Britney Spears is firing back at her ex-husband's explosive claims about her parenting style, which he has detailed in his highly anticipated new memoir. With the Oct. 21 release of his book *You Thought You Knew* on the horizon, Kevin Federline has embarked on a media blitz to promote the tell-all, which delves into the intricacies of his marriage to Spears and their tumultuous co-parenting journey.
In an early excerpt published by *The New York Times*, Federline alleges a chilling incident in which their son reportedly awoke to find his mother standing in a doorway, brandishing a knife. The memoir further asserts that Spears consumed wine during her pregnancy and allegedly used cocaine while still breastfeeding.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, the "Gimme More" icon addressed Federline's allegations head-on, penninng a heartfelt and impassioned response. "The constant gaslighting from my ex-husband is not just hurtful—it's exhausting," she wrote. "I've always pleaded, screamed, and begged for a life with my boys."
"Navigating relationships with teenage boys is incredibly complex," Spears continued. "I've felt utterly demoralized by this situation and have repeatedly asked—almost begged—for them to be a part of my life. Sadly, they've witnessed firsthand the lack of respect their own father has shown me. They need to take responsibility for themselves. One son has only seen me for 45 minutes in the past five years, and the other has had just four visits in the same timeframe. I have pride too. From now on, I'll let them know when I'm available."
The Grammy-winning artist didn't stop there, directly addressing the claims made in Federline's memoir. "Trust me, those white lies in that book—they're lining someone's pockets, and I'm the only one genuinely getting hurt here," she declared. "I will always love them, and if you truly know me, you won't pay attention to the tabloids' sensationalized stories about my mental health and drinking. In reality, I'm a pretty intelligent woman who's been trying to live a sacred, private life for the past five years. I'm speaking out now because I've had enough. Any real woman would do the same."
Spears and Federline are parents to two sons: Jayden, 19, and Preston, 20. The couple tied the knot in September 2004 but separated just two years later when Spears filed for divorce in 2006.
When asked about his children's reaction to the memoir, Federline told *The Hollywood Reporter* that they were "100 percent behind me telling my story." Regarding their relationship with Spears, he added, "Their situation with their mom is fluid, and they do communicate. They've even gone to see her and such."
Following the #FreeBritney movement, the "Womanizer" singer's conservatorship was terminated in 2021. In his memoir, Federline contends that "this situation with Britney feels like it's racing toward something irreversible." When questioned about his perceptions of Spears' current life by *THR*, Federline responded, "I think that if anybody's paying attention, they can kind of see for themselves."
"All I really want is for her to be happy and healthy, and I want her to be around for our kids," he added. "My kids want her to be around for a long time. So I've sounded the alarm. This has become a situation where I need people to start supporting my sons and their mother."
In an earlier statement, Spears' team commented on the memoir, saying, "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. She detailed her journey in her own memoir."
