Britney Spears is no stranger to the limelight. For years, the singer’s personal life has been as much in the spotlight as her music; from her highly publicised conservatorship to her comeback moments, almost every chapter of her story has drawn global attention. Amid all the highlights of her life, one of the most talked-about chapters was the Toxic singer’s relationship with Iranian fitness trainer and actor Sam Asghari. 

Britney and Sam’s romance was once hailed as a fairytale love story, which the singer deserved after years of personal struggles. After dating for years, the pair tied the knot in June 2022 in a star-studded wedding ceremony, only for their marriage to fall apart just 14 months later. Ever since their split was finalised in 2024, it has raised a burning question: what went wrong?

With Sam Asghari returning to the headlines after he criticised Britney’s first husband, Kevin Federline, over his upcoming tell-all memoir, You Thought You Knew, here’s a closer look at his 7-year relationship with the singer and why someone who used to be her biggest supporter is now an ex-husband.

Who is Britney Spears’ ex-husband, Sam Asghari?

Sam Asghari was born in Tehran, Iran, and later immigrated to Los Angeles with his family when he was only 12. While adjusting to the new culture came with several challenges, having to learn a foreign language and adapt to a distinct way of life, he finally became a US citizen in 2012. 

An athlete growing up, Asghari later turned to personal training and launched Asghari Fitness, which provides customised workout and meal plans for clients. Today, the 31-year-old is a personal trainer, model, and aspiring actor, playing roles in Black Monday, Hacks, and Hot Seat.

Britney Spears and Sam Asghari’s love story started with a music video

Sam Asghari’s path collided with Britney Spears’ world in 2016 when he was cast as her love interest in the music video for Slumber Party. The duo felt an instant connection, and eventually, what began as an on-screen pairing blossomed into a real-life romance. 

By 2017, Britney and Sam’s relationship was Instagram official, and the couple often shared glimpses of their time, whether from workout sessions, vacations, or intimate moments. They soon became one of Hollywood’s hot couples who seemed smitten with each other. Fans who were aware of Britney’s tumultuous past even started labelling the relationship as a fairytale ending for the Toxic singer.

After nearly six years of dating, the couple announced their engagement in September 2021, and months later, they exchanged vows in a June 2022 wedding. The ceremony, which took place in Los Angeles, saw a star-studded guest list featuring Hollywood’s iconic names, such as Madonna, Paris Hilton, Selena Gomez, and Drew Barrymore. For fans, the wedding became a symbol for Britney’s new beginning after her years of heartbreak and conservatorship battle.

What went wrong in Britney and Sam’s marriage?

While the wedding was nothing short of a grand spectacle, behind the glamorous images, the couple had started facing multiple challenges. It was in 2023 when Britney Spears and Sam Asghari announced their ‘miracle pregnancy’, only to tragically lose their baby to a miscarriage. 

Amidst the pain of a failed pregnancy, Spears was also facing constant public scrutiny, which has continued since her conservatorship. For those unaware, Britney was placed under a conservatorship in February 2008, citing concerns about her mental health. Her father, Jamie Spears, was granted control over both her personal affairs and finances. Amidst this, the singer wasn’t even granted the freedom to make basic decisions about her career, finances, or even personal relationships without approval.

Britney Spears’ years of conservatorship battle had weighed in on her relationship with Sam Asghari

Britney’s nearly 14-year-long conservatorship battle, which concluded in November 2021, was one of the most scrutinised legal arrangements in pop culture history. Although it ended before their marriage, Asghari later shared how its emotional and psychological residue lingered well into their relationship. 

Speaking to The Viall Files podcast, the model shared how the conservatism concept affected him when he started dating Britney. He recalled the information hitting him unexpectedly, but he still tried to understand what was going on with the singer’s situation. Asghari shared:

“When you’re in a relationship with somebody, I’m the type where I want to support in every way possible. I also didn’t want to go look up what’s happening on the news because I know [that’s] different. I tried to really understand it. I tried to see why it’s happening, and you don’t have much to say, especially if you’re just a boyfriend. Maybe I was afraid they would make me not see her. You have to be gentle and provide as much support as you can.”

Due to the conservatorship arrangements, Sam revealed he wasn’t even allowed to speak about the relationship or their marital matters. Looking back on the strict rules Britney was under and how it affected their relationship, Asghari shared on the Sibling Revelry podcast that it was the weirdest and the ‘most difficult thing’ he witnessed in his years with the singer. He told host Oliver Hudson:

“Everything was going really well until one day I started learning about what a conservatorship is. That’s when I was like, ‘Wait a minute. I thought I was in America. What do you mean? What do you mean that someone over the age of 18 needs permission from their parents?’ …  That was by far… the weirdest thing to deal with. Which is really strange to say, in Hollywood and entertainment.”

Sam Asghari admitted in his interviews that the psychological residue of that arrangement had blurred into their romance for nearly seven years, and it weighed heavily on their time together, even after it was over. 

Life after divorce

In May 2024, Britney and Sam’s divorce was finalised without any prenuptial drama. Both confirmed their separation with respectful statements, stating that they would hold on to the love and respect for each other. Britney found it difficult to deal with the aftermath of the separation alone, reflecting that she needed to slow down and seek therapy. Asghari, meanwhile, has moved on with actress Brooke Irvine, and the couple went Instagram official in January 2025. 

Despite moving on, Asghari remains one of Britney’s biggest supporters. He has continued to defend the singer whenever the need arose, winning the hearts of fans all over. Most recently, the model publicly defended Spears, even taking a jab at her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, over his upcoming memoir, calling him a ‘professional father’ to their two sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James.

Britney Spears and Sam Asghari’s 7-year relationship might have ended, but the marriage, though brief, remains a significant chapter in the Gimme More singer’s ongoing story. 

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