Kevin Federline has shared his thoughts on ex-wife Britney Spears and the singer's now-defunct controversial conservatorship.
The dad-of-six - who shares two children with the pop icon - believes the 13-year conservatorship that Britney was put under by her father Jamie Spears "saved" her and "got things in order".
The former backup dancer, 44, hasn't spoken to his ex-wife "in a long, long time" but has recalled their time together prior to their 2007 divorce, and opened up about how their two sons, Sean Preston, 16, and Jayden James, 15, processed their mum's conservatorship.
Despite filing for a restraining order against Britney's dad Jamie in 2019, Kevin speaks positively about his ex-wife's estranged father in a new interview with ITV News.
Asked if Jamie - who was one of Britney's conservators from 2008 until November 2021 - pursued the controversial conservatorship for the right reasons, Kevin claims Jamie acted in his daughter's best interests.
"Jamie came to me and said I don't know what to do, I want to help my daughter. I saw a man who cared. 100% Jamie saved her back then," Kevin recalls.
"I feel that by Jamie stepping in as conservator, nobody else was willing to do it, I feel like Jamie Spears really helped that situation at first... a lot.
"I don't know if he overstayed... but in the beginning he got everything back on track. To the point which she got 50/50 custody."
Kevin and Britney were married from 2004 until 2007 and welcomed their two sons into the world together throughout their relationship.
Sean Preston and Jayden James - now teenagers - were both under two-years-old when their mum was placed under her conservatorship the year following her divorce from Kevin.
Both have lived the majority of their lives with Britney unable to make personal and legal decisions for herself, prior to her involuntarily conservatorship being terminated late last year.
Asked if his sons understand their mum's complicated situation, Kevin says: "They have asked within the last few years, early on they were too young to understand, they've had a lot of questions about it.
"I don't know I can answer all of them. I try to explain that your mum needed help and people were in play to make it happen and make it better."
He adds: "Preston has had a lot of questions. It wouldn't surprise me if he ended up being a psychologist. He’s very into emotions and how people think.
"When it comes to asking questions about his mum, I can't answer all of them because I don't know. I just try tell him things are put in place for her and for their benefit and to manage a hectic situation."
Ahead of Kevin's explosive interview airing, clips and quotes were teased over the weekend - with Britney and husband Sam Asghari hitting back at some of the former dancer's claims.
Throughout his chat, Kevin claimed Britney's two sons haven't seen her in months and struggle to accept her desire to share revealing snaps online after gaining her freedom to make her own choices last year.
Taking to Instagram on Saturday night, Britney hit back at her ex-husband to blast him 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 wrote in 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.
"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!"
Actor Sam also used social media to stick up for his wife - sharing a detailed response to Kevin's comments on his Instagram Stories and, channelling Will Smith’s controversial 2022 Oscars awards outburst, adding: "Keep my wife’s name…. Out your mouth."
*The full interview by Daphne Barak conducted for ITV News aired tonight as part of the ITV News bulletins
