Britney Spears sends Jamie Lynn Spears cease and desist letter over 'outrageous' book claims

Britney Spears is exploring potential legal action against Jamie Lynn Spears, following her younger sister's new memoir and promotional tour, which the pop star's lawyer argues features "misleading or outrageous claims" about herself.

Through her lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, Britney Spears sent a cease and desist letter to her sister on Monday – the day before Jamie Lynn Spears' book, "Things I Should Have Said," officially hit bookshelves.

"We write with some hesitation because the last thing Britney wants is to bring more attention to your ill-timed book and its misleading or outrageous claims about her," reads the letter, obtained by USA TODAY. "Although Britney has not read and does not intend to read your book, she and millions of her fans were shocked to see how you have exploited her for monetary gain. She will not tolerate it, nor should she."

Biggest takeaways from Jamie Lynn Spears' memoir: What she says about Britney Spears, conservatorship, their parents

Leading up to the release of the book, Jamie Lynn Spears gave extensive interviews with ABC's "Good Morning America" and "Nightline" and the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, in which she claimed Britney Spears "came at me screaming and getting up in my face" while she was holding her young daughter at one point during quarantine.

She also described an incident in which she said Britney Spears took a knife, said she was scared and locked the two of them in a room together. At other points in the book, Jamie Lynn Spears describes her sister's behavior over the years as "erratic," "paranoid" and "spiraling." She said she chose to include those details because it felt important to note her own feelings at the time.

Britney Spears subsequently fired back at her sister via social media, calling the claims "crazy lies for the Hollywood books."

More: Britney Spears continues response to Jamie Lynn Spears: 'It's so tacky for a family to fight'

"You of all people know the abuse and wrongdoing Britney had to endure during the conservatorship, after initially growing up with a 'ruinous,' alcoholic father," the letter continues, addressing Jamie Lynn Spears. "In fact, your own book reportedly states that your father 'spent most of my life in that cycle of ruinous behavior. His bouts of drinking caused me periods of torment and sorrow.' As I have previously stated, having endured a 13-year conservatorship that stripped her of civil rights and fundamental liberties, Britney will no longer be bullied by her father or anyone else. Britney was the family’s breadwinner and she also otherwise supported you. Publicly airing false or fantastical grievances is wrong, especially when designed to sell books."

Jamie Lynn Spears said in a statement Friday responding to her sister's social media comments that the book is "not about her." Britney Spears' lawyer argues this means there's no excuse for her to speak about her sister in a "potentially unlawful and defamatory way."

"She takes you at your word and we, therefore, demand that you cease and desist from referencing Britney derogatorily during your promotional campaign," the letter adds. "If you fail to do so or defame her, Britney will be forced to consider and take all appropriate legal action."

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It's a busy week for Britney Spears and her legal team – on top of reactions and fallout over her sister's book, she faces a new legal hearing on Wednesday regarding her conservatorship, which officially ended in November after 13 years.

In court documents filed last week, Spears' team objected to demands from her father and former co-conservator Jamie Spears that she pay his legal fees, arguing he committed several financial improprieties while managing his daughter's estate. The Spears' lawyers are expected to discuss this matter during Wednesday's hearing.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Britney Spears sends cease and desist letter to Jamie Lynn Spears