Flustered and frightened, picked up the phone while police questioned her on the side of the road during her arrest for DUI.
Showbiz
Britney Spears Shocking Reunion with Ex-Bodyguard
Flustered and frightened, Britney Spears picked up the phone while police questioned her on the side of the road during her arrest for DUI.But instead of dialin...
Advertisement
But instead of dialing the number for a family member or her longtime friend and manager, the pop star turned to a man perhaps the public is not yet familiar with.
'Thomas?' Spears could be heard saying to the individual, per the dashcam video from March 4, obtained by the Daily Mail. Quietly speaking into her cell phone, she then mumbled to the person that the cops were accusing her of consuming , which she denied.
A source has told the Daily Mail exclusively that in that moment of desperation, the 44-year-old turned to Thomas Bunbury, her former bodyguard-turned-confidant.
Advertisement
We are told the two have maintained a close friendship, although he no longer works for her, and that Spears has leaned on him for support amid her most recent legal issues.
However, Bunbury's role in the Princess of Pop's life is controversial.
The first person Britney Spears called when she was pulled over and arrested for DUI on March 4 was her ex-bodyguard, Thomas Bunbury, the Daily Mail can exclusively confirm
Bunbury worked for the pop star as her personal protection last year but was terminated around early January, along with the rest of the security team, according to sources
Advertisement
In March, TMZ reported that Spears sent the British bodyguard a fiery cease-and-desist letter after he allegedly 'hacked' her devices and her iCloud account without her consent. She was reportedly upset that she had been locked out of her accounts and demanded that Bunbury confirm he did not make copies of her files.
Now, a source has exclusively alleged to the Daily Mail that, despite what was reported at the time, Bunbury, 47, and Spears share a genuine connection.
The hacking allegations are 'categorically false and completely without factual or legal merit,' a source with knowledge of the situation told the Daily Mail.
'There was never any unauthorized access, hacking, or unlawful conduct on his part whatsoever. If there had been any credible evidence to substantiate those claims, formal legal action or criminal proceedings would have been pursued.'
The insider told us that no formal charges have been filed against Bunbury because 'the accusations were baseless, defamatory in nature, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.'
However, a second source insisted to the Daily Mail that Spears's team had legitimate reasons for letting Bunbury and the rest of the security personnel go around early January.
That insider claimed there was evidence that Bunbury accessed Spears's accounts, though it is not clear if he engaged in any nefarious activity while doing so and Spears herself may have even granted him her passwords as she's not 'tech-savvy.'
The second source went on to claim that legal charges were never filed because it's a 'complicated' situation, given that Spears wants to maintain contact with Bunbury.
Bunbury, who is British, was accused of hacking into Spears's devices and iCloud accounts, though an insider told us he denies the allegations
Spears has maintained a close friendship with Bunbury despite the accusations. Sources claimed that their connection is not likely to be romantic
The Daily Mail has also exclusively learned that Bunbury's ex-wife, Nancy Bunbury, has accused him of domestic violence and drug abuse, according to court records.
A source told the Daily Mail that Spears spent time with Bunbury immediately after she was released from her DUI arrest
They 'spent time together at her home simply talking in a calm and supportive environment,' according to our insider
Then, a few weeks later in April, they spent time together again just before .
'They had a friendly get-together at his new place,' the first source told the Daily Mail. 'Those moments reflected the genuine and personal nature of their friendship beyond the speculation and headlines.'
It is unclear whether Bunbury and Spears's relationship is romantic, though it does not appear so, as we're told the close protection agent simply cares for the singer 'deeply' as both a 'person and a friend' and continues 'to support her journey.'
The insider said, 'Britney values genuine human connection and has always enjoyed spending time with people she trusts and feels safe around.
'Despite everything she has endured publicly and privately, she remains someone with immense heart and humanity.'
The Daily Mail's second source said Spears's team is hesitant to intervene in the singer's friendships, given her history of being controlled in a conservatorship.
'Britney is a grown woman. She's allowed to have friends and hang out with whoever she wants,' the insider said before adding that those closest to the singer have 'encouraged her' to stop being friends with those with a 'shady past.'
'If she's being safe and this guy is not taking advantage of her, the team encourages Britney to have friendships and have a support system but they are always concerned [about] somebody who has a checkered past,' they added.
The Daily Mail has been told that Spears's team has 'encouraged' her to discontinue her friendship with Bunbury but she is a 'grown woman' who makes her own decisions
Pointing out one of the pop star's perhaps most endearing traits - which can also get her into trouble, the source concluded: 'She always sees the good in people.'
Earlier this month, Spears avoided jail time by and was sentenced to 12 months' probation, a day in jail, which she has already served, and ordered to enroll in a three-month alcohol and drug education program instead.
The Daily Mail contacted Bunbury and Spears's representatives for comment.
Advertisement
Advertisement