/childcare-costs-how-much-do-you-pay-in-the-uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Day Nurseries</a> reports that a full-time nursery place for a child under two costs just over £13,700 a year, on average.

"Coupled families split that cost between them, but single parents don't have that option — especially because 90 per cent of single parents are women," she explains.

"They're left with an impossible scenario where they have to work to earn a living, and to keep food on the table — but they can't afford to work and pay for childcare. That's why we see so many single-parent families living in poverty."

[caption id="attachment_12632252" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-12632252" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/bonnie-kittle-f7bKsvOgwU-unsplash.jpeg" alt="baby " width="1920" height="1439" /> The burden of childcare still largely falls on women (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>'New mothers often take pay cuts and demotions'</h2>
While single mothers face the worst of this, in most cases, it's also largely women who are held back in their careers due to childcare expenses.

In the Guardian report, only 16 per cent of women said that childcare had not affected their seniority or income in the workplace, compared to 42 per cent of men. And just one-third of female respondents said they hadn't reduced their hours after becoming mothers.

Brearley explains that this is largely due to the fact that the parental leave system continues to favour men. She says that the UK's rules on parental leave are a failure, largely in part of its complexity. The policy <a href="https://www.acas.org.uk/parental-leave" target="_blank" rel="noopener">states</a> that parents are allowed up to 50 weeks of leave, which can be shared but only if the parents meet certain eligibility criteria.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.fournine.net/body-positivity-meaning-fat-liberation-gina-tonic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-sheets-value="{'1':2,'2':'Body positivity has lost its meaning, says Gina Tonic'}" data-sheets-userformat="{'2':2561,'3':{'1':0},'12':0,'14':{'1':2,'2':0}}">Body positivity has lost its meaning, says Gina Tonic</span></a></strong></p>
As such, the majority of men continue to take just one or two weeks of paternity leave, while women are left needing to take off considerably more time off work.

"So, we do much more of the domestic labour and almost three times the amount of caring than men," Brearley tells me. "It's not possible to do all this unpaid work, and a full-time job.

"It's unsurprising, then, that two-thirds of women say they need to work fewer hours to do all of this after they return from maternity leave.

"Women often take pay cuts and demotions in order to do that, and their careers completely stagnate as a result. The system is just not working for women — and it's their partners who end up getting raises and promotions when they have kids."

[caption id="attachment_12632250" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-12632250" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/american-heritage-chocolate-qGC_VtXyyYY-unsplash.jpeg" alt="woman with children " width="1920" height="1280" /> Women are held back in their careers due to childcare expenses (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>'Mothers outperform women without children'</h2>
Brearley also points out the implicit biases that new mothers face at work.

"From the point that they get pregnant, they're not seen as committed to their job," she explains. "So the response they get changes, they're less likely to be promoted, and more likely to be sidelined. They're also more likely to be made redundant, and some women are pushed out of their jobs entirely.

"It's not because their work ethic has changed. It's because perception of that work ethic has changed."
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/sexual-harassment-workplace-venus-libido">Sexual harassment in the workplace pushed me to try and take my own life</a></strong></p>
In fact, she continues, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/10/30/study-women-with-more-children-are-more-productive-at-work/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research</a> has proven that mothers tend to be incredibly efficient and productive upon their return to the workplace — with mothers outperforming women without children at nearly every stage of their careers.

"When you're on maternity leave, you learn all these brilliant new skills about patience, as well as multitasking and emotional intelligence. And if you put the skills of motherhood next to what you need for a brilliant manager, they're almost identical. It's like this elite training programme that you go on, and all you need is to receive some support for the first three months of your transition back into the workplace.

"If you do that, employees will find that they have a really dedicated, brilliant member of the team. <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McKinsey's</a> research has shown that if you promote those women, and if you have more women on your senior leadership team, you're a more profitable company."

[caption id="attachment_12632251" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-12632251" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/christina-wocintechchat-com-dFCOgR91H5M-unsplash.jpeg" alt="woman at work " width="1920" height="1282" /> The government is being called on to investment more in childcare (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>'The government must do more'</h2>
So, what happens to the women who try and make it work under these incredibly tough circumstances? Oftentimes, they either take shorter maternity leave, for fear of exiting the workplace for too long, or they compromise on childcare.

For her part, Brearley says that she and her partner were able to make it work because she managed to find very affordable childcare, but she admits that she does not think the quality of care was up to scratch.

It is something she still feels guilt over: "No woman should ever have to be in that scenario. You don't want to feel like they may be crying, and that they're just left to scream because there are too many children there.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/news/white-people-misidentify-colour-consequences">Why white people misidentify people of colour so often and its traumatic consequences</a></strong></p>
"They may not have been getting the same sort of mental nourishment they would have done if I'd been paying an extra £30 elsewhere. And that's what we're also seeing — the quality of our childcare in the UK is not good enough."

This is why it is imperative that the government invests more in childcare providers. To the present day, she says, the government has paid childcare workers appallingly for the work they do, which means the ratio between adult and child has increased. Inevitably, that means the quality has deteriorated too.

Naturally, it is the poorest who suffer here. "The attainment gap between the richest and poorest children is growing, and it's largely a result of the fact that the quality of our early year's sector is not there. These are the architects of our children's brains, after all."

[caption id="attachment_12632258" align="alignnone" width="1400"]<img class="wp-image-12632258 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/pexels-nappy-3536630.jpg" alt="father son baby (Credit: Pexels)" width="1400" height="934" /> Better paternity packages are needed to stop the burden falling so heavily on mums (Credit: Pexels)[/caption]
<h2>'We need to ringfence and properly pay paternity leave'</h2>
For Brearley, and the women behind Pregnant Then Screwed — the solution to this impenetrable-seeming situation has always remained the same, and it's simple: "We need to ringfence and properly pay paternity leave.

"And at the same time, the other big factor is childcare.

"If we don't have a system that is affordable and accessible, then inevitably one parent will have to take a step back from their career — and that tends to fall to women."

<p>An explosive new study has shown that mothers in the UK are categorically being let down by our childcare system.</p>
<p>The report, which was published in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/sep/12/uk-failing-on-childcare-finds-survey-of-over-20000-working-parents" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Guardian</a>, revealed that 84 per cent of women feel that childcare has impacted their progression and salary at work – compared to 58 per cent of men. In addition, more than 60 per cent of women cut back on their hours after having a baby, in contrast to just 26 per cent of men.</p>
<p>With this in mind, it's little wonder that 83 per cent of the women who participated in the survey said that childcare impacts mothers more than fathers.</p>
<p>"Often, it's brilliant women who are doing their absolute best to raise their children and keep a roof over their heads," says Joeli Brearley, the founder of <a href="https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pregnant Then Screwed</a>, a charity that helped distribute the survey. "But now, these women are ending up with serious mental health issues."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="size-full wp-image-12632249" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/F8M7P5-scaled.jpeg" alt="pregnant woman " width="2560" height="1707" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Mothers in the UK are categorically being let down on childcare (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Women 'having it all' is jibberish</h2>
<p>While in 2021, you'd think that women would be closer than ever to "having it all", Brearley denounces the notion as "jibberish" during an exclusive interview with <strong>Four Nine</strong>.</p>
<p>This, she says, is only possible for the ultra-wealthy, who can afford to have a stay at home partner, a nanny, a cleaner and a cook. Otherwise, it can be virtually impossible to climb the career ladder with young children.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/pregnancy-discrimination-nearly-killed-baby-boss">Pregnancy discrimination nearly killed my baby – I'll never forgive my manager</a></strong></p>
<p>Given that the burden of childcare largely falls on women, Brearly explains that prohibitive childcare costs can entrench poverty, especially when it comes to single mothers.</p>
<p>For the 2021 and 2022 cohorts, <a href="https://www.daynurseries.co.uk/advice/childcare-costs-how-much-do-you-pay-in-the-uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Day Nurseries</a> reports that a full-time nursery place for a child under two costs just over £13,700 a year, on average.</p>
<p>"Coupled families split that cost between them, but single parents don't have that option — especially because 90 per cent of single parents are women," she explains.</p>
<p>"They're left with an impossible scenario where they have to work to earn a living, and to keep food on the table — but they can't afford to work and pay for childcare. That's why we see so many single-parent families living in poverty."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="size-full wp-image-12632252" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/bonnie-kittle-f7bKsvOgwU-unsplash.jpeg" alt="baby " width="1920" height="1439" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 The burden of childcare still largely falls on women (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>'New mothers often take pay cuts and demotions'</h2>
<p>While single mothers face the worst of this, in most cases, it's also largely women who are held back in their careers due to childcare expenses.</p>
<p>In the Guardian report, only 16 per cent of women said that childcare had not affected their seniority or income in the workplace, compared to 42 per cent of men. And just one-third of female respondents said they hadn't reduced their hours after becoming mothers.</p>
<p>Brearley explains that this is largely due to the fact that the parental leave system continues to favour men. She says that the UK's rules on parental leave are a failure, largely in part of its complexity. The policy <a href="https://www.acas.org.uk/parental-leave" target="_blank" rel="noopener">states</a> that parents are allowed up to 50 weeks of leave, which can be shared but only if the parents meet certain eligibility criteria.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.fournine.net/body-positivity-meaning-fat-liberation-gina-tonic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Body positivity has lost its meaning, says Gina Tonic</a></strong></p>
<p>As such, the majority of men continue to take just one or two weeks of paternity leave, while women are left needing to take off considerably more time off work.</p>
<p>"So, we do much more of the domestic labour and almost three times the amount of caring than men," Brearley tells me. "It's not possible to do all this unpaid work, and a full-time job.</p>
<p>"It's unsurprising, then, that two-thirds of women say they need to work fewer hours to do all of this after they return from maternity leave.</p>
<p>"Women often take pay cuts and demotions in order to do that, and their careers completely stagnate as a result. The system is just not working for women — and it's their partners who end up getting raises and promotions when they have kids."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="size-full wp-image-12632250" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/american-heritage-chocolate-qGC_VtXyyYY-unsplash.jpeg" alt="woman with children " width="1920" height="1280" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Women are held back in their careers due to childcare expenses (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>'Mothers outperform women without children'</h2>
<p>Brearley also points out the implicit biases that new mothers face at work.</p>
<p>"From the point that they get pregnant, they're not seen as committed to their job," she explains. "So the response they get changes, they're less likely to be promoted, and more likely to be sidelined. They're also more likely to be made redundant, and some women are pushed out of their jobs entirely.</p>
<p>"It's not because their work ethic has changed. It's because perception of that work ethic has changed."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/sexual-harassment-workplace-venus-libido">Sexual harassment in the workplace pushed me to try and take my own life</a></strong></p>
<p>In fact, she continues, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/10/30/study-women-with-more-children-are-more-productive-at-work/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research</a> has proven that mothers tend to be incredibly efficient and productive upon their return to the workplace — with mothers outperforming women without children at nearly every stage of their careers.</p>
<p>"When you're on maternity leave, you learn all these brilliant new skills about patience, as well as multitasking and emotional intelligence. And if you put the skills of motherhood next to what you need for a brilliant manager, they're almost identical. It's like this elite training programme that you go on, and all you need is to receive some support for the first three months of your transition back into the workplace.</p>
<p>"If you do that, employees will find that they have a really dedicated, brilliant member of the team. <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McKinsey's</a> research has shown that if you promote those women, and if you have more women on your senior leadership team, you're a more profitable company."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="size-full wp-image-12632251" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/christina-wocintechchat-com-dFCOgR91H5M-unsplash.jpeg" alt="woman at work " width="1920" height="1282" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 The government is being called on to investment more in childcare (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>'The government must do more'</h2>
<p>So, what happens to the women who try and make it work under these incredibly tough circumstances? Oftentimes, they either take shorter maternity leave, for fear of exiting the workplace for too long, or they compromise on childcare.</p>
<p>For her part, Brearley says that she and her partner were able to make it work because she managed to find very affordable childcare, but she admits that she does not think the quality of care was up to scratch.</p>
<p>It is something she still feels guilt over: "No woman should ever have to be in that scenario. You don't want to feel like they may be crying, and that they're just left to scream because there are too many children there.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/news/white-people-misidentify-colour-consequences">Why white people misidentify people of colour so often and its traumatic consequences</a></strong></p>
<p>"They may not have been getting the same sort of mental nourishment they would have done if I'd been paying an extra £30 elsewhere. And that's what we're also seeing — the quality of our childcare in the UK is not good enough."</p>
<p>This is why it is imperative that the government invests more in childcare providers. To the present day, she says, the government has paid childcare workers appallingly for the work they do, which means the ratio between adult and child has increased. Inevitably, that means the quality has deteriorated too.</p>
<p>Naturally, it is the poorest who suffer here. "The attainment gap between the richest and poorest children is growing, and it's largely a result of the fact that the quality of our early year's sector is not there. These are the architects of our children's brains, after all."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632258 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/pexels-nappy-3536630.jpg" alt="father son baby (Credit: Pexels)" width="1400" height="934" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Better paternity packages are needed to stop the burden falling so heavily on mums (Credit: Pexels)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>'We need to ringfence and properly pay paternity leave'</h2>
<p>For Brearley, and the women behind Pregnant Then Screwed — the solution to this impenetrable-seeming situation has always remained the same, and it's simple: "We need to ringfence and properly pay paternity leave.</p>
<p>"And at the same time, the other big factor is childcare.</p>
<p>"If we don't have a system that is affordable and accessible, then inevitably one parent will have to take a step back from their career — and that tends to fall to women."</p>


Women are 'ending up with serious mental health issues' because of sexist childcare system

Gavin Williamson has been branded as the most "<a href="https://twitter.com/DavidLammy/status/1435567246601068544?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ignorant, clueless, and incapable</a>" education secretary in UK history this week.

In an interview with the <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/gavin-williamson-interview-education-b954132.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Evening Standard</a>, the politician confused footballer, Marcus Rashford, with England rugby player, Maro Itoje.

Williamson was asked if he had met the Manchester United and England footballer, who has led a campaign to extend free school meals. He replied saying that he had met him over Zoom, where he seemed "incredibly engaged, compassionate and charming."

The paper later clarified that this was wrong – in fact, Williamson had actually met the Saracens and England rugby player, Itoje, who has campaigned to improve access to laptops and the internet for children unable to attend school during the pandemic.

Ivié Itoje, <a href="https://flairimpact.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Flair</a> anti-racist expert and the sister of the rugby player, tells <strong>Four Nine </strong>that misidentifying people of colour can take an emotional toll over time: "It's traumatic to be continually misidentified and it can definitely affect someone's mental health and self-esteem in a negative way."

[caption id="attachment_12632220" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<img class="size-full wp-image-12632220" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/PRAKXE-scaled.jpeg" alt="gavin williamson " width="2560" height="1708" /> Education secretary, Gavin Williamson, was the subject of outrage following recent remarks (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>An 'honest' but unacceptable mistake</h2>
While Ivié says she wasn't particularly surprised by Williamson's mistake, it still proved disappointing. "I don't doubt that it was an honest mistake, but it is heavily loaded," she tells me.

"It speaks to a culture of seeing people of colour as a monolith, with their race or ethnicity being the defining characteristic of who they are, rather than their actual achievements.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/news/devastating-impact-football-racism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The devastating impact football racism has on players and how we can do better</a></strong></p>
"It creates the impression that white people are seen as individuals, while the same is not afforded to groups of people of colour."

Rashford and Itoje are two high-profile individuals, which begs the question of how often people in everyday life are misidentified in the workplace — which Ivié says is an example of microaggression.

[caption id="attachment_12632228" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<img class="size-full wp-image-12632228" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/M4FX3E-scaled.jpeg" alt="Maro Itoje" width="2560" height="1630" /> Williamson had met with Maro Itoje – not Marcus Rashford (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Why do white people misidentify people of colour?</h2>
Although it's not unusual to be confused with someone else, the frequency of it happening to people of colour, especially when in predominantly white spaces, is unacceptable.

According to research,  there is a scientific reason behind this. Studies have shown that people find it easier to identify faces from their own race — a phenomenon that is referred to as own-race bias or the cross-race effect.

However, this does not condone repeated errors, nor the emotional impact that this can have on people of colour.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/news/r-kelly-trial-questions-prison-aaliyah">What to expect from R. Kelly trial – from prison sentences to testimonies from Aaliyah's family</a></strong></p>
A 2018 <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2703945" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> on the experiences of Black, Hispanic and Native American resident physicians in the US showed that those particular groups of doctors "were routinely mistaken for other minority residents," sending a message that they were "indistinct from each other". Unsurprisingly, this contributed to their overall stress levels.

Certainly, as well as creating a culture where people feel invisible, Ivié corroborates that this can carry career implications.

"Being visible is a huge component when it comes to being advanced in the workplace," she explains. "While it may seem innocent, in the long run, this can have devastating effects on someone's career."

[caption id="attachment_12631839" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<img class="size-full wp-image-12631839" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/07/2D8TRC0-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1642" /> Manchester United and England footballer, Marcus Rashford, brushed off the comments (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>There is a pressure to not be seen as aggressive</h2>
Rashford and Itoje are both young Black sportsmen and philanthropists — but that's where the similarities end as they later pointed out on social media.

The footballer took to <a href="https://twitter.com/marcusrashford/status/1435565258932998148" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a> to jest that their different accents "could have been a giveaway", with the laughing-crying emoji. He of course hails from Manchester, while Itoje was born in Camden, North London.

Meanwhile, the rugby player also <a href="https://twitter.com/maroitoje/status/1435600502079868930" target="_blank" rel="noopener">joked</a>: "Due to recent speculation I thought it was necessary to confirm that I am not Marcus Rashford … And whilst we are here my name is not Mario either!! Just a simple Maro Itoje will do … Much love, Marcu … I mean Maro Itoje."
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/defamed-black-panthers-too-long-not-terrorists">We have defamed the Black Panthers for too long – they were not terrorists</a></strong></p>
As Ivié acknowledges, their response to the gaffe was largely to make light of it. This, she explains, is something that many Black and minority ethnic people are expected to do in light of microaggressions. "There is a pressure to not be seen as aggressive, or play into racist stereotypes of being perceived as being angry or 'too much' — this is a burden that is placed on us.

"It can be expected of employees of colour to dismiss things as 'not a big deal'," she continues, adding out that there is also a cultural history of Black men being seen as "aggressive, angry and dominant," creating a "criminality and aggressiveness that has been attached to Blackness.

"I'm not saying that Marcus or Maro were conscious of this, but if I am speaking more broadly, Black people are generally aware that our responses can be politicised. It only makes sense that we handle it in the best way we know to, and that can be by making jest of the situation."

[caption id="attachment_12632219" align="alignnone" width="1707"]<img class="size-full wp-image-12632219" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/HXPRYP-scaled.jpeg" alt="maro itoje" width="1707" height="2560" /> Itoje also poked fun at the gaffe on social media (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Gavin Williamson's apology 'should just be the start'</h2>
Cabinet MP, Williamson, has since issued an apology for the mixup, claiming to have made a "genuine mistake."

"Towards the end of a wide-ranging interview in which I talked about both the laptops and school meals campaigns, I conflated the issues and made a genuine mistake,” he said. "I have huge respect for both Marcus Rashford and Maro Itoje who run effective and inspiring campaigns."
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/news/what-sharia-law-women-afghanistan">How life could change for women in Afghanistan following Taliban takeover</a></strong></p>
Commenting on the apology, Ivié says that what should apply to Williamson also applies to the rest of us as a society. "He holds a great amount of power, so this could be an opportunity for him to be a role model," she explains.

"We need to be sure that anti-racist work is not just performative. People actually need to be learning about racial literacy, and doing the work to unlearn societal beliefs held about race.

"That's how we will be able to see a shift in how people of colour are viewed, and a shift in the structures around us."

[caption id="attachment_12632236" align="alignnone" width="1500"]<img class="wp-image-12632236 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/2C8YMTH.jpg" alt="Gavin Williamson (Credit: Alamy)" width="1500" height="1000" /> Williamson 'needs to do more than apologise'  (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Turning a 'gaffe' into an allyship</h2>
Hakeem S. Allen, the Founder and Executive Director of <a href="http://www.theantiracistsocial.club/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.theantiracistsocial.club&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1631359342303000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFHbY-xc56aLFg9_Y4fSiN4QrqR4w">The Anti-Racist Social Club</a>, corroborates Ivié's belief that Williamson now has an opportunity to model what active anti-racism work should look like.

He tells <strong>Four Nine</strong>: "Microaggressions have researched physical, mental, and emotional impacts on health, it's why they're called 'death by a thousand cuts'.

"This is exactly what we help people and organisations understand, that it's not about their intention, it's about their impact.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/britney-spears-relationshio-father-jamie">Inside Britney Spears' troubled relationship with her father Jamie</a></strong></p>
"It's not enough to just shrug our shoulders and say 'I'm sorry' for a 'simple mix-up,' a mix-up that required both of these young, Black men to validate their individual existences.

"This is a moment, to set an example as a government leader. The apology should just be the start, he should weaponise his privilege for good and invite Rashford to have an audience with him not only to rectify the issue but also give support to Rashford's admirable efforts to support young children around the UK.

"That's how you turn a 'gaffe' into allyship," he concludes.
<h5>Feature image credit: Alamy</h5>

<p>Gavin Williamson has been branded as the most "<a href="https://twitter.com/DavidLammy/status/1435567246601068544?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ignorant, clueless, and incapable</a>" education secretary in UK history this week.</p>
<p>In an interview with the <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/gavin-williamson-interview-education-b954132.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Evening Standard</a>, the politician confused footballer, Marcus Rashford, with England rugby player, Maro Itoje.</p>
<p>Williamson was asked if he had met the Manchester United and England footballer, who has led a campaign to extend free school meals. He replied saying that he had met him over Zoom, where he seemed "incredibly engaged, compassionate and charming."</p>
<p>The paper later clarified that this was wrong – in fact, Williamson had actually met the Saracens and England rugby player, Itoje, who has campaigned to improve access to laptops and the internet for children unable to attend school during the pandemic.</p>
<p>Ivié Itoje, <a href="https://flairimpact.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Flair</a> anti-racist expert and the sister of the rugby player, tells <strong>Four Nine </strong>that misidentifying people of colour can take an emotional toll over time: "It's traumatic to be continually misidentified and it can definitely affect someone's mental health and self-esteem in a negative way."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="size-full wp-image-12632220" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/PRAKXE-scaled.jpeg" alt="gavin williamson " width="2560" height="1708" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Education secretary, Gavin Williamson, was the subject of outrage following recent remarks (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>An 'honest' but unacceptable mistake</h2>
<p>While Ivié says she wasn't particularly surprised by Williamson's mistake, it still proved disappointing. "I don't doubt that it was an honest mistake, but it is heavily loaded," she tells me.</p>
<p>"It speaks to a culture of seeing people of colour as a monolith, with their race or ethnicity being the defining characteristic of who they are, rather than their actual achievements.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/news/devastating-impact-football-racism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The devastating impact football racism has on players and how we can do better</a></strong></p>
<p>"It creates the impression that white people are seen as individuals, while the same is not afforded to groups of people of colour."</p>
<p>Rashford and Itoje are two high-profile individuals, which begs the question of how often people in everyday life are misidentified in the workplace — which Ivié says is an example of microaggression.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="size-full wp-image-12632228" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/M4FX3E-scaled.jpeg" alt="Maro Itoje" width="2560" height="1630" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Williamson had met with Maro Itoje – not Marcus Rashford (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Why do white people misidentify people of colour?</h2>
<p>Although it's not unusual to be confused with someone else, the frequency of it happening to people of colour, especially when in predominantly white spaces, is unacceptable.</p>
<p>According to research,  there is a scientific reason behind this. Studies have shown that people find it easier to identify faces from their own race — a phenomenon that is referred to as own-race bias or the cross-race effect.</p>
<p>However, this does not condone repeated errors, nor the emotional impact that this can have on people of colour.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/news/r-kelly-trial-questions-prison-aaliyah">What to expect from R. Kelly trial – from prison sentences to testimonies from Aaliyah's family</a></strong></p>
<p>A 2018 <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2703945" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> on the experiences of Black, Hispanic and Native American resident physicians in the US showed that those particular groups of doctors "were routinely mistaken for other minority residents," sending a message that they were "indistinct from each other". Unsurprisingly, this contributed to their overall stress levels.</p>
<p>Certainly, as well as creating a culture where people feel invisible, Ivié corroborates that this can carry career implications.</p>
<p>"Being visible is a huge component when it comes to being advanced in the workplace," she explains. "While it may seem innocent, in the long run, this can have devastating effects on someone's career."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="size-full wp-image-12631839" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/07/2D8TRC0-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1642" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Manchester United and England footballer, Marcus Rashford, brushed off the comments (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>There is a pressure to not be seen as aggressive</h2>
<p>Rashford and Itoje are both young Black sportsmen and philanthropists — but that's where the similarities end as they later pointed out on social media.</p>
<p>The footballer took to <a href="https://twitter.com/marcusrashford/status/1435565258932998148" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a> to jest that their different accents "could have been a giveaway", with the laughing-crying emoji. He of course hails from Manchester, while Itoje was born in Camden, North London.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the rugby player also <a href="https://twitter.com/maroitoje/status/1435600502079868930" target="_blank" rel="noopener">joked</a>: "Due to recent speculation I thought it was necessary to confirm that I am not Marcus Rashford … And whilst we are here my name is not Mario either!! Just a simple Maro Itoje will do … Much love, Marcu … I mean Maro Itoje."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/defamed-black-panthers-too-long-not-terrorists">We have defamed the Black Panthers for too long – they were not terrorists</a></strong></p>
<p>As Ivié acknowledges, their response to the gaffe was largely to make light of it. This, she explains, is something that many Black and minority ethnic people are expected to do in light of microaggressions. "There is a pressure to not be seen as aggressive, or play into racist stereotypes of being perceived as being angry or 'too much' — this is a burden that is placed on us.</p>
<p>"It can be expected of employees of colour to dismiss things as 'not a big deal'," she continues, adding out that there is also a cultural history of Black men being seen as "aggressive, angry and dominant," creating a "criminality and aggressiveness that has been attached to Blackness.</p>
<p>"I'm not saying that Marcus or Maro were conscious of this, but if I am speaking more broadly, Black people are generally aware that our responses can be politicised. It only makes sense that we handle it in the best way we know to, and that can be by making jest of the situation."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="size-full wp-image-12632219" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/HXPRYP-scaled.jpeg" alt="maro itoje" width="1707" height="2560" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Itoje also poked fun at the gaffe on social media (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Gavin Williamson's apology 'should just be the start'</h2>
<p>Cabinet MP, Williamson, has since issued an apology for the mixup, claiming to have made a "genuine mistake."</p>
<p>"Towards the end of a wide-ranging interview in which I talked about both the laptops and school meals campaigns, I conflated the issues and made a genuine mistake,” he said. "I have huge respect for both Marcus Rashford and Maro Itoje who run effective and inspiring campaigns."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/news/what-sharia-law-women-afghanistan">How life could change for women in Afghanistan following Taliban takeover</a></strong></p>
<p>Commenting on the apology, Ivié says that what should apply to Williamson also applies to the rest of us as a society. "He holds a great amount of power, so this could be an opportunity for him to be a role model," she explains.</p>
<p>"We need to be sure that anti-racist work is not just performative. People actually need to be learning about racial literacy, and doing the work to unlearn societal beliefs held about race.</p>
<p>"That's how we will be able to see a shift in how people of colour are viewed, and a shift in the structures around us."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632236 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/2C8YMTH.jpg" alt="Gavin Williamson (Credit: Alamy)" width="1500" height="1000" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Williamson 'needs to do more than apologise'  (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Turning a 'gaffe' into an allyship</h2>
<p>Hakeem S. Allen, the Founder and Executive Director of <a href="http://www.theantiracistsocial.club/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.theantiracistsocial.club&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1631359342303000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFHbY-xc56aLFg9_Y4fSiN4QrqR4w">The Anti-Racist Social Club</a>, corroborates Ivié's belief that Williamson now has an opportunity to model what active anti-racism work should look like.</p>
<p>He tells <strong>Four Nine</strong>: "Microaggressions have researched physical, mental, and emotional impacts on health, it's why they're called 'death by a thousand cuts'.</p>
<p>"This is exactly what we help people and organisations understand, that it's not about their intention, it's about their impact.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/britney-spears-relationshio-father-jamie">Inside Britney Spears' troubled relationship with her father Jamie</a></strong></p>
<p>"It's not enough to just shrug our shoulders and say 'I'm sorry' for a 'simple mix-up,' a mix-up that required both of these young, Black men to validate their individual existences.</p>
<p>"This is a moment, to set an example as a government leader. The apology should just be the start, he should weaponise his privilege for good and invite Rashford to have an audience with him not only to rectify the issue but also give support to Rashford's admirable efforts to support young children around the UK.</p>
<p>"That's how you turn a 'gaffe' into allyship," he concludes.</p>
<h2>Feature image credit: Alamy</h2>


Why white people misidentify people of colour so often and its traumatic consequences

After more than 13 years of being held under a conservatorship, freedom seems to be on the horizon for Britney Spears.

On Tuesday, her father, Jamie, filed an unexpected request to terminate the controversial legal agreement, which Britney has previously denounced as "abusive".

This comes after the 39-year-old pop star twice petitioned the courts to remove her father as the overseer of her $60 million estate.

In light of this new turn, we take a look back at Britney's relationship with her father — from its troubled beginnings to her conservatorship battle.

[caption id="attachment_12636054" align="aligncenter" width="1535"]<img class="wp-image-12636054 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/02/3a1f36e8-britney-fi-website.jpg" alt="Britney spears conservatorship " width="1535" height="800" /> Britney Spears' father, Jamie Spears, has filed a request to terminate the pop star's controversial conservatorship (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Britney's childhood</h2>
According to Jamie's 2019 court testimony, his relationship with Britney has "always been strained".

This is a perspective shared by the pop star's mother Lynne Spears, who detailed Britney's childhood in her 2008 memoir, Through the Storm.

As Britney's mum took the aspiring pop star out of state for auditions and performances, Jamie reportedly went from job to job, and struggled with alcoholism.
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In Through the Storm, Lynne claims that her former husband "always enjoyed a beer here and there, but he didn’t start drinking heavily until after Bryan was born" — that is the Spears' oldest child, whom they welcomed in April of 1977.

"With every alcohol-soaked episode, our perfect little life began to unstitch, and the knot we had tied with our vows and our love started to work loose, thread by painful thread," she wrote.

Jamie eventually went to rehab in 2004, after Britney urged him to seek treatment, per <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/britney-spears-ups-and-downs-with-dad-jamie-over-the-years/jamies-absence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Magazine</a>.

[caption id="attachment_1263114762" align="aligncenter" width="2560"]<img class="wp-image-1263114762 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/06/2D3253X-scaled.jpg" alt="jamie spears " width="2560" height="1707" /> Jamie's struggle with alcoholism is well documented (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>The Spears' troubled marriage</h2>
Lynne considered leaving Jamie a number of times following their 1975 nuptials, but ultimately decided to stay for the children — as she details in her memoir.

The schoolteacher writes: "When I look back, I guess I could have ended it a lot sooner and maybe saved myself and my son [Bryan] some heartache. But I wouldn’t have my girls, Britney and Jamie Lynn.

"Plus, it’s almost impossible to say I should have done this or that. At the time, divorcing Jamie did not seem like the right thing to do."

The Spears eventually did divorce, following the struggles that came with their eldest daughter's sudden fame.

In May 2002, the couple split with Britney declaring it to be "the best thing that’s ever happened to my family", according to <a href="https://people.com/archive/cover-story-britneys-next-act-vol-58-no-10/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a>.

"My mom and dad, bottom line, do not get along," she said. "When I was a baby, they argued. I wanted this to happen 10 years ago."

[caption id="attachment_1263114959" align="aligncenter" width="1668"]<img class="wp-image-1263114959 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/06/T4JYP0-scaled.jpeg" alt="britney spears " width="1668" height="2560" /> Jamie and Lynne faced marital issues for a number of years (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2 class="mceTemp">Jamie's absence</h2>
After a teenage Britney signed a deal with Jive Records, Lynne and her friend, Felicia Culotta, took turns travelling with the pop star in the late '90s.

During this time, Jamie was notably absent.

In the February 2021 documentary, Framing Britney Spears, the singer's former agent, Nancy Carson, remembers seeing the patriarch around much less: "Jamie visited from time to time and was anxious to see this time be worthwhile so that he could justify the money that it was costing to do this."

Ex-Jive executive, Kim Kaiman added: "Her mother would do whatever it took, personally and for the family’s sake, for Britney to be a star. I never talked to her father.

"The only thing Jamie ever said to me was, 'My daughter is going to be so rich she’s going to buy me a boat.'"

[caption id="attachment_12632194" align="alignnone" width="1712"]<img class="size-full wp-image-12632194" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/H80JHC-scaled.jpeg" alt="Britney conservatorship" width="1712" height="2560" /> Jamie was notably absent when Britney first began to achieve stardom (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>'How he can be such an a**hole, and then be so nice?'</h2>
Jamie and Britney's relationship appeared volatile one minute, and loving another, in the 2008 MTV documentary, <a href="https://vimeo.com/441937549" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Britney: For the Record</a>.

In one scene, Jamie sweetly prepared his daughter's favourite comfort food: "Grits is an old Southern tradition. She’s been eating them since she was born. Everybody else has Wheaties, but Southern girls’ breakfast of champions is cheese grits."

But later, the Toxic singer quipped, "I don’t understand how he can be such an a**hole, and then be so nice," after her father left the room.
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Britney also alluded to feeling controlled by the conservatorship for the first time later in the documentary; stating that her routine was monotonous, and that she felt "too in control".

"If I wasn’t under the restraints I’m under right now, with all the lawyers and doctors and people analyzing me every day — if that wasn’t there, I’d feel so liberated," she asserted.

"When I tell them the way I feel, it’s like they hear but they’re really not listening. It’s like, it’s bad. I’m sad."

[caption id="attachment_12632195" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<img class="size-full wp-image-12632195" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/C0KM5T-scaled.jpeg" alt="Britney Spears " width="2560" height="1695" /> Jamie and Britney's relationship appeared volatile one minute, and loving another in Britney: For the Record (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Jamie steps up for Britney</h2>
In 2014, Jamie purchased a video of Britney's then-boyfriend, David Lucado, who was seen kissing and dancing with another woman.

It was believed he did so because he did not want the footage to leak online and humiliate the star.

Britney and Lucado split shortly afterwards, per <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/britney-spears-makes-sh-ty-day-video-after-david-lucado-split-2014298/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Magazine</a>.

During this time, the pair also seemed to grow closer with Jamie attending a number of Britney's concerts during her Las Vegas residency, Britney: Piece of Me, which ran from December 2013 to December 2017.

[caption id="attachment_12632196" align="alignnone" width="1254"]<img class="wp-image-12632196 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/2GJ05BA-scaled-e1631194178776.jpeg" alt="Britney Spears " width="1254" height="1292" /> Jamie purchased a video of Britney's then-boyfriend, David Lucado, who was seen kissing another woman (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Jamie's alleged altercation with Britney's son</h2>
Fast-forward five years however and the father and daughter's relationship took a turn for the worse. In August of 2019, Jamie was accused of being in a physical altercation with her then-14-year-old son, Sean.

Following the incident, Jamie stepped down as her primary conservator, with her longtime "care manager", Jodi Montgomery, temporarily taking over.

At the time, he cited health reasons for his departure.

While criminal charges were not filed against Britney's father, Britney's ex-husband, Kevin Federline, was granted a restraining order to keep their children away from Jamie following the incident.
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The following year, Britney's youngest son, Jayden, blasted his grandfather Jamie during an Instagram Live session.

During the 20-minute video, one follower wrote "kill your grandfather" to which the teen responded, "Bro, I was thinking the same thing."

When another follower asked "is your grandfather a jerk?," Jayden hit back: "Yeah, he’s a pretty big d**k...He can go die."

[caption id="attachment_12632197" align="alignnone" width="1698"]<img class="wp-image-12632197 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/E6KCY8-scaled.jpeg" alt="jamie spears is Britney Spears' dad" width="1698" height="2560" /> Jamie was accused of being in a physical altercation with one of Britney's sons (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>'We're not on good terms'</h2>
In November of 2020, Britney's lawyer said that the singer was "afraid" of her dad, per the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/arts/music/britney-spears-jamie-conservatorship.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NY Times</a>: "My client has informed me that she is afraid of her father. She also stated that she will not perform as long as her father is in charge of her career. We are really at a crossroads."

At the time, lawyer Samuel D. Ingham III also claimed that Britney had not spoken with her dad for some time.

The following month, Jamie corroborated to  <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/britney-spears-dad-jamie-says-he-hasnt-talked-to-her-since-august/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a> that he had not been on "good terms" with his daughter since the previous August.

"I love my daughter and I miss her very much," he told the news station. "When a family member needs special care and protection, families need to step up, as I have done for the last 12-plus years, to safeguard, protect and continue to love Britney unconditionally.

"I have and will continue to provide unwavering love and fierce protection against those with self-serving interests and those who seek to harm her or my family."

[caption id="attachment_12632198" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<img class="wp-image-12632198 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/2G7JXY4-scaled.jpeg" alt="The Free Britney movement has taken the world by storm" width="2560" height="1706" /> Britney and Jamie's relationship continued to breakdown as the #FreeBritney movement gained traction (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Sam Asghari speaks out</h2>
Britney's boyfriend of three years, Sam Asghari, took to Instagram Stories in February of this year to condemn her family — especially her father.

"Now it's important for people to understand that I have zero respect for someone trying to control our relationship and constantly throwing obstacles our way," he wrote, according to <a href="https://www.eonline.com/uk/news/1236384/britney-spears-boyfriend-sam-asghari-calls-jamie-spears-a-total-dick-after-documentary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">E! Entertainment</a>.

"In my opinion, Jamie is a total d**k. I won't be going into details because I've always respected our privacy but at the same time, I didn't come to this country to not be able to express my opinion and freedom."
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"I’m not upset at anybody, but you know what? What I said is what I said. I think he’s a d**k," he added to TMZ later that day.

"That’s just my opinion, but I’m not going to go into details. That’s it, man. I hope [we can be on good terms one day]. Once he starts treating his daughter right, then we can be on good terms."

[caption id="attachment_1263114722" align="aligncenter" width="701"]<img class="wp-image-1263114722" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/06/Britney-Speaks-1.jpg" alt="Britney Spears and Sam Asghari" width="701" height="599" /> Britney's boyfriend, Sam Asghari, took to Instagram Stories to condemn Jamie (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Britney explosively breaks her silence</h2>
In her 24-minute testimony on June 23 of this year, the Circus singer said that Jamie was "all for" how she's been treated under the "abusive" conservatorship agreement.

She claimed that she was put on lithium, and made to live with six nurses in her home, who wouldn't let her leave for a month — something she claims her father supported.

"Lithium is a very, very strong and completely different medication compared to what I was used to," she said, as reported by <a href="https://variety.com/2021/music/news/britney-spears-full-statement-conservatorship-1235003940/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Variety</a>.

"You can go mentally impaired if you take too much, if you stay on it longer than five months. But he put me on that and I felt drunk. I really couldn't even take up for myself. I couldn't even have a conversation with my mom or dad really about anything.

"Not only did my family not do a goddamn thing, my dad was all for it. Anything that happened to me had to be approved by my dad... He was the one who approved all of it. My whole family did nothing."

The mother-of-two also expressed her desire to get married and have a child with Asghari, which she reportedly cannot do under the conservatorship.

She said: "I was told right now in the conservatorship, I'm not able to get married or have a baby, I have an [IUD] inside of myself right now so I don't get pregnant. I wanted to take the [IUD] out so I could start trying to have another baby. But this so-called team won't let me go to the doctor to take it out because they don't want me to have children — any more children."

The star also claimed that her father "loved" the control that he had over her. "How come I was always threatened by my dad and anybody that participated in this conservatorship?" she asked. "I cried on the phone for an hour and he loved every minute of it. The control he had over someone as powerful as me — he loved the control to hurt his own daughter 100,000%. He loved it.

"But my precious body, who has worked for my dad for the past f**king 13 years, trying to be so good and pretty. So perfect. When he works me so hard. When I do everything I'm told… and the state of California allowed my father — ignorant father — to take his own daughter, who only has a role with me if I work with him, they've set back the whole course and allowed him to do that to me."

[caption id="attachment_1263115877" align="aligncenter" width="2560"]<img class="wp-image-1263115877 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/07/2F3WDP8-scaled.jpeg" alt="britney fans campaign to end conservatorship" width="2560" height="2079" /> Britney explosively broke her silence on the conservatorship in July of this year (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>'I'm here to get rid of my dad'</h2>
After Judge Brenda Penny denied Britney's request to have her father removed from the legal agreement, she addressed the court once more on July 14.

"I’m here to get rid of my dad and charge him for conservatorship abuse," she told Penny via remote video, per <a href="https://variety.com/2021/music/news/britney-spears-new-lawyer-conservatorship-hearing-court-1235019271/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Variety</a>. "I want to press charges for abuse on this conservatorship today. All of it."

The Overprotected singer continued to claim that during her Circus tour, she was forced to take psychological tests against her will, and had her blood drawn multiple times a week. This was after she said she was promised that she could have her life back if she complied.
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"I did it all and they lied…they did nothing. They didn’t end it, and I kept working," she said.

She also claimed that her driver's license and hair vitamins were taken away from her, and that she was not allowed to drink coffee or choose what she wanted to eat.

"Instead of trying to investigate my behaviour or my capacity, I want my dad investigated," Britney continued. "This conservatorship is literally allowing my dad to rule my life… that is abuse, and we all know it. I’m angry, and I will go there."

[caption id="attachment_12632199" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<img class="wp-image-12632199 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/M5XC04-scaled.jpeg" alt="Britney Spears " width="2560" height="1707" /> During Britney's second petition to the courts she doubled down on her father (Credit: Alamy)[/caption]
<h2>Jamie files to end Britney's conservatorship</h2>
On September 7, 2021, Jamie finally filed a request to terminate his conservatorship over his daughter.

He said that "recent events" called into question whether the star still needed a court to oversee her finances and personal affairs.

The filing at a court in Los Angeles read: "Ms Spears has told this court that she wants control of her life back without the safety rails of a conservatorship.

"She wants to be able to make decisions regarding her own medical care, deciding when, where and how often to get therapy. She wants to control the money she has made from her career and spend it without supervision or oversight.

"She wants to be able to get married and have a baby, if she so chooses. In short, she wants to live her life as she chooses without the constraints of a conservator or court proceeding."

Lawyers for Jamie added: "As Mr Spears has said again and again, all he wants is what is best for his daughter. If Ms Spears wants to terminate the conservatorship and believes that she can handle her own life, Mr Spears believes that she should get that chance."

He also said that Jodi Montgomery, a caregiver who oversees Britney's personal affairs, should also be discharged.
<h5>Feature image credit: Alamy</h5>

<p>After more than 13 years of being held under a conservatorship, freedom seems to be on the horizon for Britney Spears.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, her father, Jamie, filed an unexpected request to terminate the controversial legal agreement, which Britney has previously denounced as "abusive".</p>
<p>This comes after the 39-year-old pop star twice petitioned the courts to remove her father as the overseer of her $60 million estate.</p>
<p>In light of this new turn, we take a look back at Britney's relationship with her father — from its troubled beginnings to her conservatorship battle.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12636054 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/02/3a1f36e8-britney-fi-website.jpg" alt="Britney spears conservatorship " width="1535" height="800" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Britney Spears' father, Jamie Spears, has filed a request to terminate the pop star's controversial conservatorship (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Britney's childhood</h2>
<p>According to Jamie's 2019 court testimony, his relationship with Britney has "always been strained".</p>
<p>This is a perspective shared by the pop star's mother Lynne Spears, who detailed Britney's childhood in her 2008 memoir, Through the Storm.</p>
<p>As Britney's mum took the aspiring pop star out of state for auditions and performances, Jamie reportedly went from job to job, and struggled with alcoholism.</p>
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<p>In Through the Storm, Lynne claims that her former husband "always enjoyed a beer here and there, but he didn’t start drinking heavily until after Bryan was born" — that is the Spears' oldest child, whom they welcomed in April of 1977.</p>
<p>"With every alcohol-soaked episode, our perfect little life began to unstitch, and the knot we had tied with our vows and our love started to work loose, thread by painful thread," she wrote.</p>
<p>Jamie eventually went to rehab in 2004, after Britney urged him to seek treatment, per <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/britney-spears-ups-and-downs-with-dad-jamie-over-the-years/jamies-absence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Magazine</a>.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-1263114762 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/06/2D3253X-scaled.jpg" alt="jamie spears " width="2560" height="1707" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Jamie's struggle with alcoholism is well documented (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>The Spears' troubled marriage</h2>
<p>Lynne considered leaving Jamie a number of times following their 1975 nuptials, but ultimately decided to stay for the children — as she details in her memoir.</p>
<p>The schoolteacher writes: "When I look back, I guess I could have ended it a lot sooner and maybe saved myself and my son [Bryan] some heartache. But I wouldn’t have my girls, Britney and Jamie Lynn.</p>
<p>"Plus, it’s almost impossible to say I should have done this or that. At the time, divorcing Jamie did not seem like the right thing to do."</p>
<p>The Spears eventually did divorce, following the struggles that came with their eldest daughter's sudden fame.</p>
<p>In May 2002, the couple split with Britney declaring it to be "the best thing that’s ever happened to my family", according to <a href="https://people.com/archive/cover-story-britneys-next-act-vol-58-no-10/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a>.</p>
<p>"My mom and dad, bottom line, do not get along," she said. "When I was a baby, they argued. I wanted this to happen 10 years ago."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-1263114959 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/06/T4JYP0-scaled.jpeg" alt="britney spears " width="1668" height="2560" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Jamie and Lynne faced marital issues for a number of years (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2 class="mceTemp">Jamie's absence</h2>
<p>After a teenage Britney signed a deal with Jive Records, Lynne and her friend, Felicia Culotta, took turns travelling with the pop star in the late '90s.</p>
<p>During this time, Jamie was notably absent.</p>
<p>In the February 2021 documentary, Framing Britney Spears, the singer's former agent, Nancy Carson, remembers seeing the patriarch around much less: "Jamie visited from time to time and was anxious to see this time be worthwhile so that he could justify the money that it was costing to do this."</p>
<p>Ex-Jive executive, Kim Kaiman added: "Her mother would do whatever it took, personally and for the family’s sake, for Britney to be a star. I never talked to her father.</p>
<p>"The only thing Jamie ever said to me was, 'My daughter is going to be so rich she’s going to buy me a boat.'"</p>
<figure>
            <img class="size-full wp-image-12632194" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/H80JHC-scaled.jpeg" alt="Britney conservatorship" width="1712" height="2560" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Jamie was notably absent when Britney first began to achieve stardom (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>'How he can be such an a**hole, and then be so nice?'</h2>
<p>Jamie and Britney's relationship appeared volatile one minute, and loving another, in the 2008 MTV documentary, <a href="https://vimeo.com/441937549" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Britney: For the Record</a>.</p>
<p>In one scene, Jamie sweetly prepared his daughter's favourite comfort food: "Grits is an old Southern tradition. She’s been eating them since she was born. Everybody else has Wheaties, but Southern girls’ breakfast of champions is cheese grits."</p>
<p>But later, the Toxic singer quipped, "I don’t understand how he can be such an a**hole, and then be so nice," after her father left the room.</p>
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<p>Britney also alluded to feeling controlled by the conservatorship for the first time later in the documentary; stating that her routine was monotonous, and that she felt "too in control".</p>
<p>"If I wasn’t under the restraints I’m under right now, with all the lawyers and doctors and people analyzing me every day — if that wasn’t there, I’d feel so liberated," she asserted.</p>
<p>"When I tell them the way I feel, it’s like they hear but they’re really not listening. It’s like, it’s bad. I’m sad."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="size-full wp-image-12632195" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/C0KM5T-scaled.jpeg" alt="Britney Spears " width="2560" height="1695" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Jamie and Britney's relationship appeared volatile one minute, and loving another in Britney: For the Record (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Jamie steps up for Britney</h2>
<p>In 2014, Jamie purchased a video of Britney's then-boyfriend, David Lucado, who was seen kissing and dancing with another woman.</p>
<p>It was believed he did so because he did not want the footage to leak online and humiliate the star.</p>
<p>Britney and Lucado split shortly afterwards, per <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/britney-spears-makes-sh-ty-day-video-after-david-lucado-split-2014298/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>During this time, the pair also seemed to grow closer with Jamie attending a number of Britney's concerts during her Las Vegas residency, Britney: Piece of Me, which ran from December 2013 to December 2017.</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632196 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/2GJ05BA-scaled-e1631194178776.jpeg" alt="Britney Spears " width="1254" height="1292" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Jamie purchased a video of Britney's then-boyfriend, David Lucado, who was seen kissing another woman (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Jamie's alleged altercation with Britney's son</h2>
<p>Fast-forward five years however and the father and daughter's relationship took a turn for the worse. In August of 2019, Jamie was accused of being in a physical altercation with her then-14-year-old son, Sean.</p>
<p>Following the incident, Jamie stepped down as her primary conservator, with her longtime "care manager", Jodi Montgomery, temporarily taking over.</p>
<p>At the time, he cited health reasons for his departure.</p>
<p>While criminal charges were not filed against Britney's father, Britney's ex-husband, Kevin Federline, was granted a restraining order to keep their children away from Jamie following the incident.</p>
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<p>The following year, Britney's youngest son, Jayden, blasted his grandfather Jamie during an Instagram Live session.</p>
<p>During the 20-minute video, one follower wrote "kill your grandfather" to which the teen responded, "Bro, I was thinking the same thing."</p>
<p>When another follower asked "is your grandfather a jerk?," Jayden hit back: "Yeah, he’s a pretty big d**k...He can go die."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632197 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/E6KCY8-scaled.jpeg" alt="jamie spears is Britney Spears' dad" width="1698" height="2560" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Jamie was accused of being in a physical altercation with one of Britney's sons (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>'We're not on good terms'</h2>
<p>In November of 2020, Britney's lawyer said that the singer was "afraid" of her dad, per the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/arts/music/britney-spears-jamie-conservatorship.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NY Times</a>: "My client has informed me that she is afraid of her father. She also stated that she will not perform as long as her father is in charge of her career. We are really at a crossroads."</p>
<p>At the time, lawyer Samuel D. Ingham III also claimed that Britney had not spoken with her dad for some time.</p>
<p>The following month, Jamie corroborated to  <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/britney-spears-dad-jamie-says-he-hasnt-talked-to-her-since-august/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a> that he had not been on "good terms" with his daughter since the previous August.</p>
<p>"I love my daughter and I miss her very much," he told the news station. "When a family member needs special care and protection, families need to step up, as I have done for the last 12-plus years, to safeguard, protect and continue to love Britney unconditionally.</p>
<p>"I have and will continue to provide unwavering love and fierce protection against those with self-serving interests and those who seek to harm her or my family."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632198 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/2G7JXY4-scaled.jpeg" alt="The Free Britney movement has taken the world by storm" width="2560" height="1706" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Britney and Jamie's relationship continued to breakdown as the #FreeBritney movement gained traction (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Sam Asghari speaks out</h2>
<p>Britney's boyfriend of three years, Sam Asghari, took to Instagram Stories in February of this year to condemn her family — especially her father.</p>
<p>"Now it's important for people to understand that I have zero respect for someone trying to control our relationship and constantly throwing obstacles our way," he wrote, according to <a href="https://www.eonline.com/uk/news/1236384/britney-spears-boyfriend-sam-asghari-calls-jamie-spears-a-total-dick-after-documentary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">E! Entertainment</a>.</p>
<p>"In my opinion, Jamie is a total d**k. I won't be going into details because I've always respected our privacy but at the same time, I didn't come to this country to not be able to express my opinion and freedom."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/entertainment/amy-winehouse-lesbian-relationships">Amy Winehouse's ex-girlfriend speaks out for the first time</a></strong></p>
<p>"I’m not upset at anybody, but you know what? What I said is what I said. I think he’s a d**k," he added to TMZ later that day.</p>
<p>"That’s just my opinion, but I’m not going to go into details. That’s it, man. I hope [we can be on good terms one day]. Once he starts treating his daughter right, then we can be on good terms."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-1263114722" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/06/Britney-Speaks-1.jpg" alt="Britney Spears and Sam Asghari" width="701" height="599" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Britney's boyfriend, Sam Asghari, took to Instagram Stories to condemn Jamie (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Britney explosively breaks her silence</h2>
<p>In her 24-minute testimony on June 23 of this year, the Circus singer said that Jamie was "all for" how she's been treated under the "abusive" conservatorship agreement.</p>
<p>She claimed that she was put on lithium, and made to live with six nurses in her home, who wouldn't let her leave for a month — something she claims her father supported.</p>
<p>"Lithium is a very, very strong and completely different medication compared to what I was used to," she said, as reported by <a href="https://variety.com/2021/music/news/britney-spears-full-statement-conservatorship-1235003940/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Variety</a>.</p>
<p>"You can go mentally impaired if you take too much, if you stay on it longer than five months. But he put me on that and I felt drunk. I really couldn't even take up for myself. I couldn't even have a conversation with my mom or dad really about anything.</p>
<p>"Not only did my family not do a goddamn thing, my dad was all for it. Anything that happened to me had to be approved by my dad... He was the one who approved all of it. My whole family did nothing."</p>
<p>The mother-of-two also expressed her desire to get married and have a child with Asghari, which she reportedly cannot do under the conservatorship.</p>
<p>She said: "I was told right now in the conservatorship, I'm not able to get married or have a baby, I have an [IUD] inside of myself right now so I don't get pregnant. I wanted to take the [IUD] out so I could start trying to have another baby. But this so-called team won't let me go to the doctor to take it out because they don't want me to have children — any more children."</p>
<p>The star also claimed that her father "loved" the control that he had over her. "How come I was always threatened by my dad and anybody that participated in this conservatorship?" she asked. "I cried on the phone for an hour and he loved every minute of it. The control he had over someone as powerful as me — he loved the control to hurt his own daughter 100,000%. He loved it.</p>
<p>"But my precious body, who has worked for my dad for the past f**king 13 years, trying to be so good and pretty. So perfect. When he works me so hard. When I do everything I'm told… and the state of California allowed my father — ignorant father — to take his own daughter, who only has a role with me if I work with him, they've set back the whole course and allowed him to do that to me."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-1263115877 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/07/2F3WDP8-scaled.jpeg" alt="britney fans campaign to end conservatorship" width="2560" height="2079" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 Britney explosively broke her silence on the conservatorship in July of this year (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>'I'm here to get rid of my dad'</h2>
<p>After Judge Brenda Penny denied Britney's request to have her father removed from the legal agreement, she addressed the court once more on July 14.</p>
<p>"I’m here to get rid of my dad and charge him for conservatorship abuse," she told Penny via remote video, per <a href="https://variety.com/2021/music/news/britney-spears-new-lawyer-conservatorship-hearing-court-1235019271/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Variety</a>. "I want to press charges for abuse on this conservatorship today. All of it."</p>
<p>The Overprotected singer continued to claim that during her Circus tour, she was forced to take psychological tests against her will, and had her blood drawn multiple times a week. This was after she said she was promised that she could have her life back if she complied.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://fournine.net/news/nirvana-nevermind-child-pornography-spencer-elden">Lawyers reveal likely outcome of Nirvana lawsuit as baby on 'Nevermind' album sues for child pornography</a></strong></p>
<p>"I did it all and they lied…they did nothing. They didn’t end it, and I kept working," she said.</p>
<p>She also claimed that her driver's license and hair vitamins were taken away from her, and that she was not allowed to drink coffee or choose what she wanted to eat.</p>
<p>"Instead of trying to investigate my behaviour or my capacity, I want my dad investigated," Britney continued. "This conservatorship is literally allowing my dad to rule my life… that is abuse, and we all know it. I’m angry, and I will go there."</p>
<figure>
            <img class="wp-image-12632199 size-full" src="https://img.fournine.net/2021/09/M5XC04-scaled.jpeg" alt="Britney Spears " width="2560" height="1707" /><figcaption class='op-vertical-below'>
<h1>

 During Britney's second petition to the courts she doubled down on her father (Credit: Alamy)</h1>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Jamie files to end Britney's conservatorship</h2>
<p>On September 7, 2021, Jamie finally filed a request to terminate his conservatorship over his daughter.</p>
<p>He said that "recent events" called into question whether the star still needed a court to oversee her finances and personal affairs.</p>
<p>The filing at a court in Los Angeles read: "Ms Spears has told this court that she wants control of her life back without the safety rails of a conservatorship.</p>
<p>"She wants to be able to make decisions regarding her own medical care, deciding when, where and how often to get therapy. She wants to control the money she has made from her career and spend it without supervision or oversight.</p>
<p>"She wants to be able to get married and have a baby, if she so chooses. In short, she wants to live her life as she chooses without the constraints of a conservator or court proceeding."</p>
<p>Lawyers for Jamie added: "As Mr Spears has said again and again, all he wants is what is best for his daughter. If Ms Spears wants to terminate the conservatorship and believes that she can handle her own life, Mr Spears believes that she should get that chance."</p>
<p>He also said that Jodi Montgomery, a caregiver who oversees Britney's personal affairs, should also be discharged.</p>
<h2>Feature image credit: Alamy</h2>


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