Britney Spears has admitted her two-year marriage to Sam Asghari felt like a ‘fake distraction’.
The American pop star, 43, was married to the 31-year-old actor for 14 months from 2022 until 2024.
The former couple – who had met when filming her 2016 music video for Slumber Party – were together throughout the majority of her conservatorship battle and announced their engagement just days after she was finally freed from the controversial court order in 2021.
The following year they announced they were set to welcome their first child together, but Britney suffered a miscarriage a month later.
They eventually split in July 2023, with their divorce finalised in December last year.
Now, two years on from the break-up, Britney has shared how their marriage felt like a coping mechanism while separated from her sons – Sean Preston, 19, and Jayden James, 18 – whom she shares with ex-husband Kevin Federline.
In a now-deleted post on Instagram, Britney began by explaining how not seeing her sons during her conservatorship marked ‘the hardest years’ of her life.
She told her 41.9 million followers that her ‘secret to survival’ was ‘denial and a lot of tears’.
‘We’re just people so fragile and human,’ she wrote.
‘The hardest years of my life were [when] my two sons [were] gone for those three years… 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…’
Responding to Britney’s comments, Sam then told People in a statement: ‘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.’
When announcing their split, Sam said at the time: ‘After 6 years of love and commitment to each other my wife and I have decided to end our journey together,’ he said on Instagram at the time. We will hold onto the love and respect we have for each other, and I wish her the best always. Asking for privacy seems ridiculous so I will just ask for everyone including media to be kind and thoughtful.’
(Picture: Britney Spears/ Instagram)
Speaking on the Sibling Revelry podcast earlier this year, Sam spoke the decision to end their relationship.
‘Divorce, separation, break ups suck, for anybody. Of course it’s going to suck,’ he said.
‘But I’ve always had the mindset of I’ll never be sad that it’s over, I’m always going to be grateful and happy that it ever even happened.’
In the past year Britney has shared a series of videos and photos of her sons on social media, appearing to confirm their relationship has been mended after three years apart.
Britney was previously married to Kevin, was granted custody in 2007, from 2004 to 2007.
After spending Christmas with her sons last year, Britney posted on Instagram: ‘I haven’t seen my boys in 2 years!!! Tears of joy and literally in shock everyday… koo koo crazy so in love and blessed!!!’
In June she also posted a video of her son Jayden driving a convertible through the countryside.
‘He is 6’3 and his hands are so big now !!! How long am I going to be in shock ??? It’s so incredibly crazy, it’s not even funny !!! I’m blessed !!! Just please be careful with my heart too !!!’ she said.
Last year a source told Page Six that ‘everything is moving in the right direction’ after she was reunited with her sons.
In 2017 she told People: ‘There is nothing more rewarding than being a mom and watching my sons grow into young men. I am so lucky that I get to experience all of life’s adventures with them.’
She had previously been paying Kevin $10,000 (£7,840) biweekly in the form of child support with reports of that figure reaching as high as $40,000 (£31,400) when he received full custody.
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