Britney Spears's ex-husband Kevin Federline has spoken about the singer's relationship with her two sons in a new interview, saying the teenage boys "are not seeing her right now".
Speaking to ITV, Federline, 44, said: "The boys have decided they are not seeing her right now. It's been a few months since they've seen her. They made the decision not to go to her wedding."
The couple, who were married from 2004 until 2007, are parents to Sean, 16, and Jayden, 15. Federline has had sole legal and physical custody of them since 2008.
Spears married Sam Asghari in June this year, months after the singer's controversial 13-year conservatorship was terminated by a US judge in November. In the months since then, the singer has spoken openly and critically about her family and the conservatorship, on Instagram.
"This whole thing has been hard to watch, harder to live through, harder to watch my boys go through than anything else. It's been tough. It's the most challenging thing I've ever had to do in my life," Federline says in the interview.
Scroll through the gallery below to see photos of people celebrating the end of Britney Spears's conservatorship
"I try to explain to them, 'Look, maybe that's just another way she tries to express herself.' But that doesn't take away from the fact of what it does to them. It's tough.'
"I can't imagine how it feels to be a teenager having to go to high school."
Spears has reacted to her ex-husband's comments with a post on her Instagram Story.
'It saddens me to hear that my ex-husband has decided to discuss the relationship between me and my children," Spears wrote in a black and white post.
"As we all know, raising teenage boys is never easy for anyone. It concerns me the reason is based on my Instagram. It was LONG before Instagram. I gave them everything."
She describes the situation as "hurtful", adding: "I'll say it, my mother told me, 'You should give them to their dad.'"
She concluded the post by alluding to the control she was under during the conservatorship, writing: "I'm sharing this because I can."
Scroll through the gallery below to see inside Britney Spears's California residence
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
All you need to know about Formula E in Saudi Arabia
What The Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix
When Saturday
Where Diriyah in Saudi Arabia
What time Qualifying takes place from 11.50am UAE time through until the Super Pole session, which is due to end at 12.55pm. The race, which will last for 45 minutes, starts at 4.05pm.
Who is competing There are 22 drivers, from 11 teams, on the grid, with each vehicle run solely on electronic power.
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.