Britney SpearsBritney Spears' former assistant has claimed the star is being closely monitored.

Alli Sims, Britney's cousin and best friend, says her family keep close tabs on the star.

Speaking to US TV show Access Hollywood, Alli opened up about Britney's parents, Jamie and Lynne, saying: "You know they're very controlling."

"I just stepped back," she contBritney and Alli Sims in December 2007inued, in reference to the way in which the star's parents closed round the singer, following her very public meltdown in early 2008.

Alli also claims that the darker period of Britney's life has been over-exaggerated by the press, and that the mum-of-two was merely "being protective" when she shut herself inside a bathroom with her kids, refusing to hand them over to her ex, Kevin Federline.

"She was just like, 'I wasn't ready for them to go home.' It was a mom who didn't want her kids to leave. I feel like the media made it appear a lot more insane than it really was," Alli explained.

"I just feel, you know, she had kids fast. There was a divorce going on and that's a lot for a young person to handle."

Phew, talk about getting things off your chest, Alli.