Kevin Federline agreed to give a bombshell interview about ex-wife Britney Spears’ alleged estrangement from their sons because he and the boys are worried that the superstar’s mental health is going unchecked, sources told Page Six.
“Kevin did the interview because he and the boys are upset. They worry that everyone is completely ignoring the fact that Britney is [battling mental issues], which is not a secret,” one source with knowledge of the Federline situation said.
But a Spears source told Page Six that any claims of Federline doing the interview over fears for the singer are “pathetic and inexcusable.”
The saga continued apace this week as Federline — Spears’ second husband and the father of her sons, Preston, 16, and Jayden, 15 — spoke out and claimed that their boys did not want to see the singer, despite loving their mom.
Federline this week posted a video of Spears arguing with their kids.Kevin Federline/InstagramHe gave an interview to the Daily Mail, with clips also shown on ITV News, then posted to Instagram two video clips from four years ago of Spears, 40, arguing with her kids, prompting the singer’s attorney to berate Federline for “violating” the star’s privacy.
Federline, a former backup dancer who was married to Spears from 2004 until 2007, shared the videos with the caption, “I can not sit back and let my sons be accused in this way after what they’ve been through. As much as it hurts us, we decided as a family to post these videos. This isn’t even the worst of it. The lies have to stop. I hope our kids grow up to be better than this.” Hours later, he removed the videos from online.
Spears and Federline share sons Jayden, now 15, and Preston, 16.WireImageA Federline source told Page Six that “posting the videos wasn’t about making her seem evil or mean, but more about reminding people that she legitimately has a mental illness and [Federline and the sons] worry it is going unchecked.”
Meanwhile, one former boyfriend of Spears is furious at Federline’s behavior, and told Page Six that the ex-husband is in no place to talk.
“Kevin’s a nice guy, but he’s a loser,” the ex-boyfriend said. “It was really hard for Britney and I to be out with them and Britney knew she was paying them all this money and they were free to live their lives and spend her money as they saw fit while she was under a conservatorship and a small allowance.
Federline, a former backup dancer, was married to Spears from 2004 until 2007.Getty Images“When the kids turn 18 the money is over and Kevin is up s–t creek.”
The ex-boyfriend, who declined to be named, even speculate that Federline could be taking money from Spears’s dad, Jamie Spears, who was partly responsible for managing the harsh conservatorship that Spears lived under for 13 years.
However, Jamie’s attorney Alex Weingarten told Page Six this week: “Jamie has not spoken to Kevin or his grandsons in almost 3 years. There is zero truth to any this.”
Spears married Sam Asghari on June 9.Getty ImagesInsisting that the boys love their mother, Federline told the Daily Mail this week: “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.”
Federline added that he has had a hard time explaining Spears’ decision to post nude and nearly nude photos on Instagram to his two 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.”
Federline’s attorney declined to comment.
Federline said he has a hard time explaining Spears’ nearly nude Instagram to their teenage sons.IXOLA/BACKGRIDSpears’ attorney, Mathew Rosengart, told Page Six: “Britney Spears is a brilliantly talented, extremely hardworking icon, who is rightfully beloved and respected by millions around the world. The same, unfortunately, cannot be said about Mr. Federline, who for reasons that are inexplicable, decided to give a gratuitous interview that has hurt the mother of his children.”
Rosengart added that the “Oops! I Did It Again” singer has “faithfully supported” her sons and “loves them dearly.”
Spears’ attorney, Mathew Rosengart, said Spears loves her children dearly.Getty Images“Whether he realizes it or not, Mr. Federline has not only violated the privacy and dignity of the mother of his children, he has undermined his own children, whose privacy he should protect,” the attorney, who helped free Spears from her 13-year conservatorship, added.
Rosengart also questioned whether Federline, 44, may have broken the law by posting videos in which Spears did not know she was being recorded since California is a two-party consent state.s
Spears herself gave insight earlier this week into how difficult it has been for her to co-parent with Federline, after he shared in a preview for an ITV interview that Sean Preston and Jayden James have chosen “not to see” their mom for “a few months.”
The “Toxic” singer called the claims “hurtful” on Instagram, saying it “concerns” her. She added later that her sons would act “hateful” towards her when visiting her home.
