Kevin Federline has said he was "mortified" by Britney Spears' conservatorship in a preview for what is being described as an "explosive" interview with 60 Minutes Australia.
The extensive feature is due to air on Sunday following a war of words between the former couple in recent weeks.
"I was mortified for her, I really was," says Federline of Spears' conservatorship in a preview of the feature.
The pair were married from 2004 until their separation in 2007, but Federline recently angered Spears' fans by sharing video footage of Spears arguing with their sons. It resulted in Spears lashing out at Federline on Instagram, celebrities voicing their support for the pop star and Spears' lawyers making a statement.
"I still feel bad for her," Federline says, but then explains the reason he didn't help Spears escape from the oppressive court-appointed arrangement was out of concern for their sons.
"The boys, the boys, the boys. I had to worry about them," he said. "I couldn't get involved."
Federline recently suggested that their sons, Sean Preston, 16, and Jayden James, 15, are choosing not to see their mother. Spears reportedly still pays alimony to Federline and her sons despite not currently seeing them.
In another snippet from the interview, Federline reveals that Spears hasn't seen their sons in some time.
"It's been a few months since they've actually seen her," he said.
The former couple experienced a whirlwind relationship, hounded by paparazzi until their well-documented split in 2007.
Speaking of their short-lived marriage, Federline told 60 Minutes: "It was amazing... until it wasn't."
Spears' lawyer Mathew Rosengart has condemned the singer's ex-husband for posting videos of her arguing with her sons, labeling his actions "bottom of the barrel stuff."
"Britney has faithfully supported her children and she loves them dearly. Whether he realizes it or not, Mr. Federline has not only violated the privacy and dignity of the mother of his children, he has undermined his own children, whose privacy he should protect," the attorney said in a statement released in August.
Federline also gave a bombshell interview to The Daily Mail on August 6 in which he said that his sons have chosen not to see their mother in recent months and expressed his concerns about Spears posting nude photos to Instagram.
Spears opened up about her relationship with her two sons on August 10, revealing in a lengthy Instagram post that they are not on good terms at the moment.
"I know that teenagers are just hard to deal with...but COME ON," Spears wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post. "There's being rude then there's being HATEFUL."
Federline's interview is due to air in Australia on Sunday, September 4.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
