Kevin Federline breaks his silence on ‘Britney Freedom’ movement
Kevin Federline speaks with USA TODAY’s Ralphie Aversa about his memoir, “You Thought You Knew,” which details his relationship with Britney Spears.
Just two years after Britney Spears’ memoir, The Woman in Me, her ex-husband Kevin Federline put pen to paper himself.
“For 20 years, I feel like other people have told my story, but now it’s my time to tell it,” Federline told USA TODAY in an interview. You Thought You Knew, released October 21 by Audio First Publisher Listennin, delves into Federline and Spears’ three-year marriage, divorce, and custody battle over their two children. Ms. Federline also wrote about Ms. Spears’ drug and alcohol use and claimed that her children were afraid to stay at her house because she would stand in the doorway while she slept with a knife.
“Things happened the way they did. I did it because I felt it was necessary to be silent for the sake of the family,” Federline said, explaining why she decided to “sound the alarm” now. “Going back to the ‘Free Britney’ (movement), I feel like the continued silence created a lot of momentum for that movement because the truth wasn’t out there and the whole truth wasn’t there.”
In the excerpt below, shared exclusively with USA TODAY, Federline shares the rocky start of his relationship with Spears, who was in Amsterdam for tour. After a “whirlwind” start to their relationship, Federline wrote that Spears told her touring team “I’m not going to Europe without him.” While there, he says he spotted her kissing one of the female dancers.
In a statement to USA TODAY, Spears’ rep said, “The publicity of Kevin’s book means that she and others are once again profiting from her, but sadly only after her child support relationship with Kevin was terminated. All she cares about is her children, Sean Preston and Jayden James, and their well-being in this sensational endeavor. She details her past in her memoir.”
Exclusive excerpt from Kevin Federline’s “You Thought You Knew”
The iconic city, vibrant nightlife, and the kind of freedom you won’t find anywhere else was sure to be unforgettable. But for me it was memorable for another reason. The evening started very simply. It was me, Britney, and a few of the dancers and staff from the tour, including Teresa, who introduced us at Joseph’s house, and we all headed out. It was one of those loose, carefree nights where everyone danced, drank, and just had a good time. We stayed out late and visited one of the city’s nightclubs until at least 1 or 2am. It felt like just a fun time on tour – a night to laugh about later. Back at the hotel, the group got out of the SUV and headed inside. Britney and I went to the room and she immediately said she would be right back. I didn’t think much of it at first. The hotel floor was ours. We had booked the entire tour so everyone’s rooms were close together. But as time went on, I started wondering what took so long. I thought she was probably catching up with someone or running some tour-related business.
In the end I decided to check if everything was okay. I stepped into the hallway, the door was still cracked, like most of the doors on the floor, and headed for the elevator. As I passed one of the rooms, I glanced inside and froze. She was there. Teresa was sitting on the edge of the bed. Britney was standing between her legs with her hands on her face and they were (expletive) going at it. Authentic flirting. It was one of those moments that hits you so fast that your brain can’t even begin to process it. You just stand there dumbfounded, unsure of what reality is. I didn’t say anything. I just stood there and watched. For a moment, no one moved. Then they both looked up and looked at me, and I turned and walked away. My heart was pounding, but not with excitement. It was something colder, a sudden clarity. This was not what I signed up for. So I got out of there. As soon as I got back to my room, I grabbed my suitcase and started packing. At that point, I didn’t care about anything else. I just wanted to get out.
I picked up the phone, called Fee, and asked her to book me the first flight back to the States. I didn’t care what time it was. I was prepared to sit at the airport all night if necessary. It’s over. After I finished packing, Brittany came back into the room. She just looked at me and immediately knew something was wrong. “What’s wrong?” she demanded in a panic-filled voice. “I’m going home,” I told her in a cold, final tone. “You can do whatever you want, but that’s not what I came here for. If this happens, I’ll quit.” In an instant, her expression changed from confusion to regret. She apologized and began to explain and promised that nothing like this would ever happen again. She told me that she didn’t realize how serious I was about us, that she was overwhelmed, and that it was a mistake. For a moment, I could see her weakness. She really wanted me to stay here. I beg you. I could tell she meant it. But I was still furious. It still hurts. I told her I didn’t come here for what I called an “extra (expletive).”
I had no interest in relationships involving more than two people. I wasn’t criticizing her. I was simply setting boundaries. We didn’t want this to set the tone for what we were building. Not to mention, Teresa was Marty’s ex-girlfriend.
I didn’t think about it at the time, but that moment was a turning point for both of us. That was our first fight, or whatever you want to call it. I think that was the moment she realized I wasn’t here for the fame or the perks. I was there just for her. The fact that I was ready to walk away even though I was giving up everything to be with her proved it was real. A few days passed and it seemed like something had changed between us. She has become more intentional and more thoughtful about how we are together. I felt like we were really starting to understand what we meant to each other. Still, questions remained. I couldn’t shake the nagging voice in my head that asked me if I had made the right choice. I was thousands of miles away from my daughter. And the life I stepped into wasn’t just fast-paced, it was unrelenting.
Every city brought new challenges. New eyes are watching us, waiting for us to stumble. Her fame was no longer her own. It enveloped me, and at times it took my breath away.
There were also moments of intense joy. I remember sneaking off to a park near my hotel one afternoon in Sweden. We lay on the grass, making out and talking about nothing. Of course, the photos from that afternoon came later. But for those few hours it was just us. Such small, seemingly insignificant moments became the basis of our connection. They reminded me why I was there, and the madness suddenly seemed manageable. More than anything, that tour opened my eyes to her world. I witnessed the pressures she faced, the never-ending demands of the industry, and the constant scrutiny. After a few glasses of wine, she opened up and vented her frustrations with her industry, her team, and the weight of fame. Hearing how much stuff she carries each day was eye-opening and honestly a little scary. Trust didn’t come easily to her and I wanted to be someone she could trust.
A few weeks in Europe, navigating an emotional minefield together, laid the foundation for our relationship. They tested us, changed us, and ultimately brought us closer together. Around this time, I began to realize the depth of my emotions. The path ahead was far from certain, but one thing was clear: I was ready. That means I’m in love with Britney.
Contributor: Ralphie Aversa
