If you’re a fan of Britney Spears, you’ve likely heard by now that she and Sam Asghari are reportedly divorcing.
TMZ broke the apparent news on Wednesday, claiming that the pair had parted ways after getting into a heated argument when Sam confronted Britney over infidelity rumors. A source later claimed to Entertainment Tonight that Britney is “adamant she did not cheat” on him.
Sam and Britney had been together since 2016, shortly after meeting on the set of her “Slumber Party” music video. The pair went on to date for five years before getting engaged, during which Sam was described by multiple sources as a “rock” and “positive light” for Britney while she dealt with the effects of her conservatorship.
Britney’s life and financial affairs were tightly controlled by her father, Jamie Spears, and a group of lawyers while she was living under the conservatorship from 2008 until November 2021. Under the legal arrangement, Britney claimed she wasn’t allowed to marry or have kids with Sam, despite her wishes to.
In February 2021, arguably at the height of Britney’s battle to terminate her conservatorship, Sam revealed he was excited to have a “normal” future with her. “I have always wanted nothing but the best for my better half, and will continue to support her following her dreams and creating the future she wants and deserves,” he told People. “I am looking forward to a normal, amazing future together.”
And the pair began taking the steps to enjoy their “normal, amazing future” together just months later, revealing in September that they’d gotten engaged.
The announcement prompted several fans to urge Britney to protect her fortune, and Sam quickly clarified that they’d be getting a prenuptial agreement.
As we know, Britney’s conservatorship was ultimately terminated in November 2021, and less than a year later, she and Sam got married.
The pair said “I do” in an intimate ceremony with roughly 60 guests in attendance, including their close friends Selena Gomez, Madonna, Drew Barrymore, and Paris Hilton.
But while things appeared to be great between the couple following the fairytale wedding, fans began to notice what seemed like little bumps in the road for Sam and Britney over the next year or so.
Just a few months after tying the knot, in November, the couple found themselves at the center of public attention after an awkward clip of Sam catching Britney off-guard on Instagram Live went viral.
After a little back and forth, Britney raised her voice and told Sam, “I don’t wanna jump in, I have nothing to say. I don’t wanna talk to them right now.” He replied, “Sounds good,” and the two sat in awkward silence.
A few weeks later, Sam clarified that he asks for Britney’s “permission” if he “ever” decides to post footage of her.
“Out of respect for her privacy I don’t post her 24/7. I ask for permission if I ever do,” he wrote on his Instagram stories after the singer randomly deactivated her account. He explained, “Social media can be traumatizing. Sometimes it’s good to take a break. She has her voice and is a free woman. I have respect for her privacy and I protect it at all times. Thank you to all of her protective fans.”
“I’ve always respected and supported her privacy with everything I’ve had. I ask of you supportive and protective fans to do the same. Sometimes being overprotective can cause more stress and damage,” he added.
Fast-forward a few months, and Sam and Britney once again found themselves at the center of online conversation.
In January this year, the pair were spotted out for a meal at JOEY restaurant in California. TMZ reported that Britney had a “manic” episode and “caused a scene” at the diner, during which they claimed Sam stormed out.
After the footage of Britney in the restaurant went viral, several social media users immediately called out Sam for seemingly leaving her alone in a vulnerable state — and before long, Sam entered the conversation himself to let fans know that while he did go to “get the car to get the hell out of there,” he didn’t leave the restaurant without Britney.
“Everybody’s filming, everybody’s doing their thing. ... I went to get the car to get the hell out of there,” he told TMZ. “People just thought I’d left. But that didn’t happen. It is what it is, man.”
“It’s frustrating. Absolutely frustrating... When you sit down to have a meal, people get their cameras out and start filming you and stuff. It’s disrespectful. You know what it is? Fame comes with the territory,” he said, referring to the crowds of people who had recorded the couple while they were eating.
A couple of months after all this unfolded, in March, Sam denied — through his representative — new rumors that he and Britney were having marital problems.
The rumors appeared to surface after Sam was spotted without his wedding band on, though his rep later clarified that he’d simply taken the ring off because he was filming a movie.
However, not too long afterwards, in May, Britney and Sam yet again found themselves facing speculation that things were a little rocky between them.
Sam ended up publicly denying the new “clickbait” reports that they were having issues on his Instagram stories, saying, “Ninety-nine percent of the time those are all clickbait [stories] for you to click and for them to make money, and that time is over.”
But now, as we know, it looks like Britney and Sam are, in fact, parting ways as a result of ongoing tumult.
In the hours since the reports of Sam and Britney’s split were published, the “Toxic” singer has been photographed driving around Los Angeles without her wedding ring on. What’s more, according to Page Six, Britney has hired a high-power divorce attorney after Sam allegedly urged her to renegotiate their ironclad prenup.
A source purportedly told Page Six that Sam had allegedly threatened to release “embarrassing” information about Britney unless “he gets paid.” His representative did not immediately respond to BuzzFeed’s request for comment on this allegation.
Meanwhile, more insiders close to Britney and Sam have claimed that things have been “very toxic” between the pair “for a long time.” One noted that there’s “been constant drama,” while another said that the split is ultimately “what’s best” for Britney.
