The daily gossip: Britney Spears' father demands $2 million to step down as conservator, Tom Holland found his MJ, and more

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1. Britney Spears alleges her father is demanding $2 million
2. Why do Spider-Man co-stars keep falling in love?
3. Netflix's Lady Chatterley's Lover adaptation apparently aims to make even Bridgerton fans blush
4. Prince William and Kate Middleton are reportedly moving to Windsor because they feel 'overlooked'
5. Lil Nas X's album will include collabs with Miley Cyrus, Elton John

published 1 September 2021

1. Britney Spears alleges her father is demanding $2 million

Britney Spears' father agreed last month to step down from her conservatorship, but the pop star is now accusing him of trying to extort money from her before he leaves. Spears' attorneys said in a court filing that her father, Jamie Spears, is seeking about $2 million as a condition of stepping aside as conservator of her estate, which they described as a "quid pro quo," Page Six reports. Jamie Spears claims he needs the money in order to pay lawyers and agents, but according to BuzzFeed News, the pop star's lawyer wrote that Jamie's "blatant attempt to barter suspension and removal in exchange for approximately $2 million in payments, on top of the millions already reaped from Ms. Spears' estate by Mr. Spears and his associates, is a non-starter," while calling for Jamie Spears to "simply agree to resign immediately."

Everyone's favorite 25-year-old teenagers are now Instagram official. On Wednesday, Tom Holland wished his Spider-Man co-star Zendaya "the happiest of birthdays" — while referring to the actress "my MJ." The nickname, of course, is to wink to the couple's on-screen romance as Spider-Man and Mary Jane "MJ" Watson. There must be something about kissing upside-down in the rain, though, because People notes this isn't "the first (or even second!) time a Spider-Man franchise" has sparked IRL romance: Kirsten Dunst and Tobey Maguire began dating while shooting 2002's Spider-Man, and Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield began dating shortly after 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man. Though neither of those couples ultimately stayed together, here's to hoping the third time's a charm.

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Netflix has to make "raunchy" TV shows or live to repent not having made them. Reportedly in the works is an adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover, a novel that was famously at the center of a 1960 British obscenity trial due to its 13 "episodes of sexual intercourse," 12 of which "described [the act] in the greatest detail … leaving nothing to the imagination." Netflix won't leave anything to the imagination either, apparently, since Glamour reports it'll be "raunchier than Bridgerton" and star "Emma Corrin (AKA Princess Diana in The Crown) and Jack O'Connell (AKA Cook from Skins)!" What will Netflix think of next? A Catcher in the Rye adaptation that's raunchier than Sex/Life?

The future king of England and his wife are apparently feeling "very overlooked" in London and are considering a move to Windsor to make themselves feel better, according to a "royal source" who spoke with Vanity Fair. Prince William and Kate Middleton's potential relocation would see them leave behind their apartment in Kensington Palace in order to head to Windsor Castle, which, being a castle, is described favorably as "vast" and "close to the Queen." Kensington Palace, meanwhile, would "remain their official London base, but they prefer being in the countryside and the [hour-long] commute to London would be very easy," the insider said. Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan, who were actually overlooked and actually moved a 10-hour flight from London, are reportedly "thriving."

Forget whatever's going on between Kanye West and Drake, because the real excitement is all for Lil Nas X's debut album Montero, which drops on the feudless date of Sept. 17. On Wednesday, the "power bottom 'rapper'" at last revealed the full tracklist for the album, which features collabs with Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, and Miley Cyrus, in addition to Jack Harlow on the already-released "Industry Baby." Lil Nas X also revealed he teams with Sir Elton John for a song, "One of Me," which will likewise appear on the latter singer's collaboration album, Lockdown Sessions, out Oct. 22.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.