Britney Spears says marriage to Sam Asghari felt like 'fake distraction' after estrangement from her sons
For pop star Britney Spears, her marriage to her second husband, Iranian-born model Sam Asghari, felt like a "fake distraction" amid her estrangement from her two sons with her first partner.
"We’re just people so fragile and human. [The] hardest years of my life were my two sons gone for those [three] years," Spears said in a now-deleted caption of her Instagram post on Aug. 25, but was captured by American outlets, including PEOPLE Magazine.
"I was cut off from calling or texting and I remember in shock my secret to survival was denial and a lot of tears. [It's] weird me and Sam were married, but it almost felt like a fake distraction to help me deal with it," Spears continued.
"Well I know [I'm] healing [because I'm] hungry again like a child or baby… [I'm] so hungry it hurts and when I eat [it's] like [it's] my first time ever eating in my life," Spears added. "I believe[,] although I loved my home[,] there is waaay too much abuse and trauma in there."
In response to Spears's post, Asghari told PEOPLE, "Our marriage was very real to me."
"It may have been short, but we were together for seven years. I was in love with her, will always have love for her, and wish her the best always," he added.
Spears's first husband was DJ and dancer Kevin Federline. They got married in September 2004. They share two sons, Jayden and Sean.
In November 2006, she filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. It was finalized in March 2007, and in October of that year, a court granted Federline sole custody of Jayden and Sean.
Jayden and Sean had been living with Federline in Hawaii since 2023. In May 2024, Federline's lawyer said Spears was able to talk to her sons on the phone.
Spears met Asghari in 2016 while filming the music video for her song Slumber Party. They got married in June 2022.
In August 2023, Asghari filed for divorce amid irreconcilable differences. It was finalized in May 2024.
