Britney Spears says marriage to Sam Asghari ‘Felt like a fake distraction’ amid pain of being cut off from sons

Britney Spears says marriage to Sam Asghari ‘Felt like a fake distraction’ amid pain of being cut off from sons

In an Instagram post shared on Sunday, Aug. 24, pop star Britney Spears reflected on her marriage to Sam Asghari, which she said "felt like a fake distraction" after she had been "cut off" from her sons Jayden James and Sean Preston. Spears, 43, shares her children with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

"We’re just people so fragile and human the hardest years of my life were my two sons gone for those 3 years …" Spears began. "I was cut off from calling or texting and I remember in shock my secret to survival was denial and a lot of tears its weird me and Sam were married but it almost felt like a fake distraction to help me deal with it …"

She continued, reflecting on her healing process. "Well I know im healing bc im hungry again like a child or baby… im so hungry it hurts and when I eat its like its my first time ever eating in my life …," Spears wrote. "I believe although I loved my home there is waaay too much abuse and trauma in there…."

Spears and Asghari, 31, tied the knot in June 2022. PEOPLE confirmed that they separated 14 months later, in August 2023, and finalized their divorce in May 2024.

The "Stronger" singer has been sharing glimpses of life with her sons Jayden, 18, and Sean Preston, 19. In June, she posted a rare video of herself riding shotgun as Jayden drove. "He is 6’3 and his hands are so big now !!! How long am I going to be in shock ???" she captioned. "It’s so incredibly crazy, it’s not even funny !!! I’m blessed !!! Just please be careful with my heart too !!! 🙄🙄🙄."

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In May 2024, around Mother’s Day, Federline’s attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, confirmed Spears had spoken with her sons on the phone. Jayden and Sean had been living with Federline, 47, in Hawaii since 2023.

"Obviously a reconciliation/reunification is somewhat complex and can be a process that takes some time," Kaplan told PEOPLE. He added, "And while Kevin supports the boys having a relationship with their mother and is glad that the boys did finally have a phone conversation with her around Mother's Day, the reports that she flew to Hawaii and met with them are inaccurate. That's just not true."

Kaplan further emphasized, "The phone call was a good sign and a step in the right direction, but it's a process that takes more than just a phone call to accomplish."

Back in September 2022, Jayden told The Daily Mail that he and Sean Preston had mixed feelings about their relationship with Spears but remained hopeful. He said he "100 percent thinks this can be fixed."

A source confirmed that Federline had asked Spears for permission to allow the boys to move to Hawaii. "Britney has always faithfully supported her children and wants them to be happy," the source said, noting that the move offered the family a chance to step away from the L.A. spotlight.