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The Grammy-winning artist has responded to the allegations made by her ex-husband Kevin Federline in his upcoming memoir, characterizing his portrayal of her as both deeply painful and exhausting.

Claims from the Dancer's Memoir

In the new publication, Federline recounts his marriage lasting two years with Spears and their divorce in 2007, which was succeeded by a protracted legal dispute over their children, Sean Preston and Jayden James.

Federline alleges he observed Spears using illicit substances while nursing, and that she sometimes behaved erratically around their sons. In a published passage, Federline alleged their sons would awaken at night to see her quietly standing in the entryway, observing their slumber – with a knife in her hand. Then she’d turn around and walk away without any words.

Federline allegedly told a major publication he had not communicated with Spears in years, but claimed he learned about her alleged behaviour from their children.

Legal Guardianship and #FreeBritney

Federline also details in the book about the legal arrangement Spears was under between 2008 and 2021, which saw her father managing her personal and financial affairs. The arrangement prompted Spears’ fans to form the #FreeBritney movement to regain her freedom.

While the campaign may have begun with good intentions, Federline states in the book, Everyone who put so much effort into that should now put the same effort into the ‘Save Britney’ movement. Because this is no longer about freedom. It’s about survival.”

“This circumstance with Britney feels like it’s heading for something permanent,” he writes. “It’s become unfeasible to pretend everything’s OK. From where I sit, the time is running out, and we’re getting close to the 11th hour. Something negative is going to happen if things don’t change, and my biggest fear is that our children will be left holding the pieces.”

Spears' Response on Social Media

On this week, Spears challenged Federline’s depiction in a statement on social media.

“The constant manipulation from former partner is deeply painful and exhausting,” the multi-award-winning artist posted. “I have always pleaded and screamed to have a life with my boys.”

She said she felt “disheartened by this situation” and that she had seldom seen her children, who are now 19 and 20, in the past few years.

“Connections with adolescent sons is complex,” she wrote. “They need to take responsibility for themselves. With one child only visiting 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 inform them when I am available.”

“Trust me, those untruths in that memoir, they are going straight to the bank and I am the only one who genuinely gets hurt here,” she continued.

She said she had been living a “quiet and personal life” since she was released from the legal guardianship.

Previous Statements and Memoir Details

In an earlier comment, a representative for the singer informed outlets, “With updates from Kevin’s book breaking, once again he and others are profiting off her and sadly it comes after financial support has concluded with Kevin. All she is concerned with are her kids, Sean Preston and Jayden James and their welfare during this sensationalism. She outlined her journey in her memoir.”

In Spears’ 2023 memoir, The Woman in Me, the artist claimed that, during their legal dispute, Federline “tried to persuade others that I was entirely unstable”.