Britney Spears' Dad Defends Controversial 13-Year Conservatorship: 'I Don't Know If She'd Be Alive'

Brittney Spears' father is finally speaking out about the controversial conservatorship that lasted for 13 years.

Jamie Spears faced criticism and public backlash following the 2008 conservatorship—which just ended in November—but he claims it was all in Britney's best interests.

In an interview with The Daily Mail on Sunday—his first in a decade—Spears defended his decision.

"Not everybody's going to agree with me."

"It's been one hell of a time. But I love my daughter with all my heart and soul."

"Where would Britney be right now without that conservatorship?"

"I don't know if she'd be alive. I don't."

"For protecting her, and also protecting the kids, conservatorship was a great tool."

"Without it, I don't think she would have got the kids back."

Spears continued that over the last few years, his relationship with his grandkids has weakened.

"I miss my two boys really, really bad. I do."

"You know, we were very, very close. They were around that age where you could start having a good time with them."

"But they were developing a mind of their own. God makes things happen for a reason."

"I don't know what that reason is, but it's been a tough three years without them."

"The family's a mess. All we can do is keep praying."

Though Britney always publicly shared her opposition to the conservatorship—which launched the #FreeBritney movement—Jamie defended his decision.

He claimed it "made a difference" in his daughter's well-being mentally, physically and financially.

"She had no money whatsoever."

"The conservatorship set a resource where she could get back financially."

"And, you know, we worked - and she worked - and she got herself straight up financially..."

"The conservatorship allowed the finances to be better."

He clarified:

"My understanding of a conservatorship is to help someone regain their life and return back to society, and to be able to live normally."

"I want to say that I made a difference."

"There were a few people behind me that really helped bring it to a point where we could help her."

Spears also acknowledged the public's negative perception of the conservatorship, but claims no one else knows the whole story.

He doesn't, however, "want to start something else."

"All I can say is that most people don't have a clue what the truth is."

"Her lawyer doesn't have a clue what the truth is. The media has not heard the truth."

"They've head the allegations from Britney."

"I don't mind taking that beating because I know it's not true, and because I don't want to start something else."

"For my daughter to end up going further down the hole than she had been."

Many weighed in on Spears' claims.

Some believed he was trying to protect his daughter, though many believe the conservatorship lasted longer than it should have.

Of course, Team #FreeBritney still stands united.

Spears said he is still hopeful reconciliation could be on the horizon with effort from all sides.

"Each individual has got lots of work to do."

"I don't know if some of them want to do the work or not."

"It's going to be a tough thing, but that's the goal."

"Like I say, family's not in good shape right now. That's all I can say."

"It's better - but we've got a lot of work to do."