Kevin Federline, the former backing dancer and ex-husband of pop superstar Britney Spears, is set to release a new memoir titled You Thought You Knew. In it, Federline shares his perspective on Spears’s alleged erratic behavior during their marriage and as a mother, expressing ongoing concerns for her welfare.
The book, slated for publication on Tuesday, has drawn criticism from Spears herself, who has accused Federline of attempting to monetize their past relationship. Ahead of its release, the memoir, shared with the BBC, details several allegations concerning Spears’s conduct. Federline claims she engaged in unhealthy behavior, including drinking during pregnancy and using cocaine while her sons were still breastfeeding. Spears has consistently denied having substance abuse problems.
Federline also recounts instances where their sons, now young adults, felt fearful of their mother. He writes about Spears standing silently in their doorway at night, sometimes holding a knife, before leaving without explanation. He further expresses deep concern for his estranged ex-wife, stating, “The truth is, this situation with Britney feels like it’s racing toward something irreversible. From where I sit, the clock is ticking, and we’re getting close to the 11th hour.”
Federline notes his support for the conservatorship that governed Spears’s life for many years, admitting he “could never fully get behind” the Free Britney movement.
The couple’s relationship began in 2004, leading to marriage and the birth of their two sons, Preston (now 20) and Jayden (now 19). Their divorce was finalized in 2007, with Federline ultimately gaining sole custody of their children after a public battle over visitation rights. Following this, Spears’s behavior became a subject of intense media scrutiny, marked by incidents such as shaving her head and attacking a paparazzi’s car with an umbrella. These events contributed to the establishment of a conservatorship in 2008, which lasted until 2021, during which her father and others managed her personal and financial affairs. Spears only regained custody of her children after the conservatorship was lifted.
In response to the book’s revelations, Spears has accused Federline of attacking her during promotional interviews. She has described the memoir as “extremely hurtful and exhausting,” while also suggesting it might outsell her own book. In her memoir, The Woman in Me, Spears asserted that Federline attempted to portray her as “completely out of control.” She has also defended her parenting, stating on social media, “I have always pleaded and screamed to have a life with my boys,” acknowledging that “relationships with teenage boys is complex.” A spokesperson for Spears commented that Federline and others are profiting from her story, especially after child support obligations have ended, and that her primary concern remains her sons’ well-being amidst the sensationalism.
Federline stated that he had considered writing the book for years, waiting until his children were older. He described the memoir as a “very good description of me, who I am, the father I’ve become, the husband I am, the ex-husband I am,” aiming to provide his children with the “actual truth” as they move forward in their lives.