Britney Spears’ Ex Kevin Federline Claims Their Sons Were Afraid To Visit Pop Star’s House—After Waking To Find Her in Their Room ‘With a Knife’

Pop star Britney Spears' ex-husband Kevin Federline has aired several sensational allegations about his former spouse—alleging that their sons were left too scared to visit their mother at home after waking on one occasion to find her standing in their room "with a knife in her hand."

Federline, 47, was married to Spears, 43, for three years, from 2004 until 2007, when they became embroiled in a bitter divorce and custody battle that ultimately saw the former backup dancer being awarded full custody of his children, Sean Preston, now 20, and Jayden James, now 19.

Spears previously opened up about their acrimonious split in her memoir, in which she accused her former spouse of fabricating stories about her erratic behavior in a bid to claim control of their kids.

Now, Federline has shared his side of that story in his own book, "You Thought You Knew," which is due to be released Oct. 21—but has been serialized by The New York Times.

In it, the dancer-turned-DJ voices his concern for his former wife, despite admitting that they "haven't spoken in years," alleging that her behavior in recent months has become increasingly erratic—including her treatment of their children.

According to the Times, Federline writes in his book that he learned of his former wife's concerning actions largely from their sons, with whom she has been trying to rebuild a relationship over the last few years.

In one section of the memoir, Federline alleges that his sons, who were both teenagers at the time, expressed fears about returning to their mother's California home, claiming that her behavior had left both boys worried about their safety.

"They would awaken sometimes at night to find her standing silently in the doorway, watching them sleep—'Oh, you’re awake?'—with a knife in her hand," he alleges. "Then she’d turn around and pad off without explanation."

In a statement shared with the outlet, a spokesperson for Spears hit back at Federline's claims, accusing him of trying to profit off his ex-wife and noting that her own memoir captures her view of the events that unfolded between them.

"With news from Kevin’s book breaking, once again he and others are profiting off her and sadly it comes after child support has ended with Kevin," the spokesperson said.

"All she cares about are her kids, Sean Preston and Jayden James, and their well-being during this sensationalism. She detailed her journey in her memoir."

Speaking to the Times, Federline said he is devastated that his sons never got the chance to know the "woman that I married," suggesting that Spears' behavior has changed so dramatically over the years that she is now a shell of the person she once was.

Still, he insists that he has only ever tried to foster a healthy and happy relationship between his sons and their mother.

“I’ve never, ever, once, been against Britney,” he said. “I’ve only tried to help my sons have an incredible relationship with their mother. And it’s hard because when I really reflect on everything that’s happened — my kids do not know the woman that I married. And I’ve spent two decades trying to bridge that gap.”

In one of the final chapters of the book, Federline once again raises his concern about Spears' well-being, issuing a fairly damaging warning about her behavior.

"The truth is, this situation with Britney feels like it’s racing toward something irreversible," he writes. "It’s become impossible to pretend everything’s OK.

"From where I sit, the clock is ticking, and we’re getting close to the eleventh hour. Something bad is going to happen if things don’t change, and my biggest fear is that our sons will be left holding the pieces."

Although Federline—who lives in Hawaii with his second wife, Victoria Prince, and their children—has not seen Spears for some time, it's understood that the pop star reunited with her younger son, Jayden, in late 2024, when it was reported that he had enjoyed a couple of visits with his mother while staying in L.A.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight in the wake of that reunion, Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, said that Jayden was feeling "cautiously optimistic that things would be less chaotic than they had been before" after seeing his mom.

Kaplan added that his client has "always supported both of his sons having a relationship with their mother ... and he's happy if it really is something that will be in a positive direction," although it is unclear whether that relationship will remain positive in the wake of Federline's book release.

Federline is certainly not the first person to raise concerns about Spears' well-being—particularly in the wake of her controversial conservatorship ending in November 2021.

The pop star's fans and followers routinely call attention to her seemingly odd behavior in the comments section of her social media videos, which often show her dancing or singing in and around her home.

In August, Spears received an influx of concerned messages from her fans after she revealed a glimpse inside her incredibly messy mansion while filming a video of herself singing along to the hit Prince song "Kiss."

In the social media clip, Spears began off camera, with the lens instead focused on the living space inside her sprawling Thousand Oaks, CA, estate, where she has been living on and off since purchasing it for $7.4 million in 2015.

Behind Spears, a large white couch could be seen littered with all manner of items, including several pieces of clothing, while several other objects are scattered across the floor.

Spears has been living full time in her Thousand Oaks home for several years now, having relocated back to the property after listing the Calabasas, CA, mansion she shared with her ex-spouse, Sam Asghari.

The former couple purchased that abode for $11.8 million in June 2022, shortly after tying the knot; however, by February 2023, they had sold it at a significant loss, with reports suggesting that Spears felt the dwelling lacked sufficient privacy.

Spears and Asghari, who split in August 2023, ultimately sold the property for just $10.1 million, according to records, with sources suggesting that they had relocated back to the pop star's longtime Thousand Oaks home in the meantime.

After the couple finalized their divorce in May 2024, Spears retained her Thousand Oaks home, along with any and all assets she held before the marriage—all of which are said to have been protected by a rigid prenup, along with her personal fortune, which was then valued at $60 million.

The home has served as Spears' personal primary residence ever since, featuring regularly in her social media content, which she captures in various rooms through the property.

The main residence at the heart of the estate features more than 13,200 square feet of living space, including five bedrooms and 7.5 bathrooms—although Spears may have made changes to the layout in the 10 years since she bought it.

Her home also affords her ample privacy, an amenity that she is understood to have found lacking at her Calabasas abode.

Set behind two private gates within the prestigious White Stallion Estates community, the dwelling is surrounded by land, helping to protect the primary residence from prying eyes.

The main house features an incredibly ornate two-story entry, a great room with a 35-foot ceiling, an oak-paneled library, a formal living room, a dining room, a chef's kitchen, and a breakfast room. High-end perks include a 3,500-bottle wine cellar, an elevator, and a huge media room.

Parklike grounds include a lighted tennis court, an infinity pool, a spa, an orchard, and a three-green golf course. A detached pool house with a full kitchen and bath is included.

It is the second dwelling that Spears has owned in the Los Angeles suburb of Thousand Oaks. She also purchased a five-bedroom, seven-bathroom Spanish-style abode in 2012, which she sold for $7 million in 2017.