EP 10 Toxic: who threatened the Gram Girls?

[Steel Magnolia]

4 hours ago, Y2KLady said:

I am racking my brain.

Maybe I presumed that Cade and Jason were colleagues because they were both agents. I remember that Cade and Jason had a close connection, so it may be highly likely that I made a speculative leap without evidence.

I honestly can’t remember where I read that they were colleagues. Let’s take their professional relationship off the table since I may have been wrong.

But that still leaves a question that’s been puzzling me since Cade came out as #FreeBritney: why does Britney still trust Cade? Especially if he was a close friend of Jason’s? 

The television and film industry is small...I know from attending film festivals myself that everybody knows everybody. It's not a stretch of the imagination to think that Jason and Cade met through both being around the same age and both being agents who attended the same premieres and parties. It's obvious a solid friendship grew between them, regardless of how they met.

But I've been wondering the same thing...Why does Britney continue to trust Cade? Especially if he is:

a) best friends with Jason Trawick, and he
b) continued to remain silent for years while attending weekly meetings with Team CON

Do we know for sure that Cade is Britney's agent, and not just a friend? Apart from TMZ referring to him as her agent?

TMZ isn't always the most trustworthy when it comes to this story.

EDIT: He says it himself: "I've kept my mouth shut out of the fear of losing my job as her agent and losing the career I worked my *** off for 15 years to build, out of threats from the man we all know who, but I won't even dignify mentioning his name."

 

[Justin Woodpond]

Oops!

[Justin Woodpond]

Double post!

[Justin Woodpond]

Triple post!

[Justin Woodpond]

On 9/4/2021 at 1:55 PM, Steel Magnolia said:

 

Any story I've ever read painted Jason and Cade as best friends.

Jason left WME in 2011 to start Famos (ah, the good ol' Famos surprise...)

https://www.tmz.com/2011/05/21/britney-spears-jason-trawick-manager-wme-william-morris-endeavor-agent-mick-jagger/

And Cade didn't arrive at CAA until 2014-ish.

From the LA Times article:

That means there was no overlap of Jason and Cade being on Britney's team...More like a three-year gap between them, at minimum.

And then Britney remained friends with Cade following her split from Jason.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2761518/Newly-single-Britney-Spears-gets-kiss-ex-fianc-Jason-Trawicks-BFF-Cade-Hudson.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3223545/Britney-gets-hands-parties-Vegas-Cade-Hudson-ex-fiance-Jason-Trawick-s-friend.html

https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Newly-single-Britney-Spears-gets-kiss-from-Texas-5766882.php

I haven't come across a single article that describes Cade as being Britney's agent, or describes him as being anything other than Jason's Trawick's best friend.

So...This newest development with Cade is...puzzling.

 

According to Elaine "Lainey" Lui, Canada’s celebrity news reporter, she says about Cade: 

Quote

Cade Hudson, a former publicist and now an agent at CAA handling personal appearances. He and Britney have been friends for years, from back when she was with Jason Trawick, and even before.  Cade and Jason are close too.  Cade is very well-liked in Hollywood, and not necessarily in a fake bullsh-t LA way either.  He’s one of the few people who’s never sold Britney out.

If Cade handles “personal appearances”, he’s likely not Britney’s sole agent, or working with her much at all (she does so few “personal appearances” post Lufti). As I mentioned above every celebrity has several agents working on their behalf in different capacities and areas. Rollingstone described Jason working relationship with Britney as:

Quote

Jason won't be the only agent working with her, he will handle acting endeavors, but there will be a big music department also on her account.

We all know who hooked Britney up with the “How I Met Your Mother” gig so soon after entering the conservatorship. 

Lainey alludes to the fact Britney knew Cade before she hooked up with Jason. However, I’m assuming Britney and Jason did work together (through WME) before they became an item. According to some sources, Jason and Britney were connected “socially” as far back as 2006.

Quote

New details emerge in the video of Britney's wild night last night (December 2006). She was joined by sis Jamie Lynn and mom Lynne at Dominick's. Also, sitting at their table was agent Jason Trawick, with whom Brit spent some time with last month after announcing the breakup of her marriage with Kevin.

Interestingly, Lainey says Cade “never sold Britney out”. I guess this could also be seen the other way, NOT speaking up/out at all about Britney’s situation/plight all these years. Perhaps, out of fear of retribution from Team con. Or at the behest of B herself, which is maybe why she trusts him so much.  More than slimebag Jeff Raymond.

Yes, I’m well aware that The Daily Mail (and others), only every describes Cade and Jason as “best friends”. I’m still not entirely convinced these days (post Jason/Britney) they are “best friends”. They certainly would socialise in the same small elite Hollywood circles, which I guess would make them “close” - agents are very “clicky” amongst themselves and slithery creatures amongst everyone else.

How Britney met Cade is not “entirely” clear (through Jason or not), but it’s increasingly likely they didn’t work together regularly or for long at least, and are in fact just very good friends. 

 

https://www.laineygossip.com/Britney-Spears-and-Sam-Asghari-spend-Christmas-together-and-might-be-for-real/45836/amp

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/britney-spears-boyfriend-signs-back-on-as-agent-250050/amp/

 https://www.x17online.com/britney_spears/page212 

 

[Y2KLady]

27 minutes ago, Justin Woodpond said:

Lainey alludes to the fact Britney knew Cade before she hooked up with Jason. However, I’m assuming Britney and Jason did work together (through WME) before they became a couple. According to some sources, Jason and Britney were connected “socially” as far back as 2006.

https://www.laineygossip.com/Britney-Spears-and-Sam-Asghari-spend-Christmas-together-and-might-be-for-real/45836/amp

Fascinating. I love Lainey!

2006 tracks as a time when Jason and Britney were publicized as spending time together. I remember this set of images from December, 2006 of them at a Lakers game with Jamie Lynn:

Lots of other pics from that night on Getty Images.

[Y2KLady]

1 hour ago, Steel Magnolia said:

But I've been wondering the same thing...Why does Britney continue to trust Cade? Especially if he is:

a) best friends with Jason Trawick, and he
b) continued to remain silent for years while attending weekly meetings with Team CON

 

This question has always been puzzling. I know these circles run tight, especially those connected to Team Con.

If anything, the puzzle reinforces, in its own way, how twisted her life has been by the conservatorship. The question of "who can she trust?" becomes "who amongst this nest of vipers can she trust?"

[Steel Magnolia]

35 minutes ago, Justin Woodpond said:

If Cade handles “personal appearances”, he’s likely not Britney’s sole agent, or working with her much at all (she does so few “personal appearances” post Lufti). As I mentioned above every celebrity has several agents working on their behalf in different capacities and areas. 

Interestingly, Lainey says Cade “never sold Britney out”. I guess this could also be seen the other way, NOT speaking up/out at all about Britney’s situation/plight all these years. Perhaps, out of fear of retribution from Team con. Or at the behest of B herself, which is maybe why she trusts him so much.  More than slimebag Jeff Raymond.

 

16 minutes ago, Y2KLady said:

This question has always been puzzling. I know these circles run tight, especially those connected to Team Con.

If anything, the puzzle reinforces, in its own way, how twisted her life has been by the conservatorship. The question of "who can she trust?" becomes "who amongst this nest of vipers can she trust?"

Perhaps she used Cade as a "plant" who kept an eye on Team CON and reported back to her? 

[Steel Magnolia]

On 8/31/2021 at 10:17 PM, Y2KLady said:

Bringing the receipts for the Cade theory.

Here's our context from the Gram Girls' episode:

 

Timeline:

Some key dates about public scrutiny and press coverage on Britney's conservatorship:

• April 16, 2019: The Gram Girls dropped their "#FREEBRITNEY" podcast episode of "Britney's Instagram," featuring the voicemail from the paralegal.
• November 6, 2019: The Gram Girls discuss their unnamed upcoming project, which will become "Toxic," in the "Britney's Instagram" podcast episode, "Con Purse."
• February 5, 2021: The New York Times/FX/Hulu documentary, Framing Britney, is released.
• May 1, 2021: The BBC Two documentary, The Battle for Britney: Fans, Cash, and a Conservatorship is released.
• June 22, 2021: Britney reports herself as a victim of conservatorship abuse to Ventura County PD via a 911 call.
• June 23, 2021: Britney delivers her devastating 23-minute statement in court.
• July 1, 2021: Bessemer Trust requests to resign. 
• July 3, 2021: Ronan Farrow and Jia Tolentino publish their explosive article, "Britney Spears's Conservatorship Nightmare," in The New Yorker. 
• July 5, 2021: Larry Rudolph resigns. In his letter, released to "Deadline," he states, "it is in Britney's best interest for me to resign from her team as my professional services are no longer needed." He does not mention #FreeBritney.
• July 6, 2021: Scam Income resigns.
• July 14, 2021: Mathew Rosengart becomes Britney's attorney.
• July 25, 2021: Cade explicitly posts #FreeBritney on his Instagram, quoted below:
   

Assessment:

Based on this chronology, we can see that the Gram Girls' "#FREEBRITNEY" episode with the paralegal's voicemail was the tipping point for all of the press coverage and public scrutiny of Britney's conservatorship.

Sometime in between April and November, 2019, "in the early days of the FreeBritney explosion," Tess and Babs were at work on the "Toxic" podcast and received a threatening message from "someone close to Britney, someone who's very powerful in the industry." 

Fast forward to February, 2021 when Framing Britney is released, and we have a combined cascade of damning coverage by the media and big change in Britney's legal representation. The legitimacy of Britney's conservatorship is challenged in the court of public opinion, as well as in probate court.

Out of all the people in Britney's inner circle who released statements (and I'm not including JL in this group), Cade is the only one who names #FreeBritney. 

According to Tess and Babs, that person who threatened them? "That person came out for FreeBritney. You know, as soon as it was trendy."

 

 

On 9/1/2021 at 8:34 PM, elodiebeaaa said:

It doesn't debunk it. I think Cade was the one who threatened the Britney's Gram Girls at the beginning of the movement and I think Cade was the one who hooked Britney up with Rosengart because the writing was on the wall at that point. The tide had turned and he could either be publicly known as a traitor to Britney or "be on the right side of history" so to speak.

I actually think it's possible Cade may have lashed out initially because Team Con thought he may have been behind the voicemail and so he was threatened by Jamie over it & then Cade threatened the Gram Girls because he was scared. He probably felt that all the movement would do that this point was leave him vulnerable to threats from Britney's team.

Do we know what date Cade was first implicated in a thread here on Exhale as being the "paralegal" who made the recording?

It had never occurred to me at the time that the paralegal was Cade, and maybe it didn't occur to Team CON either...Until that thread?

One of my common complaints of "the movement" has been that it often does things without consulting with Britney first...To me, that robs her of her agency, and replicates the behaviour that the fanbase accuses Team CON of committing.

Why do I bring this up?

I've often wondered if Rosengart was in the works looooong before Britney's testimony.

Perhaps even before the Gram Girls released the recording of the "paralegal."

Perhaps Cade isn't the "bad guy" in this scenario, but simply someone trying to ensure that the plan to hire Rosengart actually came to fruition?

[Observer101]

3 hours ago, Steel Magnolia said:

 

Do we know what date Cade was first implicated in a thread here on Exhale as being the "paralegal" who made the recording?

It had never occurred to me at the time that the paralegal was Cade, and maybe it didn't occur to Team CON either...Until that thread?

 

I've often wondered if Rosengart was in the works looooong before Britney's testimony.

 

This. Even i feel Rosengart or someone similar may have been in the pic long back. Britney's actions have been very strategic for some time right from her boycotting work. Though she initially paid a heavy price by being forced to a facility. Her complaint to the cops becore her testimony on hindsight sounds like a good move now that we know that team con debated pulling a 5150 on her. Her testimony also was very powerful in terms of its language. It was to the point and communicated a lot very powerfully. It does feel like somsbody was helping or guiding her behind the scenes.

[Y2KLady]

4 hours ago, Steel Magnolia said:

 

Do we know what date Cade was first implicated in a thread here on Exhale as being the "paralegal" who made the recording?

It had never occurred to me at the time that the paralegal was Cade, and maybe it didn't occur to Team CON either...Until that thread?

One of my common complaints of "the movement" has been that it often does things without consulting with Britney first...To me, that robs her of her agency, and replicates the behaviour that the fanbase accuses Team CON of committing.

Why do I bring this up?

I've often wondered if Rosengart was in the works looooong before Britney's testimony.

Perhaps even before the Gram Girls released the recording of the "paralegal."

Perhaps Cade isn't the "bad guy" in this scenario, but simply someone trying to ensure that the plan to hire Rosengart actually came to fruition?

It could be that Cade was trying to ensure that the plan to hire Rosengart came to fruition, and that they were working on this scenario strategically for many years. That would track.

I wasn't on Exhale when people floated that theory of Cade being the paralegal on the voicemail. It sounds wildly speculative--which I love to do here--but even that seems super left field for me. It's possible that it could've been part of a "bait and switch" plan to hire Rosengart.

I'm with lots of fans who think that Project Rose was the plan to hire Rosengart, given Britney's love of puns. I believe she started posting about that in fall, 2019.

We won't know until we know! 

[DuranDuran]

22 hours ago, Steel Magnolia said:

Do we know what date Cade was first implicated in a thread here on Exhale as being the "paralegal" who made the recording?

It had never occurred to me at the time that the paralegal was Cade, and maybe it didn't occur to Team CON either...Until that thread?

Actually it was LFB who began to push this alleged info to the masses. I think it was during the end of 2020 - early 2021, after FreeBritneyLA and Britney's Gram Girls posted information that it was LFB who allegedly hacked into the 2020 hearing that Britney was supposed to attend remotely.

[Justin Woodpond]

18 hours ago, Steel Magnolia said:

 

Perhaps she used Cade as a "plant" who kept an eye on Team CON and reported back to her? 

It would make sense. But they knowing he is so close to Britney would surely result in them keeping a tight lid on their “unsavoury” plans.

Are we 100% sure Cade worked closely with team con? He’s in charge of “personal appearances” at CAA, I can’t imagine him meeting with Jamie, Lou & co. regularly if Britney rarely engaged in this sort of publicity.

Yes, as @DuranDuran point out, it was LFB who started (and further spread) the rumour about Cade in retaliation to Britneygram exposing them. They may be correct in their assumption/knowledge or they may have been trying to stir the pot as they (Kristen and Malena) have  always have been trying to do.

It somehow makes sense that the paralegal is Cade or is connected to him at least. How else was Britney going to get out the information that she was being forced illegally into imprisonment and given medication against her will? 

More importantly, the source of the voicemail couldn’t be verified for a reason (not even the NYT or BBC could do so - some of the best journalist bodies on earth). 

Why? 

Because, it would have exposed Britney herself, as the origin of such information. Brit has indeed been ever so quietly and carefully pulling strings behind closed doors. No doubt with the help of Cade, and this 25 year guy. 

Recently, I noticed Jason Trawick has been with William Morris since 1999 (Britney’s first agency), could be the mystery guy?

 

Edited September 7, 2021 by Justin Woodpond

[Y2KLady]

 

7 hours ago, DuranDuran said:

Actually it was LFB who began to push this alleged info to the masses. I think it was during the end of 2020 - early 2021, after FreeBritneyLA and Britney's Gram Girls posted information that it was LFB who allegedly hacked into the 2020 hearing that Britney was supposed to appear remotely.

This is a riveting allegation. 

Do you believe it?

5 hours ago, Justin Woodpond said:

It would make sense. But they knowing he is so close to Britney would surely result in them keeping a tight lid on their “unsavoury” plans.

Are we 100% sure Cade worked closely with team con? He’s in charge of “personal appearances” at CAA, I can’t imagine him meeting with Jamie, Lou & co. regularly if Britney rarely engaged in this sort of publicity.

Yes, as @DuranDuran point out, it was LFB who started (and further spread) the rumour about Cade in retaliation to Britneygram exposing them. They may be correct in their assumption/knowledge or they may have been trying to stir the pot as they (Kristen and Malena) have  always have been trying to do.

It somehow makes sense that the paralegal is Cade or is connected to him at least. How else was Britney going to get out the information that she was being forced illegally into imprisonment and given medication against her will? 

More importantly, the source of the voicemail couldn’t be verified for a reason (not even the NYT or BBC could do so - some of the best journalist bodies on earth). 

Why? 

Because, it would have exposed Britney herself, as the origin of such information. Brit has indeed been ever so quietly and carefully pulling strings behind closed doors. No doubt with the help of Cade, and this 25 year guy. 

Recently, I noticed Jason Trawick has been with William Morris since 1999 (Britney’s first agency), could be the mystery guy?

 

I can certainly follow this logic. It could track. I'm curious as to whether you believe it? I would love for Britney to exercise such agency on her behalf.

Trawick could be a possibility, but the 25 year guy should have a relationship with Britney that dates back to about 1996. If we can get Trawick back to the mid-'90s, I'd say we could add him to the table. 

[Steel Magnolia]

9 hours ago, DuranDuran said:

Actually it was LFB who began to push this alleged info to the masses. I think it was during the end of 2020 - early 2021, after FreeBritneyLA and Britney's Gram Girls posted information that it was LFB who allegedly hacked into the 2020 hearing that Britney was supposed to attend remotely.

 

7 hours ago, Justin Woodpond said:

Yes, as @DuranDuran point out, it was LFB who started (and further spread) the rumour about Cade in retaliation to Britneygram exposing them. They may be correct in their assumption/knowledge or they may have been trying to stir the pot as they (Kristen and Malena) have  always have been trying to do.

It somehow makes sense that the paralegal is Cade or is connected to him at least. How else was Britney going to get out the information that she was being forced illegally into imprisonment and given medication against her will? 

More importantly, the source of the voicemail couldn’t be verified for a reason (not even the NYT or BBC could do so - some of the best journalist bodies on earth). 

Why? 

Because, it would have exposed Britney herself, as the origin of such information. Brit has indeed been ever so quietly and carefully pulling strings behind closed doors. No doubt with the help of Cade, and this 25 year guy. 

Recently, I noticed Jason Trawick has been with William Morris since 1999 (Britney’s first agency), could be the mystery guy?

Wait...

Wasn't LFB accused of being on side with Team CON? 

Was Team CON trying to tease out (via LFB) confirmation that the "paralegal" was actually Cade?

And then Cade panicked and possibly called the Gram Girls to warn them to back off? Possibly to protect "Project Rose" from falling apart?

I'm connecting some random dots here...But what's more fun than speculating? 

Notice that Cade didn't come out as #FreeBritney until after Rosengart was confirmed as her lawyer. Not long after.

[Y2KLady]

1 hour ago, Steel Magnolia said:

 

Wait...

Wasn't LFB accused of being on side with Team CON? 

Was Team CON trying to tease out (via LFB) confirmation that the "paralegal" was actually Cade?

And then Cade panicked and possibly called the Gram Girls to warn them to back off? Possibly to protect "Project Rose" from falling apart?

I'm connecting some random dots here...But what's more fun than speculating? 

Notice that Cade didn't come out as #FreeBritney until after Rosengart was confirmed as her lawyer. Not long after.

I am waaaay out of my league with the story on LFB and Team Con, so I rely on you guys. If that's true, it is disgusting. 

@Steel Magnolia, the scenario you just sketched out--with the final detail of Cade not coming out as #FreeBritney until Rosengart was Brit's representation--feels right.

Hoping we hear the full story soon. If the news is accurate tonight, we might!!!!!!!!!

 

[Steel Magnolia]

5 minutes ago, Y2KLady said:

I am waaaay out of my league with the story on LFB and Team Con, so I rely on you guys. If that's true, it is disgusting. 

@Steel Magnolia, the scenario you just sketched out--with the final detail of Cade not coming out as #FreeBritney until Rosengart was Brit's representation--feels right.

Hoping we hear the full story soon. If the news is accurate tonight, we might!!!!!!!!!

 

From your timeline on Page 3 of this thread...

Some key dates about public scrutiny and press coverage on Britney's conservatorship:

• April 16, 2019: The Gram Girls dropped their "#FREEBRITNEY" podcast episode of "Britney's Instagram," featuring the voicemail from the paralegal.
• November 6, 2019: The Gram Girls discuss their unnamed upcoming project, which will become "Toxic," in the "Britney's Instagram" podcast episode, "Con Purse."
• December 6, 2019: LFB and the Gram Girls correspond. LFB later accuses the Gram Girls of naming Cade Hudson as the person who fabricated the voicemail from the paralegal. (Credit: @DuranDuran)
• February 5, 2021: The New York Times/FX/Hulu documentary, Framing Britney, is released.
• May 1, 2021: The BBC Two documentary, The Battle for Britney: Fans, Cash, and a Conservatorship is released.
• June 22, 2021: Britney reports herself as a victim of conservatorship abuse to Ventura County PD via a 911 call.
• June 23, 2021: Britney delivers her devastating 23-minute statement in court.
• July 1, 2021: Bessemer Trust requests to resign. 
• July 3, 2021: Ronan Farrow and Jia Tolentino publish their explosive article, "Britney Spears's Conservatorship Nightmare," in The New Yorker. 
• July 5, 2021: Larry Rudolph resigns. In his letter, released to "Deadline," he states, "it is in Britney's best interest for me to resign from her team as my professional services are no longer needed." He does not mention #FreeBritney.
• July 6, 2021: Scam Income resigns.
• July 14, 2021: Mathew Rosengart becomes Britney's attorney.
• July 25, 2021: Cade explicitly posts #FreeBritney on his Instagram...

So Cade waited 11 days after Rosengart was officially named as Britney's legal representation to make his statement. 

Maybe he was waiting until it was "trendy" and he'd been backed into a corner...or maybe he was waiting to ensure that "Project Rose" had officially been executed.

Time will tell!

[Y2KLady]

8 minutes ago, Steel Magnolia said:

Maybe he was waiting until it was "trendy" and he'd been backed into a corner...or maybe he was waiting to ensure that "Project Rose" had officially been executed.

That is the best assessment, boiled down to its critical points. 

Come thruuu, Britney!

[Justin Woodpond]

On 9/7/2021 at 10:46 PM, Y2KLady said:

 

This is a riveting allegation. 

Do you believe it?

I can certainly follow this logic. It could track. I'm curious as to whether you believe it? I would love for Britney to exercise such agency on her behalf.

Trawick could be a possibility, but the 25 year guy should have a relationship with Britney that dates back to about 1996. If we can get Trawick back to the mid-'90s, I'd say we could add him to the table. 

The 25 year guy should have entered Britney’s life around 1997. Not 1996. You’re forgetting to count this year. 1997 to 2022.

Fey, Larry and Dan all entered Britney’s life in one form or another in 1997. That much we are certain of.

Trawick started working for WME in an official capacity in 1999 (according to his LinkedIn). So, it’s unlikely to be him. He was studying for an MBA from 1997-1999, though it’s possible he did an internship at WME during that time. It’s a common practice amount graduates. Who knows.

I’ve always believed Britney has faculties beyond what the general public and fans give her credit for. She can be very witty, sarcastic and ironic and that’s a good indication of intelligence. I believe she’s capable of plotting to outsmart Team Con.

The voicemail was everything. It was instrumental for the FreeBritney movement to go nuclear.

If the paralegal was legit, there should not have been a problem confirming him as a source. None.

However, to reiterate the BBC and the NYT were unable to do so. Even Britney’s Gram promised further details on the paralegal while promoting their “upcoming” podcast Toxic, but this never came to fruition.

You have to wonder why?

Had he been legit (he is a real paralegal), his whistleblower rights would have protected his anonymity (and employment history). And the best of the best journalist bodies with mounds of journalist integrity would have kept him anonymous. 

Unless he wasn’t legit.

Unless he was connected to the one person he was trying to save. 

if you listen to the voicemail the information he provides is uncanny, not the kind of details privy to a mere office paralegal. And yet following Britney’s explosive testimony almost everything  he alluded to turned out to be true and accurate. 

If he’s not a paralegal then who the hell is he? 

We can all do the math.

Edited September 11, 2021 by Justin Woodpond

[MathCarmignani]

I don't think Cade is the is the one in the voicemail and also I don't think it has anything to do with Britney, but it might actually be a paralegal that heard too much or been told too much. Simply because he basically told the whole story correctly but from the perspective of team con. Remember how he said that Britney stopped taking the meds? Well on her testimony Britney said she didn't and that team con was suspecting she stopped. Also the paralegal said she wasn't cooperating with the new medication when she actually was put on lithium and I think that if it was actually Cade or if it had anything to do with Britney the voicemail would at least make a remark about how the new meds were so much stronger than the first cocktail.

What I mean is that the voicemail even though it was pro freebritney it was told from a team con optic or with information they would be able to provide, not Britney. 

I still believe Cade was the one that threatened the gram girls out of fear for project Rose or smth