Britney Spears Wishes Issues With Her Sons and Kevin Federline Had Been "Dealt With Privately"

Britney Spears has spoken out again after her ex-husband Kevin Federline claimed her sons — Sean Preston, 16, and Jayden James, 15 — have chosen not to see her. Federline's comments were made during an interview that aired this week on ITV in the UK, but portions of the conversation were released by the Daily Mail on Aug. 6. The former backup dancer claimed the boys decided not to see their mother for the time being in part due to partially nude photos she shared on Instagram. "The boys have decided they are not seeing her right now," Federline said. "It's been a few months since they've seen her. They made the decision not to go to her wedding."

Spears initially responded via Instagram on Aug. 6, writing in her Story, "It saddens me to hear that my ex-husband has decided to discuss the relationship between me and my children. As we all know, raising teenage boys is never easy for anyone . . . it concerns me the fact that the reason is based on my INSTAGRAM . . . it was LONG before Instagram . . . I gave them everything...Only one word: HURTFUL . . . I'll say it . . . My mother told me 'You should GIVE them to their dad' . . . I'm sharing this because I can . . . Have a good day folks!!!"

In the interview, Federline said the boys are reportedly uncomfortable with the photos their mother has been posting on Instagram since her conservatorship ended. "I try to explain to them maybe that's just another way she tries to express herself," he said. "But that doesn't take away from the fact of what it does to them. It's tough."

Spears addressed her ex's comments about her Instagram in a post on the social media site in which she wrote that other celebrities share more intimate photos than she does. "Reminder that the trauma and insults that come with fame and this business not only affect me but my children as well!!!!!" she wrote. "I'm only human and I've done my best . . . I honestly would like to share my TWO CENTS!!!! I daringly would like for the Federline's to watch the BIG BOOTY VIDEO !!! Other artists have made much worse when their children were extremely young!!!"

The "Baby One More Time" singer's husband, Sam Asghari, responded to Federline's interview on his Instagram as well. "There is not validity to his statement regarding the kids distancing themselves and it is irresponsible to make that statement publicly," Asghari wrote on his Instagram Story. "The boys are very smart and will be 18 soon to make their own decisions and may eventually realize the 'tough' part was having a father who hasn't worked much in over 15 years as a role model."

Asghari concluded his statement by defending Spears's release from her conservatorship. "Things that are now considered normal issues and behavior easily dealt with therapy or other ways were magnified to justify a 13 year prison sentence," Asghari said of his wife's years spent under a conservatorship. "Anyone approving of it is wrong of benefiting from it somehow. I will not comment on this matter except to say I have a job."

Through a subsequent Instagram Story, the 28-year-old added that he wished Federline no ill will. "I wish him the best and hope he has a more positive outlook in the future for benefit of all involved," Asghari wrote. "But for now: Keep my wife's name.....out your mouth."

In the portions of the interview that aired on ITV after Spears's and Asghari's initial responses, Federline claimed that he didn't think Spears understood why their sons didn't want to see her but noted that, despite the separation, they were "happy" for their mom when her conservatorship concluded. Federline claimed, "I know she's talked to them about certain things and how she feels, but I don't know to what extent. And I don't know if it's always the correct info for them. It has them on a scale of what is real and what is not."

Spears's latest response came on Aug. 10, when she shared a multislide Instagram note further addressing Federline's claims and her relationship with her children, who she said she "truly" loves. Spears asserted, "The situation should have 100 percent been dealt with privately and definitely not online." Spears said that she noticed her children's visits decreasing and attributed a lot of that distance to the boys' ages. Eventually, she wrote, that her sons specifically said they'd be visiting less. She claimed she addressed it with Federline, who feigned ignorance in the decision.

Concluding her Instagram post, Spears wrote: "I will forever have trauma and I know this, I've accepted it . . . it would take a miracle to fix my heart and not one miracle, maybe three."