Britney Spears has struck back after her ex-husband Kevin Federline revealed their sons' allegedly troubled relationship with her. The star has said she is 'saddened' he is publicising family matters.
On Saturday, Kevin's bombshell interview with the MailOnline was published in which he spoke at length about her controversial conservatorship, Britney's relationship with her sons, and her social media presence.
The exes share two teenage sons, Sean Preston, 16, and 15-year-old Jayden James. Britney, 40, and the 44-year-old former backing dancer were married from 2004 to 2006.
In an explosive interview that is set to be aired on ITV, Kevin shared his views on Britney – claiming he thinks her 13-year conservatorship "saved her life" and saying that their sons struggle with the fact she poses naked on Instagram, the Mirror reported.
But taking to social media on Saturday night, Britney hit back at her ex-husband for criticising her – while also hinting that she feels empowered now that her conservatorship is over and she now has the free will to live the life that she wants.
She posted a statement shared via Instagram Stories: "It saddens me to hear that my ex husband has decided to discuss the relationship between me and my children.
"As we all know, raising teenage boys is never easy for anyone. It concerns me the fact that the reasons is based on my Instagram… it was LONG before Instagram."
She continued: "I gave them everything… Only one word: HURTFUL… I'll say it… My mother told me 'You should GIVE them to their dad'. I'm sharing this because I can… Have a good day folks!"
Hours earlier, quotes from Kevin circulated online, with the dancer stating: "I try to explain to them [their sons], 'Look, maybe that's just another way she tries to express herself.
"But that doesn't take away from the fact of what it does to them. It's tough. I can't imagine how it feels to be a teenager having to go to high school."
He also claimed: "The boys have decided they are not seeing her right now… It's been a few months since they've seen her. They made the decision not to go to her wedding."
Kevin's comments prompted a reaction from Britney's husband Sam Asghari, 28, who angrily hit out at the former dancer via Instagram stories too. Claiming that Kevin hadn't worked in 15 years, Sam suggested Kevin's motives were financial.
He challenged Kevin's claims that Sean Preston and Jayden James are avoiding their mother, and questioned the timing of Kevin’s interview – which comes nine months after her conservatorship ended, granting the singer control over her own financial affairs for the first time in 13 years.
Sam wrote: "Kevin's gravy train will end soon which probably explains the timing of these hurtful statements. I do not know him personally and have nothing against him aside him trying to vilify my wife."
He accused Kevin of "siding" with Britney's father, Jamie, who had been granted control of Britney's financial and personal affairs while she was under her conservatorship.
And, channelling Will Smith's controversial 2022 Oscars awards outburst, he added: "Keep my wife's name…. Out your mouth."
Kevin's full interview is due to be aired via ITV news over the coming week.
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