Kevin Federline noticed some warning signs whenever he viewed his former spouse Britney Spears’ concerning Instagram content after her 13-year conservatorship was terminated by the court.
“With her new independence, I noticed a pattern,” Federline, 47, reveals in an excerpt from the audiobook version of his forthcoming memoir, You Thought You Knew, exclusively obtained by Us Weekly. “Her posts on social media grew increasingly unpredictable. There were the now-famous clips of her dancing with knives, puzzling angry speeches, and uncontrolled actions that were hard not to see. You didn’t need to be a rehab expert to tell she was under the influence in many of those videos.”
Federline shares that his and Spears’ sons, Sean Preston, 20, and Jayden James, 19, “quickly learned to stay away from social media,” where they frequently were targeted with hateful remarks from their famous mother’s devoted followers.
Kevin Federline and Britney Spears Getty Images (2)
“They were aware of the consequences: constant negativity and accusations directed at them by fans who didn’t know all the details,” he states. “The Free Britney supporters were incredibly harsh. The boys came to the conclusion that it was best to develop a relationship with their mother on their own terms.”
Federline continues by sharing a few of the messages that he claims Preston and Jayden have received about their family throughout the years.
“People labeling them as ‘liars,’ ‘traitors,’ ‘drama queens.’ Uttering nasty things like: ‘What kind of son doesn’t defend his own mother?’ Or: ‘You’ll be sorry for abandoning your mom when she passes away…,’” he recounts. “And those were some of the gentler remarks.”
Spears, 43, was under a conservatorship from 2008 to 2021, which granted her father, Jamie Spears, who she no longer speaks to, complete authority over her personal, financial, and health decisions.
Britney described the complicated legal arrangement as “abusive” in an open court hearing months before a Los Angeles judge brought it to an end, alleging that her family had done “nothing” to assist her in breaking free from its constraints.
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During this period, Britney also grew apart from her sons, whom she had while married to Federline between 2004 and 2007.
Jayden discussed his mother’s attention-grabbing Instagram activity during an uncommon TV interview in 2022, stating in part that he felt she was seeking “attention” by regularly posting nude images online.
Britney quickly responded on social media, labeling Jayden’s remarks as “hateful” and pleading with her family for “unconditional love and support.”
Britney currently has a better relationship with both Preston and Jayden. She got back in touch with her youngest son last year, and sources exclusively revealed to Us in September that she has since seen her oldest as well.
“She is very thankful to have them in her world,” one source added. “She is complete again.”
Britney’s representative released a statement to Us in response to the release of Federline’s book on Tuesday, October 21, stating, “Once again, he and others are profiting from her, and regrettably, this occurs after child support payments to Kevin have ended. Her sole concern is for her children, Sean Preston and Jayden James, and their safety during this sensationalism.”
Excerpt from the audiobook You Thought You Knew by Kevin Federline. © 2025 Listenin. Used with permission.
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