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Britney Spears' ex Kevin Federline claims she stood in sons' doorway with knife


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Reps for the singer claim Federline is just trying to drum up publicity for his memoir

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Published Oct 15, 2025  •  Last updated 23 minutes ago  •  4 minute read

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Britney Spears and her former husband Kevin Federline arrive for the LG Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri Post Grammy Party in this Feb. 8, 2006, file photoBritney Spears and her former husband Kevin Federline arrive for the LG Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri Post Grammy Party in this Feb. 8, 2006, file photo. Photo by DANNY MOLOSHOK /AP

In his coming memoir, Britney Spears' former husband Kevin Federline claims that the pop star exhibited signs of disturbing behaviour during their marriage and says "it's time to sound the alarm" about her current antics.

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    In one excerpt, shared by the The New York Times, Federline, 47, accuses Spears, 43, of scaring their two kids, Sean Preston, now 20, and Jayden James, 19, when they were children.

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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," her former backup dancer writes in You Thought You Knew, according to outlet. "Then she'd turn around and pad off without explanation."

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    A rep for Spears dismissed the claims, telling Us Weekly: "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 well-being during this sensationalism."

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    In a separate statement to the Times, a spokesperson for Spears also accused Federline of trying to drum up publicity for himself "after child support has ended."

    With Spears' actions on social media worrying fans, recent video clips shared to social media appear to show the floor in her home covered in dog poop, Federline writes in his book that it has "become impossible to pretend everything's OK."

    Britney Spears films herself while items can be seen in the background, including what appears to be pet poop on the floor of her home. Britney Spears films herself while items can be seen in the background, including what appears to be pet poop on the floor of her home. Photo by Britney Spears /Instagram

    Spears has frequently filmed herself dancing nearly nude, and in several videos posted back in 2021, she cavorted around brandishing a pair of knives.

    "From where I sit, the clock is ticking, and we're getting close to the 11th hour," Federline reportedly writes. "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."

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    Britney Spears in new post:

    "Dinner sushi date but I have my own girl party in the bathroom !!! Yummy, the guy was absolutely horrible.🤔🙄🤷🏼‍♀️ Psss show effort, no makeup" pic.twitter.com/rdazKrC6Al

    — y2k (@y2kpopart) September 8, 2025

    In his book, Federline addresses a pair of incidents in 2008 when Spears was placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold during their custody battle.

    "It was one of the hardest nights of my life. I felt sick over what she was going through," he writes, according to the Times. "This was someone I had loved. Someone I had built a life with. The mother of my children."

    According to PEOPLE, Spears addressed the events in her own 2023 memoir, writing: "The only thing I was guilty of was feeling desperate to keep my own children for a few more hours and to get some reassurance that I wasn't going to lose them for good."

    Spears was put under a conservatorship led by her dad shortly afterwards that lasted until 2021. But in an interview with the Times, Federline says that the singer's fans who lobbied for her freedom through the "Free Britney" campaign should "now put the same energy into the 'Save Britney' movement." 

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    "This is no longer about freedom. It's about survival," he says.

    Britney Spears and her former husband Kevin Federline arrive at the 2004 Billboard Music Awards on Dec. 8, 2004 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Britney Spears and her former husband Kevin Federline arrive at the 2004 Billboard Music Awards on Dec. 8, 2004 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Photo by Frazer Harrison /Getty Images

    In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Federline also alleged that Spears called her ex Justin Timberlake the night before they married in 2004.

    "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," Federline said. "And she told me she was on the phone with Justin … I'm like, 'Damn. On the night before our wedding, this is what you decide to do?'"

    Spears' relationship with her sons has been rocky over the years. In 2022, Jayden panned his mother's raunchy social media posts in an interview with ITV News.

    "It's almost as if she has to post something to get attention. This has gone on for years and years and years and this actually may never stop," he said.

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    'EMOTIONAL TRAUMA'

    He also described his dad's home as a "safe place" where he can "process" the "emotional trauma" he says he has endured.

    But she has seemed to forged a relationship with her boys, posting a snap with Jayden earlier this year after reuniting with him in December 2024.

    "Best Christmas of my life!!! I haven't seen my boys in two years!!! Tears of joy and literally in shock everyday koo koo crazy so in love and blessed!!! I'm speechless thank you Jesus!!!" she said in a video clip shared to Instagram.

    In June, Spears shared a photo of herself and Jayden after they attended church together.

    For his part, Federline said he isn't "against Britney."

    "I've only tried to help my sons have an incredible relationship with their mother," he told the Times. "And it's hard because when I really reflect on everything that's happened — my kids do not know the woman that I married. And I've spent two decades trying to bridge that gap."

    mdaniell@postmedia.com

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