Kevin Federline, who is the father of Britney Spears' two children, has made some shocking and 'hurtful' claims about the singer in his upcoming book.
The 47-year-old, who was married to Spears between 2004 and 2007, shares two sons with the pop icon - Sean Preston, now 20, and 19-year-old Jayden James.
With his memoir, You Thought You Knew, set for release in a matter of days, some of the book's most alarming claims have been trickling into the headlines, including allegations that Spears would stand 'silently' in her sons' rooms watching them sleep 'with a knife in her hand'.
The book also alleges Spears called Justin Timberlake the night before their wedding and delves into Spears' conservatorship.
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The star was under a conservatorship of her dad, Jamie Spears, for 13 years, which meant he was her legal guardian and controlled her personal and financial affairs.
After the fan-led campaign brought widespread attention to her situation, the conservatorship ended in 2021.
Here, we delve into some of the most shocking claims in Federline's memoir.
Spears 'never got over' Justin Timberlake
Spears had split with her former co-star of Disney's All-New Mickey Mouse Club, where they met as child performers at age 11, just two years prior to her wedding to Federline.
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Federline recalled an alleged phone call the night before their nuptials. He said: "I was like, ‘What’s wrong?’ I thought she was talking to her mom on the phone or something, and maybe she was having doubts.
"And she told me she was on the phone with Justin.
"I just kind of stepped back like, ‘Did I just hear you right? What the hell is going on’? And I immediately was, ‘Okay, we don’t have to do this.’ I didn’t care if we got married or not."
He continued: "And she told me 'no' and really was like, ‘I just wanted to make sure that everything is done. I want to make sure that I say my final piece.’ I’m like, ‘Damn. On the night before our wedding, this is what you decide to do?’"
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Federline claimed that Spears and Timberlake 'still had some unfinished business' and that she never 'really got over him'.
Spears would 'enter their sons’ bedroom at night while holding a knife'
Federline alleged that Spears would sometimes enter their sons’ bedroom at night while holding a knife and would stand there watching them.
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"They would awaken sometimes at night to find her standing silently in the doorway, watching them sleep - ‘Oh, you’re awake?’ - with a knife in her hand," he wrote, per an excerpt seen by The New York Times.
"Then she’d turn around and pad off without explanation."
Federline 'caught Spears making out with one of her dancers'
Speaking about their relationship, Federline recalled one evening during Spears' Onyx Hotel Tour, in which he claims he caught her 'making out' with one of her dancers.
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"It was one of those loose, carefree evenings where everyone was dancing, drinking and just having a good time," Federline wrote in an excerpt published by USA Today.
"We stayed out late, hitting one of the city's nightclubs until at least one or two in the morning."
Federline said that Spears disappeared when they returned to the hotel, and he went looking for her.
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"I was thinking maybe she was catching up with someone or handling something tour-related," he said.
"As I passed one of the rooms, I glanced inside — and froze. There she was."
Federline claimed Britney was stood with one of her female dancers, who was sitting on the edge of a bed.
"Britney stood between her legs, hands on her face and they were f***ing going at it. Full-on making out," he claimed.
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"I just wanted out.
"... She started apologizing, explaining, promising it would never happen again. She told me she didn't realize how serious I was about us, that she was overwhelmed and it had been a mistake."
Federline's fears for Spears' mental health
Federline also expressed concerns over Spears' current mental health, adding: "It’s become impossible to pretend everything’s okay. From where I sit, the clock is ticking, and we’re getting close to the 11th hour.
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"Something bad is going to happen if things don’t change, and my biggest fear is that our sons will be left holding the pieces."
Spears' response
Spears took to social media to respond to the claims.
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"The constant gaslighting from ex-husband is extremely hurtful and exhausting," she wrote.
"I have always pleaded and screamed to have a life with my boys.
"Relationships with teenage boys is complex.
"They need to take responsibility for themselves. With one son only seeing me for 45 min in the past five years and the other with only four visits in the past five years. I have pride too. From now on I will let them know when I am available.
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"Trust me, those white lies in that book, they are going straight to the bank and I am the only one who genuinely gets hurt here.
"I will always love them and if you really know me, you won't pay attention to the tabloids of my mental health and drinking.
"I am actually a pretty intelligent woman who has been trying to live a sacred and private life the last five years."
In an earlier statement, a spokesperson for the pop star told the New York Times: "With news from Kevin’s book breaking, once again he and others are profiting off her and sadly it comes after child support has ended with Kevin. All she cares about are her kids, Sean Preston and Jayden James and their wellbeing during this sensationalism. She detailed her journey in her memoir."
UNILAD has also reached out to Spears' rep for comment.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
Topics: Celebrity, Britney Spears, Parenting, Books
Lucy Devine